“Sekolah Ciputra is a great place to learn and grow. The teachers and resources available to students enriches educational experience.”
VERONICA BELLA ARIFIN
GRADUATED: 2018
1. After graduating from Sekolah Ciputra, where do you study? What is your major?
Singapore Management University and my major is Business Management (Marketing).
2. What did you do after graduating from university?
After completing my studies for a bachelor’s degree in business management, I started working in marketing and communications in the professional services industry (accounting / audit, cybersecurity, data trust, transformation). The role’s purpose is to amplify the company’s brand in the market by raising awareness and educating target clients of its services and capabilities, with the ultimate goal of generating leads and bringing in new business. What it looks like on a day-to-day basis is creating webpages, planning and hosting events, copywriting for social media, and more.
3. What is your current occupation?
I work as a marketing and communications associate at PWC Singapore.
4. As a marketing and communications associate, what are the challenges? How do you overcome it?
Like many of my peers who’ve recently joined the workforce, the transition from studying to working was, and still is, filled with myriad challenges — for instance, it can be daunting to present your ideas to senior leaders during meetings, as opposed to presenting in front of fellow students. To sum up, the stakes are higher in the workplace, so it’s easy to feel intimidated and nervous. Overcoming these hurdles requires deliberate practice and planning, but also just giving yourself time and grace to learn and grow.
5. What was the biggest challenge of moving to a new country?
The lack of an existing social circle — I had to make a conscious effort to meet and befriend new people. However, this experience would personally be the most valuable takeaway from moving to a new country because not only it made me more open-minded to diverse worldviews and values, but it also taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin. Not everyone will be your cup of tea (and you won’t be everyone’s too), and that’s absolutely fine.
6. What do you enjoy most about your new environment?
The independence and freedom to try new experiences — unless it’s deadly, I would practically try anything once; the best way to learn new things about yourself and the world around you.
7. In what way did Sekolah Ciputra contribute to your job right now?
In primary school, many people were surprised to hear that I didn’t have to sit for any exams. They’d express their confusion and ask, “How does assessment work then?” ; I’d have to explain to them that we get to take ownership of creating our own projects and present them to visitors during so-called summative days. All in all, the teaching and learning style at Sekolah Ciputra has conditioned me to think critically and communicate my ideas clearly, instead of thinking that there’s one right answer that needs to be memorized and regurgitated. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that critical thinking and communication skills have gone a long way in helping me with my tertiary education and career.
8. What was the best thing about Sekolah Ciputra? Tell us something memorable from your time at Sekolah Ciputra
I really appreciated the opportunities with which Sekolah Ciputra provided me and my peers to become more well-rounded individuals beyond the classroom. From camping trips in the great outdoors to serving the community through public service and charity, we were encouraged to become valuable members of society.
One of the highlights of my time in Sekolah Ciputra would definitely be participating in the World Scholar’s Cup. Yes, it’s an academic endeavor where you compete with peers from countries around the world in debate, writing and trivia. But you also learn the value of teamwork, how to be good at sport, and how to look after yourself when traveling internationally — talk about essential life skills.
9. What advice would you give to a graduating student?
First of all, congratulations! Graduation is an exciting time, and your whole life awaits you. To all graduates please think carefully about what you want to do and by that, I don’t mean that you should know your entire life’s purpose at this very moment. However, you should maintain a keen curiosity about the world around you; stay plugged into the news, and sign up for events or activities where you get to meet new people and explore their perspectives. Not only building your network, but you’ll also get the opportunity to figure out what you enjoy and don’t enjoy doing. This will give you more direction in terms of where to focus your time and efforts; to be able to build valuable skill sets. Finally, remember that your worth as a person is separated from your successes and failures, so make room in your life for mistakes because you’ll only learn from them. Don’t be so hard on yourself, and do compare yourself less to others — everyone is on their own journey, so just focus on yourself.
10. Would you recommend Sekolah Ciputra to others? If yes, what would you say about it?
Yes. Sekolah Ciputra is a great place to learn and grow. The teachers and resources available to students enriches educational experience that sets up the foundations for a successful and fulfilling life. It is a solid stepping stone into a world of limitless possibilities.
11. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Cooking and eating food, working out at home or joining a class, watching movies or TV shows, scrolling through TikTok, traveling — anything relaxing!
