How does one decision change your entire perspective on life? For me, it was applying to NOC Toronto.

When I applied for NOC Toronto, I had no idea the journey that would be in store for me. That simple decision exposed me to the vibrant start-up and entrepreneurial culture which helped me gain confidence in myself, develop a unique thought process and become generally more creative and innovative when it came to problem-solving. The unique structure of the programme exposed me to what adult life felt like: going to work, buying groceries, settling bills, balancing it all with general self care and rest (which is very important). Because I was also a student at the University of Toronto, I experienced the different studying and class culture there, and working with UofT students also exhibited to me unique ways of approaching a task which I had not pursued before.

Beyond that, it’s the small experiences such as learning to live with new people, immersing yourself in a completely new work environment, a culture that you maybe haven’t experienced before, which really brings out parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. The independence I had when I was in Toronto gave me the flexibility to explore things which existed within my interests, and those that weren’t necessarily my interests, but I gained a new appreciation for. The countless networking events where I was fortunate enough to meet industrious people passionate about what they did, taught me how to present myself with a confidence I did not possess before. Conversations such as these were also very evocative for me, prompting me to think about societal issues that others dedicated their careers to solving, and that pushed me to reflect on the impact I wanted to leave with my own future career.

Balance is crucial when you’re in a programme such as NOC. I was living the life of an adult, and in the beginning there was the high of being free and making my own decisions. That quickly becomes overwhelming, especially when you get busier, or when you adapt to a new climate, or interact with people of various personalities. You’re not going to school and studying 24/7, you’re working the 9 to 5, attending networking events and workshops, having important meetings at work, and also experiencing the city you’re in. My time in Toronto made me more perceptive, self-reflective, and responsible for managing my life and relationships. These are things that are bettered through experience, and I will proudly say that I returned to Singapore as someone who was far more self-assured than when I left.

A year can be whatever you make it. To me, it felt like simultaneously the longest and shortest time of my life. Longest, because I came back and so many things had changed. Shortest, because leaving Toronto was one of the toughest things I had to do. There’s something about building a completely new life in a place where nobody knows you, leaving you free to be whoever you want to be. And at the end of the day, your experience is going to be defined by the kind of impact you want to leave on the people around you, a key takeaway of mine from my own NOC experience. I am proud of the journey I embarked on over a year ago, because these memories and experiences are ones that I will treasure and which will in turn, influence my life in the years to come.

So, my #whyNOC: Why not?