Emily Yap
Hi, my name is Emily, and I’m 24 years old.
I am a Senior Staff Nurse at Alexandra Hospital, Singapore. Presently, I am a post graduate student studying Master of Public Health at the National University of Singapore under a scholarship from Alexandra Hospital (NUHS).
Career Journey
I earned my Bachelor of Science with Honors in Nursing from Singapore Institute of Technology (University of Glasgow). During the peak of the pandemic in May 2021, I started my nursing career at the Alexandra Hospital as a palliative nurse for 18 months. Subsequently, through the hospital’s rotational posting, I have also diverse clinical experience in geriatric care, general medicine, and community nursing.
I am passionate about fostering deeper emotional connections between people as I strongly believe in the importance of human connection. This is the reason why I feel that I have a special calling to serve in palliative care. Initially, I was not fully aware of the emotional challenges involved in this field. It was difficult for me to separate my emotional bonds with patients whom I have grown close to over time. Palliative care requires accompanying patients on their last journey through their terminal illness, some days can be especially draining, and I let myself cry it out, then I tell myself: “ok let’s do this”. Then I dry my tears and return back to work.
“When I am weak and vulnerable, it is because I allow myself to be. I am human. But once it’s done, I pick myself up and get going.”
There is a Chinese saying, “A good rest is to prepare us for a longer journey ahead”. I practice self-care. I do this to be kind to myself and to take good care of myself. I deserve the same love and care that I give to others. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else.
Community Work
I am passionate about helping others, particularly championing the needs of the elderly and low-income families. Despite my long hours as a nurse, I also serve my community during my free time.
I am the founder and leader of Dunearn Youth; a ground-up initiative to serve the vulnerable members in my community. With the support of my family, friends and neighbours, we delivered essential groceries and care-packs to the elderly, needy families, special needs children and migrant workers.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when I saw people rushing to supermarkets to stock up on essentials. Immediately, I was worried about my grandmother and how she would cope with the long queues. This made me think about how scared the elderly must have felt during that point of time, and I was motivated to help them.
Younger Days
Growing up, I lived in a three-generation household, which means that my grandparents have always been around. My grandfather has been a great support to me, as he helps me with my schoolwork and takes me to the park to celebrate my academic achievements. I have many cherished memories of spending time with him, like catching small guppies in the big drain behind our house and setting them free later in the day. However, my biggest inspiration is my grandmother, who also used to work as a nurse. Her kindness and generosity have been a source of inspiration for me since childhood, and I have always aspired to follow in her footsteps.
Looking back on my childhood, there were both good and bad times. On one hand, I was just a kid having fun and enjoying life. On the other hand, I also faced my fair share of academic struggles and spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to achieve.
Although I was fortunate to attend a good school (Singapore Chinese Girls School), I could not shake off the feeling that it could get quite competitive at times.
“Struggling with spelling was a huge part of my childhood as I failed almost every spelling test. I recall a time when my teacher pulled me out in front of the entire class and asked if I was just playing around instead of studying.”
It made me feel demoralised because I had studied hard during the weekends, it just never translated into my academic results.
“As I wasn’t doing well in school, I became a very quiet and reserved kid in school. It affected my perception of myself, leading me to believe that I wasn’t good enough.”
This had a significant impact on my self-esteem. One day, someone even asked me if I was mute because she had never heard me speak before. Not only was I too shocked to respond, but it also even made me wonder if there was actually something wrong with me. Thankfully, while it was tough making friends in primary school, I did have a small group of friends that I could always count on.
Getting My Dyslexia Diagnosis
My parents noticed that I was not doing well in school despite putting in effort. Hence, they were concerned and wanted to get me tested for dyslexia, especially since my brother had already been diagnosed with dyslexia as well. For a long time, my parents wanted to get me tested so that I could seek the proper treatment and help. However, I was hesitant to get tested because my Chinese teacher accused my classmate of being “lazy” when she was diagnosed with dyslexia and was exempted from attending Chinese class. I believed her and didn't want to be seen as lazy as well, and so I put off getting tested for a long time.
It wasn't until I was in secondary school when I finally gathered the courage to take that first step and get tested.
If it weren’t for my parents, I probably would have never gotten tested as they did not let me see dyslexia in a negative light. They told me that my brain is just built differently, and thus the way I think and learn is also different from other people.
“When I finally received the diagnosis, it was like a light bulb had lit up. Finally, everything made sense.”
It was comforting to know that there was a reason why I was struggling in school and that I just needed to learn in a way that best suited my needs.
The process of getting diagnosed with dyslexia and attending dyslexia classes at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) was transformative for me. I met like-minded people and teachers who motivated me to learn in a way that best fit my needs. At DAS, they used an interactive smartboard that contained engaging animations to catch my attention and made learning more entertaining.
Throughout my DAS journey, I had a teacher named Miss Phoebe who was especially influential. She taught me that failing isn't the end of the world but rather, it's just a part of life. Her encouragement helped me to believe in myself and to continue trying even when I faced setbacks. With her help, I was able to achieve real progress, and I'm grateful for the lessons that she taught me.
Disclosing My Dyslexia Diagnosis
Initially, I was a bit hesitant to disclose my dyslexia diagnosis to my friends and colleagues due to some of the misconceptions and labels surrounding it. However, I realised that by not talking about it, I would only be perpetuating those misconceptions. Hence, I mustered the courage to be more open about it, which helped educate more people around me about dyslexia.
While I once believed that I could grow out of dyslexia, I came to the realisation that I can only learn to cope with it better when I am an adult. I read more slowly and am more cautious when dealing with numbers, especially as a nurse, where precision is crucial to patient care.
“I believe it’s essential for people to understand that dyslexia does not define an individual’s intelligence or abilities.”
At first, some might be taken aback, but once they take the time to understand what it is and how it affects the individual, they will realise that it is not as severe as they initially thought.
“Today, I see my dyslexia as a strength rather than a weakness. Dyslexic people think outside the box. Dyslexic people are neurodiverse and process information differently, which is hugely valuable once they enter the workforce.”
Dyslexia is not a disability, it is the ability to think differently. And if this world needs anything at this moment, it is people who think differently.
In a fast-changing world of disruption and innovation, we need more people who think differently. Disruptive thinking means breaking the rules, thinking differently, and ultimately changing how a company or industry behaves. As a result, we will find an entirely new way of doing things.
I believe that such a setback led me to an awakening, with a corresponding uptick in my performance. Once you have tasted failure, you will remember it for a long time. I feel that if you have never experienced failure, you will always take success for granted.
Message to My Younger Self, Other Dyslexic People and the Public
“Don’t give up and dream big. We’re capable of so much more than we think! So, always give it your best shot, and if you don’t succeed the first time, it’s okay. Just try again! And you never know, you just might go further than you actually think you can.”
As a child, I never thought that going to university and graduating with distinction, let alone getting a job, was possible for me. It seemed like an insurmountable challenge, and I didn't have the confidence to envision such a future for myself. But as I grew older and gained more knowledge and experience, I began to realise that my dyslexia didn't define me or limit my potential. With hard work, perseverance, and support from my family, teachers, and mentors, I was able to overcome my challenges and achieve my goals. It wasn't easy, but the journey taught me that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and are willing to put in the effort.
When it comes to supporting students with learning difficulties in schools, it's important to first identify their individual learning needs, and tailor an education that best fits their learning needs to make learning easier. Teachers should also always maintain a positive and kind attitude toward their students because it can have a significant impact on how children perceive themselves and their abilities. If a teacher has a negative opinion about something, it's best not to share it, especially when it can be very discouraging for the student. For students who are struggling, joining a small study group or seeing a teacher for extra guidance can make a big difference. Unfortunately, many children with learning difficulties still fall through the cracks, which is why it's crucial to have more resources and support in place for people with dyslexia.
“So for everyone out there, be it a student or a teacher, be kind to everyone that you meet and help whenever you can. It may seem like a small act of kindness to you but to them, it will mean the world.”
Kindness goes a long way, and we can all do our part to build a more inclusive and supportive society together.
