Family and career
Labrador Park has several scenic spots that feature the picturesque view of the sea. That morning, the gentle waves scattered the morning sun to create an especially calming landscape.
I always find the hiking events hosted by SMC to be exciting, because we get to meet people from all walks of life, and personally learn from mentors who have learnt and gained a lot through the hardships and successes they experienced in life.
What stood out to me the most during this hiking event was Mr. Mandeep’s stories about his family and career, which reminded me of a quote from John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States, that reads, “I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”. This quote parallels Mr. Mandeep’s sharing about how many of his ancestors worked in the military, while he studied finance and how he hopes that his children can pursue what they find fulfilling.
Mr. Mandeep also talked about having integrity at work, which resonated a lot with me as I prepare myself to step into the workplace. He shared that we should always put in our very best at work, otherwise we would be indirectly stealing from the company and stealing our colleagues’ time and effort. I think that this is a great way to frame our mindset when going to work, because then working hard is no longer just a matter of willpower and discipline, but also one of personal values and principles.