When you read the SMC Chinese WeChat articles, when you see each Youth Hiking Library poster— behind them are high school students like Chloe and Joshua, contributing as SMC student volunteers, shaping content, building community, and giving back to the very platform that shaped them.
At SMC, impact is not measured by participation, but by what participants become. Among the most powerful examples are our youngest voices—students who arrive with curiosity, and leave with the conviction to build.
Joshua Goh from National Junior College began his journey with SMC at just 13. What started as a single hike evolved into a continuous exploration of perspectives, mentorship, and self-discovery.
Through conversations with mentors, he recognised how mindset shapes outcomes—learning to move beyond self-limiting beliefs and to see youth not as a constraint, but as a strength.
Over time, exposure to diverse careers and life paths gave him clarity of direction. But more importantly, it gave him the confidence to act. He went on to found FutureFound Collective, a youth-led platform helping peers discover purpose and community through experiential learning—turning reflection into tangible impact.
Their journeys reflect what SMC stands for: not just inspiration, but transformation: From listening → to reflecting → to building.
These are students who arrived as mentees and volunteers, and departed as founders— ready to create, contribute, and multiply impact across communities.
Founder of www.futurefound.co |Youth Delegate at Youth Leaders Davos |Top 5 Finalist Speaker at SG120 | National junior college
Joshua Goh from National Junior College began his journey with SMC at just 13. What started as a single hike evolved into a continuous exploration of perspectives, mentorship, and self-discovery.
Through conversations with mentors, he recognised how mindset shapes outcomes—learning to move beyond self-limiting beliefs and to see youth not as a constraint, but as a strength.
Over time, exposure to diverse careers and life paths gave him clarity of direction. But more importantly, it gave him the confidence to act. He went on to found FutureFound Collective, a youth-led platform helping peers discover purpose and community through experiential learning—turning reflection into tangible impact.
What were your initial expectations — and how did reality differ?
My initial expectations was that it would be a once-off event. However, I didn’t expect that I would hear about so many different perspectives, which kept me coming back to talk and interact with more people. I really liked meeting new people, and SMC’s fast paced style of 20 mins per pairing meant that I could learn a series of life lessons and information about different careers within that short period of time.
Was there a specific conversation or mentor interaction that shifted your thinking?
During one of the hikes, I was paired with Rajat Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Nestle Singapore. As we talked, he pointed out that I was phrasing my weaknesses in my maths and sciences as something that was unchangeable. Before that conversation, I understood the importance of your language and how it shapes your mindset. However, I never realized how much my self-limiting beliefs seeped into my everyday language without me realizing it. Thus it made me much more careful of what i say in order to maintain the proper mindset
How did SMC influence the way you see your role as a young person today?
Through SMC, I had the opportunity to engage with experienced professionals and learn how to ask the right questions. This helped me realise that my youth is not a weakness, but a strength. I came to understand that being younger allows you to stand out—bringing energy, curiosity, and a fresh perspective.
What inspired you to start your own initiative?
Last year, I wrote a reflection titled “Living with Purpose, Resilience, and Service,” inspired by the speeches of Jeffrey Jaensubhakij (Advisor and former Group CIO of GIC), Janet Ang(Chairman of Singapore’s Public Transport Council and former Vice President of IBM Asia Pacific), and J.R. Karthikeyan (CEO of AWWA).
Being exposed early on to such a wide range of careers, perspectives, and life journeys helped me develop a clearer sense of direction at a younger age. In a world where social media often highlights achievements and milestones, many youths feel pressure to “have it all figured out,” yet remain uncertain about what they truly want to pursue. Motivated by this gap, I founded FutureFound Collective ( https://www.futurefound.co/) — an initiative designed to help youths discover their purpose and build a sense of community through experiential learning and mentorship.
What was the hardest part of taking that first step?
The hardest part was simply figuring out what to do. It was a completely new and unfamiliar experience, and I didn’t know where or how to start. Eventually, I decided to take a small but concrete step—setting up a website for my organisation. That first action gave me a starting point and helped turn an idea into something real.
How did your experience at SMC support or shape this journey?
After joining the Publicity and Branding team at SMC last year, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of building a strong digital and social media presence for a social organisation.
When I started my own initiative, FutureFound Collective, I applied these learnings immediately — beginning with setting up a website (futurefound.co) as a foundational step to establish credibility, communicate our mission, and reach a wider audience.
What does leadership mean to you now?
To me, leadership is about engaging with people in a meaningful way and bringing out the best in each individual by aligning roles with their strengths and passions. When organising a 3D printing workshop for the FutureFound Collective, I applied this approach by assigning roles based on strengths. Volunteers with technical expertise led 3D modelling and troubleshooting, while those more comfortable with people engagement supported parents and children in developing their ideas. Through this experience, I realised that effective leadership is not about having all the answers, but about understanding people, empowering them, and creating an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully.
What is one challenge you faced as a founder — and how did you navigate it?
One of the main challenges I faced as a founder was coordinating event logistics. While partners like Startup Kids Club provided valuable support, managing details such as sourcing materials and aligning schedules for volunteers remained complex. To address this, I used tools like When2Meet to streamline scheduling. I also learned to better leverage available resources—for example, borrowing STEM equipment through the Singapore Academy of Young Engineers and Scientists (SAYES), and collaborating with other VIA organisations to share resources and responsibilities. This experience taught me that successful execution is not just about individual effort, but about building partnerships and effectively using existing ecosystems.
Looking back, how would you describe your transformation through SMC?
Throughout my journey with SMC, I have become a more focused individual with a clearer sense of direction. Before joining SMC, I had little idea of what I wanted to pursue. Today, I have developed a clearer interest in fields such as neuroscience and finance.
Over the years, I have also transitioned from being a participant to someone who actively gives back. I began by volunteering with SMC’s Publicity and Branding Team, contributing to content and community-building efforts.
To date, I have founded my own social initiative, which has organised four events and engaged over 150 participants. This journey has not only helped me clarify my aspirations, but also empowered me to take action and create impact within my community.
What would you say to a student who is considering joining SMC?
The opportunities at SMC are endless—as long as you take the initiative to seek them out and make the most of them. My advice would be to start organising your notes and reflections from SMC early on. I only realised its importance later, when I had to spend a lot of time going back and consolidating everything I had learned from the hikes.
Additional Contributions to SMC
SMC has given me the opportunity to engage with a wide range of perspectives and career paths, broadening my understanding of potential directions for my future. As part of my contributions, I have written four reflection articles, all of which have been published on the SMC LinkedIn page.
About SMC Youth Leadership Track
Operating as a student-led, mentor-supported organisation on a fully volunteer basis, SMC is actively run and operated by students, who take ownership of programme execution, community initiatives, and day-to-day operations under mentor guidance.
The SMC Youth Leadership Track is a structured programme designed to develop globally ready, values-anchored youth leaders in preparation for Singapore’s next phase of development (SG100).
The programme follows a three-tier progression pathway—Student Volunteer, Student Leader, and Youth Leadership Committee— enabling youth to grow from contributors into leaders and mentors within SMC’s ecosystem.
Interested in joining SMC as a student volunteer? Send your resume to smccareers8@gmail.com