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Serving the community

Ms Lim learns that she cannot rely solely on textbooks to hone social work skills.
PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

MS KATRINE Lim says she was undecided about her future after completing her A levels at Temasek Junior College.

She says: “I had been trained in the science stream all along but realised that all the formulas and chemical names were not my cup of tea. I was sure I did not want to wallow in these for my career.”

Now 24, she is presently a social worker at Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre’s Sengkang branch, a voluntary welfare organisation (VWO).

Of her current job, Ms Lim says she conducted multiple searches through career guides and the Internet before deciding on one where she could help others.

"It was a godsend when I chanced upon the scholarship in the newspapers," she says, referring to the VWOs–Charities Capability Fund Social Service Scholarship.

The scholarship paid for her studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Social Science in social work.

As part of her scholarship, she is required to serve a four-year bond with a VWO member of the National Council of Social Service.

But the journey to realising her dream was not all smooth-sailing, as she had to first convince her family and friends of her decision.

"When I chose this path, my siblings seemed doubtful. They asked me, 'Are you sure? You won't earn much of a living with this in the future, you know.'"

"My classmates were puzzled with my decision, as it was a big switch from the science stream in junior college to arts and social sciences in NUS," she adds.

She says her university days were tough as she juggled studies, examinations and assignments which included social work projects.

"For undergraduates with little direct experience, it was daunting to do actual social agency visits, interact with beneficiaries, interview clients or work with professionals on joint projects,” she recalls.

But she took all these challenges in her stride and soldiered on.

She remembers organising a gala dinner for senior citizens where she surprised people who doubted her ability.

"It was the first time I held a microphone and conducted a game in the presence of at least 100 people."

"No one believed that my petite frame and soft-spoken voice could bring the audience to a high," she recalls.

A job placement exercise — where students were attached to a VWO for two to three months — helped her to pick up new knowledge and hone her skills in session-planning for clients.

Of her first client, she says: "I still squirm when I recall how I interacted with the client in my amateur and childish ways."

"I tried to replicate the contents in my textbooks, only to find out that the social work processes do not flow in a linear and predictable way, and that it was impossible for my client to obey the sequence of my session plan."

She has since learnt to manage such sessions better, thanks to her boss, who was also her supervisor during her earlier job placement. Ms Lim says: "The knowledge and skills she taught me were invaluable. Credit goes to her for be-ing the source of inspiration for me to return to the very same agency where I was trained under her."