This feature offers a human glimpse into the impact of the NUSS–NUS Mentorship Programme through the perspectives of mentee Ms Aleena Sajan and mentor Mr Adrias Tan.
As students approach the end of their undergraduate years, questions about the future often sharpen — not only what to pursue, but how to navigate choices that are rarely straightforward.
For Aleena, a law undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, these questions led her to seek perspective beyond the classroom. Unsure of her post-graduation direction, she was not looking for definitive answers, but guidance that would help her better understand her options — and herself.
“I didn’t want someone to decide for me,” she reflects. “I wanted space to think through what might suit me best.”
That search for clarity has anchored the programme since its launch in 2012. Now in its 13th cycle, the NUSS–NUS Mentorship Programme continues to bring together alumni mentors and undergraduates at pivotal moments in their academic journeys, creating space for honest conversations, professional exposure and reflection.
Learning Through Conversation
Through discussions with her mentor, Aleena found reassurance in being encouraged to explore different areas of legal practice, reflect on her strengths and working style, and accept that clarity often emerges gradually.
One insight stayed with her: careers are rarely linear, and making thoughtful, principled choices matters more than following the most obvious path. This perspective helped her approach her studies with greater confidence, knowing that taking time to discover the right fit is part of the journey.
Mentorship in Practice
From the mentor’s perspective, Mr Adrias Tan, Senior Legal Counsel at Samwoh Corporation Pte. Ltd., views mentorship as a natural extension of lifelong learning. With over a decade of experience across construction law, dispute resolution and corporate practice — and as a recipient of the SkillsFuture Fellowships Award 2025 — he sees guidance not as instruction, but as shared reflection.
“As mentors, we are not just sharing knowledge,” he reflects. “We are helping young people understand the profession they are stepping into.”
What left a lasting impression on him was the sincerity of mentees and their genuine hunger to understand how an industry truly works beyond theory. To bridge this gap, he often invited mentees into his workplace, offering firsthand exposure to daily professional life.
A Shared Understanding
At its core, mentorship is grounded in trust and care. For Aleena, it is about generosity — where experience is shared not to direct someone’s path, but to help them see their own more clearly. For Mr Tan, it begins with a genuine concern for the future-readiness of the next generation, expressed through setting a living example rather than offering advice alone.
Looking Ahead
In the 2025/2026 cycle, 172 mentors, including 10 associate mentors, stepped forward to guide 229 mentees across disciplines. Yet the programme’s impact lies not in its scale, but in the quality of these exchanges.
It is within these human connections — shaped by trust, reflection, and shared responsibility — that the NUSS–NUS Mentorship Programme continues to support confident, reflective and future-ready NUS graduates.
To learn more, visit NUSS-NUS Mentorship Programme.
