Our interviewee for the month of August is Rachel. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Guek Hoon and her brother is Gideon. She is one of the many young adults who have grown up in the church and has recently made the transition from school to work.
Michelle:
Tell me more about yourself! What are you currently doing?
Rachel:
I graduated last year and I’m currently working as a business analyst consultant. I basically advise people what to do when I barely know what I’m talking about and make stuff up along the way that sounds sensible. I’m kidding, but I do help my clients from varying industries make data-driven decisions to reach their goals.
Michelle:
Sounds interesting! How would you describe a typical day at work?
Rachel:
I like working from the office because I am more productive. I find myself coding or on Tableau/Power BI for most of the day trying to transform or visualize data for my clients. My job includes getting key figures and information out of large datasets and subsequently analyzing and interpreting it to help my clients make appropriate decisions based on it.
Michelle:
What is 1 interesting fact about yourself?
Rachel:
My brother, Gideon, and I matriculated into SMU accountancy at the same time so we inevitably took the same modules and were in the same group for projects!
Michelle:
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Rachel:
I like to maintain an active lifestyle by going to the gym or attending dragonboat training with my company’s team. I also enjoy baking.
Cake, cake and more cake!
Michelle:
Nice! Leading an active lifestyle is a real challenge for many working adults. How do you do it and do you have any tips on integrating exercise into their lifestyle?
Rachel:
I think having a more conscious effort on simple things like clocking the recommended 10 thousand steps everyday helps. For example, I like to walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator if I have to get to another floor in the office. Additionally, I find walking around the office when I need a break helps to reset my mind and clock in more steps instead of sitting at my desk and using my phone.
Michelle:
Thanks!! I think we all needed the reminder to take a break by standing up from our desks...
Michelle:
If you could summarise your life in 3-5 words (that may/may not form a phrase/ sentence), what would those be?
Rachel:
It would definitely have to be ‘Blessed by God’. I am thankful to God to have been by my side helping and providing me with opportunities that I know could not have happened without God’s grace and providence.
Michelle:
Nice! How did you come to this conclusion?
Rachel:
I think that there were a lot of times in my life that wouldn’t have turned out the way if it’s just purely my effort alone.
Michelle:
And taking a step back, how did you come to know of God and the church?
Rachel:
My parents are Guek Hoon and Kenneth. I grew up in the Church and have attended since I was a baby.
Michelle:
Ahh, so you have been going to church with your parents since you were young When did you get baptised and what convinced you to?
Rachel:
I got baptised when I was 14. I think it came to a point where I was able to understand the consequences of not being a Christian as well as the benefits. I think it was also because I grasped what being a Christian would mean as this isn’t a done deal once we are baptised.
Michelle:
Any fond memories of church growing up?
Rachel:
My favourite memory has to be YDP. YDP is organised by the youths of different congregations which makes it more engaging. With a fixed audience demographic, the classes and discussions were more active and relatable. I enjoyed the games and most of all the fellowship. Even though it’s been a couple of years since I last attended, I always look forward to catching up with the friends that I’ve made through YDP.
Michelle:
That's great! For the uninitiated, what are the different congregations involved in YDP and who can attend?
Rachel:
If I’m not wrong I think the age ranges from like 12 until you feel too old to attend 😂 but do check with the organisers when they’ve opened the signups!
Michelle:
And closer to home, I recall that you've been helping with the Seniors Fellowship for a couple of years now. Are you involved in other church activities? How did you begin helping out and how did you find the experience(s)?
Rachel:
Unfortunately I’ve not been as active in senior fellowship as much these few years but I’m hoping to be more involved in its upcoming activities. One of the reasons why I got involved with senior fellowship was because of my grandma. I enjoy bringing joy to the older folks and making them smile. I remember her being really happy during each seniors fellowship activity and I treasure those memories. I feel very fulfilled whenever I see the participants enjoying themselves.
Not an activity but I’ve been taking up more of a teaching role recently. I started teaching lower primary last year and will be teaching them in September and October!
Michelle:
What was 1 thing that struck you about the Bible?
Rachel:
I’m amazed by how the Bible has been written with multiple people, across so many years yet still having no contradictions. I think it’s one of the first things I’ll tell people when they ask me about the Bible and if it’s truly inspired by God.
Michelle:
Any favourite Bible passages/verses?
Rachel:
I would say my most relatable Bible verse would be Psalms 56:3
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (NKJV)
I’m a worrier. I didn’t like taking exams because I always felt unprepared and stressed. In my job, I don’t like it when blockers and last minute issues pop up as it affects the timeline I’ve set for myself.
This isn’t saying that God will perform a miracle today. But I feel assured and comforted that I have God with me when the going gets tough. As long as I’ve studied my best for the paper, I’ll be able to have a peace of mind and do my best. And as long as I keep putting in the hours to try to resolve the issue at work, I’ll be able to fix it eventually or find someone who will be willing to lend a helping hand.