Dinner with Minister Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth

Time Auction’s here to give YOU the opportunity to converse with the great change makers of the 21st century. Volunteer 10 hours to any charity and earn your space to spend time with these amazing people over food. Let’s talk about the dinner you just missed:

The moment we step into the working world, we are constantly on the go every single day — whether it is to make ends meet or to pursue our dreams and goals. But at some point, majority will enter the stage of starting a family. For females, their hands are fuller because apart from work, they also go through an important process of child birth and child care. For Grace, she is no exception from the hustle and bustle of work life and family life.

“No matter how busy you are, never miss important family milestones.”

For Grace, work has always been way busier than the average Singaporean. But regardless of how busy, one should always give time to the family.

In the process of balancing work and life, it is possible to lose sight of one’s identity with all the real-world complexities amongst us. However, it is through the many opportunities, people and situations we expose ourselves too that shape and influence our mindset and thinking. For Grace, she shared a piece of advice that is the ‘process of elimination’.

“I did not know where I will end up in my career, it was more of the ‘process of elimination’ that allowed me to build up areas that I am strong in and harness them.”

Skills acquired outside of the classroom are equally important, if not more essential, to build our confidence because theories and facts only give us the know-how. If they are not applied, it will only be in our heads, undelivered and underutilized.

Whether you are a male or female, as long as you know your own strengths and weaknesses, be critical about yourself and work on both sides of the coin.

“Don’t be disheartened if you don’t have a clear goal.

When an opportunity comes, just give it your best shot.”

To the youths out there, here is a piece of advice:

“Confidence comes from ample preparation and exposure to CCAs and activities in order to gain intangible skills like leadership. These are skills you cannot call your own just by reading from books.”

Thank you Grace for raising 100 volunteer hours to Kids Accomplish!, National Neuroscience Institute, Keat Hong Community Centre, and more! Big thanks to all the volunteers who dedicated their ours for the greater good! Also hats off to The Hive Lavender for providing us with such a fabulous meeting spot.

For more amazing opportunities, visit Time Auction Singapore to volunteer and meet inspiring mentors!

Special thanks to Time Auction Singapore’s City Sponsor: