Real-life learning

My mum and I started an ecommerce business a year ago. We provide customers with 100% pure virgin oil with no preservatives.

It is edible and can be used on skin. Having a startup has definitely benefited me in many ways, especially as a college student.

It has helped me to think creatively, and to enhance my analytical and problem-solving skills. Having to keep track of my supplies and deliveries has made me a more organised person.

Entrepreneurship has taught me skills through hands-on experience that I would not have found in any of my textbooks.

– Yochana Mohan Rao, 19

I have established an ecommerce business that features trading card games as its main product. Just one month into the business helped me to understand retailing and funds management.

Having to purchase and manage the stocks myself has made me a more organised individual. Working on my own has also strengthened my sense of independence.

In addition, running my business has helped me to develop good communication skills as I promote my products through live streams and have to constantly communicate with my live audience.

Other than that, it has provided me with a secondary stream of finance, which I have been able to use to cover my expenses, without needing much of an allowance from my parents.

– Joey Choo Wen Jie, 19

I have a part-time job teaching mathematics at a centre. My students’ ages range from four to 15. I help my students master the fundamentals of mathematics and critical thinking based on the curriculum.

I have learnt how to tailor my teaching styles according to different students’ needs. This has tested my patience and helped me to learn to be more tolerant.

I have also picked up skills in administrative tasks like recording attendance and marking my students’ work. All this has improved my productivity and organisation skills.

This experience has also been beneficial in sharpening my skills in dealing with people and managing my time.

– Fara Rosdeen, 19

These comments were obtained by Nur Aisya Shasmeen, who is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme.