Mentorship that Made a Difference

18-year-old Farhan used to struggle with self-confidence and was reserved, only opening up to those closest to him. As a first-year Nitec in Retail Services student at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central, adapting to the new environment and connecting with classmates was a challenge. 

Things began to change when Farhan’s class was selected to be part of ADAPT, a youth mentoring programme by Aptitude under TOUCH Youth Enablement (TYE). ADAPT aims to build youths’ mental and emotional resilience, boost self-confidence, and help them discover their strengths.  

Finding Community and Support 

Through ADAPT, Farhan was given the opportunity to participate in various activities that helped him discover his talents and passions. Skills Workshops in barista training, leadership and adventure facilitation, music and more, not only sparked his love for photography but also helped him forge closer bonds with his classmates.  

Caption: Farhan at the photography skills workshop (top) and rock-climbing during an adventure workshop (bottom). 

Farhan shares, “I used to only hang out with Firman – who has been my best friend since Secondary School. Thanks to Aptitude, I was also able to become closer with two other friends - Naqif and Tina. I’m grateful for them as I know I can count on them to be a listening ear whenever I’m going through a difficult period.”  

Caption: Farhan together with his friends from Aptitude.  

Discovering Talents and New Interests 

ADAPT also encourages youths to give back to the community through service learning. During a recent carnival-cum-service learning event, the ADAPT students ran booths to teach skills like first aid, ukelele, photography and more, to children from TOUCH Young Arrows.  

For Farhan, he took on the role as an emcee and recalls that it was one of his proudest moments so far. He shares, “When I was approached to be the emcee of the carnival, I was hesitant as I’ve never done anything like that before. I decided to trust my TYE mentors who said that they saw my potential to speak well. I’m so glad I said yes! It was such a happy memory for me to see the children enjoying themselves during the carnival and I was also able to make new friends from other courses!”  

Caption: Farhan emceeing during the carnival together with his new friends. 

“The biggest change I’ve seen is how Farhan grew in confidence towards his abilities and developed resilience in managing challenges in life. Farhan always had a natural flair for leadership in him but needed encouragement and a platform for him to uncover this potential,” shares Eleanor Fong, his mentor from TYE. 

Caption: Farhan together with his TYE mentor, Eleanor.  

Receiving Support Through Mentorship  

When Farhan embarked on his 6-month internship at a retail clothing store, there were many times he wanted to give up due to difficulties adapting to the work culture. As an intern, Farhan helped assist with sales and inventory management, where he had to count and replenish stocks at his outlet.  

Despite his struggles, Farhan is thankful for his internship mentors, Eleanor from TYE and Exodus Lim, a volunteer mentor from The Astronaut Collective, who journeyed with him throughout the six months. His mentors were able to provide Farhan with both career and social-emotional guidance whenever he faced ups and downs during his internship stint.  

Caption: Farhan together with Exodus during one of their mentoring sessions.  

Exodus recalls that when they first met, Farhan had many self-doubts and was uncertain about his abilities and strengths, often needing assurance. He shares, “During our four face-to-face mentoring sessions, we would discuss and try to work through the obstacles he faced at his workplace. I consistently encouraged him to do his best. As time went by, he was slowly able to step out of his comfort zone and change his perspective towards the challenges he faced – turning them into opportunities to excel and blossom into the confident individual that he is today.” 

Caption: Farhan (top left) with Exodus  and Eleanor (bottom) at an Internship Mentoring wrap-up celebration. 

“There were days when I just didn’t have the motivation to go to work, and I wanted very badly to quit despite knowing that it would affect my final grade for the internship. I’m very thankful for Mr Exodus and Eleanor for their advice and encouragement. Together, they helped to change my perspective about work. My biggest takeaway was learning that I shouldn’t give up because external circumstances may be tough, but to give my best effort for myself no matter what,” reflects Farhan.  

Looking Ahead 

Today, Farhan has graduated from ADAPT and has moved on to his next year of study. After much hard work and perseverance, he was thrilled to be accepted for direct entry into Year 2 of Higher Nitec in Retail and Business Services.  

“Meeting the GPA cut-off and being accepted was a huge accomplishment for me! I know there will be new challenges ahead, but I’m determined to do my best,” shares Farhan, who hopes that he can pursue Business in Polytechnic after graduation.  

Caption: Happy smiles during Farhan’s graduation from the Nitec in Retail Services.  

He adds, “Getting to know everyone through Aptitude was such a pleasure. The workshops were always meaningful and engaging, and it helped me discover new sides of myself. I now have a more positive outlook in life, and I really appreciated the mentors who were always there cheering me on.”  

Aveline Yap, his other TYE mentor, affirms his growth during his time in ADAPT, "I’ve witnessed a huge growth in Farhan compared to when he first joined ADAPT. He’s more confident and resilient today – he’s no longer afraid to pick up new skills and try new experiences even when it’s out of his comfort zone. We’re so proud of him for not giving up!”  

Farhan’s story is a testament to the power of mentorship and community in helping young people discover their strengths and achieve their goals.  

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TOUCH Youth Enablement runs youth engagement centres in the three Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Colleges in Singapore. Through our youth engagement centres located on campus, we run regular programmes aimed at enabling youths to pursue personal growth and progress, build resilience and be future-ready. Our mentoring strategies are to engage, enrich, and empower students.   

Story written in 2025.