Hear from our NYAA Awardee: Chivani Ndoen

At Middleton International School, we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals, students who excel academically while demonstrating compassion, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. The National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) is one aspect of our holistic learning journey, encouraging our learners to step beyond 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 designed to empower young people as they challenge themselves, serve the community, and develop essential life skills through experiential learning. Open to youth aged 13 to 30, the programme fosters personal growth through service, adventure, skills development and reflection, extending learning far beyond the classroom.

In this blog, we hear from Chivani Ndoen, a Middleton student and recipient of the NYAA Gold Award, the highest level of achievement. Chivani reflects on the experiences that shaped her journey, the challenges she embraced, the milestones she reached, and the values she gained along the way. Her story exemplifies how Middleton students can grow through courage, curiosity, and service.

What inspired you to take on the NYAA challenge?

When I first started the NYAA Gold Award process in Grade 9, I found this to be the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone while continuing to do what I have enjoyed since I was little, helping others and being more present with nature. 

For the Service Learning section, I was able to help out at Krsna’s Food Kitchen, which made me realise and experience the hard work and time that goes into something as simple as Soup Kitchens. I also enjoyed helping out at school with sports events and volunteering in the Special Olympics, which helped enhance my leadership skills. 

"Helping out at the Soup Kitchen allowed me to experience the hard work, dedication, and time it takes to prep the meals."

For the Outdoor Appreciation section, I was able to be more present and enjoy the nature around me; this also helped me be more mindful and appreciative. For this section, I would go flower hunting at parks or even in more industrialised areas. Additionally, walking in the park was also part of my Healthy Living section, which allowed me to be more consistent with doing sports and taking care of my health even during busy exam season. I still, to this day, go running at the park to enjoy nature, watch the occasional monitor lizards chilling in the sun, but also take care of myself. 

"Walking along the Bukit Timah Railway corridor - I enjoyed this nature walk because of the history behind it - it was a key station connecting Singapore and the Malayan Peninsula around the 1930s, and used for a few decades since."

Lastly, for the Community Leadership Initiative, I used my Global Perspectives Coursework Project on Doping in Sports, which allowed me to gain research, collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills. I particularly enjoyed doing this project as we were able to work together to spread awareness on a certain issue, and the reason why we chose Doping in Sports was because we looked at the Middleton Community, we saw that the spirit for sport is high, and many students enjoyed watching and or participating. 

The biggest challenge I faced was trying to be consistent, especially with exams and other academic priorities, which took up most of my time. I did want to create that academic-social/life balance, which has also helped me improve my time management and what to prioritise, which will continue to be a useful skill for my future in university and career. One way I overcame this was by having effective time management for academic tasks and finding free time to enjoy a quick flower hunting activity to take a break from studying. 

The NYAA experience has helped me step out of my comfort zone and develop/enhance leadership skills, as well as reminding me to stay grateful and be present, especially during stressful times. This experience has helped me not only develop new skills that are useful for university and my future career, but it has also allowed me to grow as a person. I continue to take care of myself by going for runs, which allows me to enjoy nature more, but also have a moment of mindfulness, and stay active. 

"Giving groceries to those who need financial assistance - I enjoyed being there to help hand out the groceries, but it also reminded me how much I already have, reminding me to stay grateful."

My advice is to have fun during the NYAA process. While tracking of your hours and demonstrating taking action, enjoy the experiences (whatever that may be), and learn/gain skills from it. You realise that sooner or later, it allows you to be more open to future opportunities, which may require stepping out of your comfort zone or developing certain skills that you already possess or are willing to develop with an open mind, thanks to the NYAA process. The process may lead to unexpected but great outcomes, just as I did not expect to receive the NYAA Gold Award Certificate from the President, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam himself.

Chivani’s journey reminds us that growth happens when we choose to persevere, explore and give back to the world around us. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and look forward to seeing more students take on the NYAA challenge and discover the potential that lies within them.

Interested in how Middleton supports student leadership, community service, and personal growth? Explore our programmes and discover how we nurture learners to become compassionate and resilient individuals.