The journey to success is different for each individual. Some are more comfortable choosing the 'conventional' route for fear of economic volatility. There are also those who are more encouraged to take 'bold' steps.
Aqil Fitri, for example, chose to leave his career as a nurse and returned to school to start his journey as an artiste.
In August, at the age of 28, the nursing diploma holder from Ngee Ann Polytechnic will graduate with a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre from LASALLE.
Nurses' job demands are too 'heavy'
"Initially, I was interested in nursing because I wanted to take care of my late grandmother," said Aqil, who has four siblings.
After completing his Diploma in Nursing at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2018, Aqil served the country before starting his career as a nurse in 2020.
However, as soon as he stepped into the healthcare industry, the COVID-19 pandemic hit Singapore. At the time, he was assigned to take care of COVID-19 patients at a health care centre in Tuas.
"My mental health was severely affected and this made me decide to do something that made me happy," the youth said.
"My family and friends were shocked that I made the decision without discussing it with anyone but they supported me in my journey to become an entertainer."
Aqil further revealed that his interest in the arts began to blossom when he was still a Primary Six student at Concord Primary School.
"I participated in a talent show in primary school and represented my class in a singing performance," said Aqil.
Write musicals, invite other youths to pursue interest
Aqil started his studies in Musical Theatre at LASALLE in 2022. Over a period of three years, he honed his skills in theatre performance such as mastering acting, singing and dance techniques.
Students of this course of study are also exposed to the skills of scriptwriting and composing their own songs.
"At first, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to succeed as an entertainer in Singapore. But after getting to know some of the people in the art industry in Singapore, I believe that with their hard work and passion they were able to create opportunities for themselves," Aqil told the Nadi Kampus crew.
For Aqil himself, he completed a musical performance set against the backdrop of a Hari Raya celebration for his final year thesis at LASALLE.
The writing was one of the accomplishments that qualified him to obtain a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre this August. However, this diploma is not the finishing line for Aqil. If possible, Aqil hopes to stage the musical he wrote one day.
Regardless, Aqil has no regrets about his decision to leave his career and plunge into a field of his interest.
"I support youths who have ambitions to become entertainers or who are unhappy in their jobs to pursue things which make them happy," the artist advises other youths.
Read the article on BERITA Mediacorp.
