Hear from our NYAA Awardee: Arielle Mascarenhas

At Middleton International School, we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals—students who excel academically while embodying compassion, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. The National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) encourages our learners to step out of their comfort zones, contribute meaningfully to the community, and grow through real-world experiences.

Launched in Singapore in 1992 and inspired by The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the NYAA is a national youth development programme that empowers young people to challenge themselves, serve the community, and develop essential life skills through experiential learning. Open to youth aged 13 to 30, the programme encourages participants to step beyond the classroom and grow through service, adventure, skills development, and personal reflection.

In this blog, we hear from Arielle Mascarenhas, a Grade 11 student, as she reflects on her NYAA journey. Arielle opens up about the challenges she faced, the milestones she reached, and the lessons she’ll carry with her beyond the classroom. We hope her story inspires others to take on new challenges and begin their own paths of growth and discovery.

What inspired you to take on the NYAA challenge?

When I first heard about the NYAA programme in Grade 9, I knew I wanted to commit to taking up this project because I saw it as a formidable chance for me to sharpen my skills and expand my knowledge on extracurriculars outside academics. I knew it would be a stiff challenge to juggle school work and volunteer work, which is what compelled me to do it even more. Through this, I would be able to acquire multitasking skills and strengthen my ability to manage time in order to complete all my number of hours and stay on top of school. 

"Walks in the park has helped me be more observant of the nature around me and notice the wildlife that surrounds me and keeps the environment diverse."

Briefly share the process and some key highlights of your experience.

I found the NYAA process profoundly engaging and enjoyable. In every experience that I participated in, I was conscious of taking mental notes of newly acquired skills and whenever I gained new insight from my experience. 

During the Service Learning Section, I would often volunteer at my Church’s activities, such as community clean-ups and food delivery to the low-income families in Singapore. I volunteered at the soup kitchen a lot and also at WWF (World Wildlife Foundation), where I became an official volunteer. All these experiences have taught me important communication skills, as oftentimes I would meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures when volunteering. It also helped me become more connected to my community as I was able to make lasting friendships and pivotal memories. 

Likewise, with the Healthy Living and Nature Appreciation section, I was able to grow as a person. I was more mindful, aware and in tune with my body and my surroundings. I felt much healthier and fitter after completing my NYAA healthy living, through planned efforts to eat healthy and exercise daily. It made me very grateful that I have the privilege to take care of my body and have access to all the right equipment and nutrition to make healthier choices. Furthermore, I also expanded my skill set when completing my nature appreciation section. A highlight for me was when I went camping overnight and had to learn how to set up a tent. I also harvested turmeric and limes, which made me feel very authentic and connected to nature. This helped me to truly value the extent of nature that surrounds me in Singapore. 

"Walking down the park and seeing lots of wild cows and deer grazing in the field. I sat nearby and observed them for a bit."

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I faced was time. I made it my goal to complete my NYAA silver by the end of Grade 10, before Grade 11 started. Since there is a specific time frame in each section for when the designated number of hours needed to be completed, I was fearful that my number of hours wouldn’t match with the amount of time I had left. To use my time wisely, I made sure to take up as many opportunities as I could; whether it be volunteering opportunities (slots would often be full) or opportunities to play in sports (football tournaments). I would take up any opportunity that was presented to me and then make timetables for when I would wish to complete each of my tasks. I set a goal for myself weekly, allowing me to complete my number of hours in a timely manner without being overwhelmed with school work and Extra-Curricular Programmes. This worked for me very well because at the end of Grade 10 I had finished all the necessary number of hours and was able to submit my application at the start of Grade 11. 

How has the NYAA shaped your perspective on leadership, service, or personal growth?

The NYAA programme has definitely taught me that if I set my mind to something and if I have a clear plan, I can truly complete any goals I set for myself. It has made me realise that I have a lot of potential to do my best and has given me confidence in myself. I know now that I am truly capable of achieving my goals as long as I put in the required effort. Through service learning, I have gained insights into the underlying work that the Singapore community does. It was deeply astounding watching all the volunteers come together to work with so much dedication, enthusiasm and zest. It has made me more appreciative of all the behind-the-scenes work that gets done. 

"Preparing slides, scripts and practising the ceremony to host for our seniors who were graduating from Grade 10."

Any advice for your juniors who may want to take on the NYAA challenge?

My advice for any juniors who may wish to take NYAA would be to make sure to have a good support system. When I was doing my NYAA, I always had friends by my side volunteering, exercising, and coming on walks with me. It really makes the whole experience a lot more enjoyable as it gives you time to bond and develop new skills with your friends. Furthermore, it will make you excited to do more tasks together as it gives you time to socialise. When you set goals together, you're more inclined to encourage each other to achieve these goals and it will make a big difference in how you view completing NYAA as a whole.

In addition, try to take as many pictures as possible to keep as evidence and keep a personal folder where you can write down your experiences and the things that you’ve learnt alongside the number of hours you've completed. This will really make it a lot easier to collate your work at the end when submitting the application form. 

Lastly, before taking on NYAA, make sure that you are able to fully commit to it and set goals for yourself that you wish to achieve at the end of NYAA. It will keep you motivated and make you remember why completing the NYAA programme is important to you. 

At Middleton, we focus on nurturing well-rounded individuals beyond academic success.
Discover how we integrate character-building and service learning into our curriculum.