Supporting Lives through Care and Compassion

Jason Ho (Diploma in Social Work, Class of 2026) reflects that even as he was rebuilding his own life by choosing a path less travelled after his mother suffered a stroke, he began learning to help rebuild others’ lives through his chosen path with care and compassion.

My journey into social work began during a period of change. During a roadshow in secondary school, I learnt about the various NYP diplomas, and I was attracted to social work. Around the same time, my mother suffered a stroke. Suddenly, my family dynamics shifted, and I had to adapt quickly to new responsibilities and uncertainty.

During that difficult period, my secondary school teacher showed me what compassion looks like in action. Her words of comfort stayed with me, and that inspired my decision to pursue NYP’s Diploma in Social Work. I wanted to become a social worker who could support others through moments of vulnerability, just as I had been supported.

At NYP, I grew both academically and personally. Some of my most profound learning came beyond the classroom. During an overseas exchange programme in Hong Kong, I was placed at a community centre to design empowerment programmes for beneficiaries such as ethnic minorities and residents living in subdivided units. Working closely with the community challenged me deeply and broadened my understanding of social issues. This experience remains my most meaningful achievement at NYP.

My volunteering stint at the Institute of Mental Health further shaped my perspective. Witnessing patients grow more confident and expressive reminded me to see people beyond their diagnoses, but as individuals with strength, hope and resilience.

For my Final Year Project, Day2Shine, I co‑led a 15‑member team in collaboration with Enabling Services Hub to organise a recreational programme for Persons with Disabilities and their caregivers. It created space for joy, connection and shared support.

Through this journey, I have learnt to accept change as a constant and to embrace the process even when outcomes are not perfect. Compassion, after all, begins with understanding, and grows through action. I will be going on to pursue a degree in social work at the National University of Singapore.