Personal Portfolio

Gerrard: Leading Through Service

A student leader, volunteer, and learner who believes in using his strengths to support others.

Hello, I'm Gerrard. I enjoy serving my school and community through leadership roles, volunteering, and everyday acts of responsibility. Through these experiences, I have learned that leadership is not about recognition, but about helping others, staying dependable, and making a positive difference where I can.

          🌎
          1 of 126
          Selected for Combined Lasallian Schools Leadership Trip to
            Manila
        

          ✍
          5 Roles
          Prefect, Maths Leader, IT Leader, Prayer Leader, Class
            Monitor
        

          🤝
          2 Causes
          Krsna's Free Meals & Kampong Glam Youth Network
        

About

About Me

I am a student from St. Joseph's Institution Junior who enjoys learning, serving, and growing through new experiences. In school, I try to lead by example and support others through roles such as Prefect, Maths Leader, IT Leader, Prayer Leader, and buddy to younger students. Outside school, I value service because it reminds me to be grateful, compassionate, and aware of the needs of others.

"What sets Gerrard apart is his ability to balance leadership with humility. He is respectful, approachable, and attentive to the needs of his peers, often stepping forward to guide and support others. His positive attitude and perseverance enable him to overcome challenges with maturity, making him a steady and reliable presence in the school community." Ms Cheryl Tang, Teacher at SJIJ

Service

Serving the Community

3× mornings per week at Krsna's Free Meals

6 community events with Kampong Glam Youth Network

Since 2025 consistent holiday volunteering

Krsna's Free Meals

Service is an important part of my life outside school. Since 2025, I have volunteered with my mother at Krsna's Free Meals during the June and December school holidays. Three mornings a week, I reach the soup kitchen at 6.30 a.m. to help pack and serve breakfast to beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, till about 9 a.m. The school holidays are the one time I could sleep in, but this is something my mum and I do together without fail, and it has become a part of how I spend my breaks. This experience has taught me compassion, discipline, and the importance of contributing consistently, even in small ways.

One morning, a worker thanked me in an Indian language I did not understand, and it made me realise that service goes beyond language, because a simple act of care can still make someone feel seen, respected, and valued.

Kampong Glam Youth Network

Since 2026, I have also volunteered with the Kampong Glam Youth Network, where I have supported community events such as Family Day, Clean & Green urban tree-planting, and children's activities. Through these experiences, I learned that leadership can also mean bringing people together and contributing to a stronger community.

Leadership

Leadership in School

Combined Lasallian Schools Leadership Trip, Manila, October 2025

A particularly meaningful experience for me was being selected as 1 of 126 student leaders to take part in the Combined Lasallian Schools Student Leadership Trip to Manila. This five-day, four-night journey brought together student leaders and prefects from SJI Junior and four other Lasallian primary schools in Singapore to build connections and practise servant leadership.

During the trip, I had the chance to contribute in ways that helped me grow in confidence and servant leadership. When we visited La Salle Green Hills Primary School, I led a mini-group activity during a Maths lesson and enjoyed guiding the younger students through the task. I found the experience especially meaningful because I like helping others learn, and it reminded me of my role as Maths Leader in school, where I try to support my classmates patiently and clearly.

For the finale item, I also took the initiative to help lead the SJI Junior team by practising our segment, encouraging my teammates, and coordinating with student representatives from the other schools. Through this, I learned that leadership is not just about stepping forward, but also about bringing people together and helping a group work well as one team.

One part of the trip that stayed with me was learning about Dr Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, and the kind of courage and purpose he showed in serving others. His story inspired me to think more deeply about what it means to lead with humility and conviction.

School Leadership Roles

2024 – Present

Prefect & IT Leader

2024 – 2025

Primary 1 Buddy

2021 – Present

Class Monitor, Maths Leader & Prayer Leader

These responsibilities taught me to be dependable, patient, and ready to guide others by example. They also showed me that leadership is not just about leading in big moments, but about being responsible in everyday situations.

Growth

Growth and Resilience

Dr Jose Rizal's story during the Manila trip also made me reflect on my own life, especially a difficult period when my mother was unwell and my parents had to spend a lot of time in and out of hospital. At that age, I did not fully understand everything, but it was a time that taught me resilience, gratitude, and the importance of staying hopeful during challenges.

Looking back, I feel even more grateful that my mother is now in remission and well. In Manila, I saw more clearly that leadership is not only about being capable, but about using difficult experiences to grow in empathy and to support others. That is why the trip connected so deeply with me. It strengthened my desire to serve others, whether as a prefect in school, through volunteering at Krsna's Free Meals, or simply by helping those around me in everyday situations.

Hobbies

What I Enjoy

Outside of service and school leadership, I also enjoy activities that help me learn, express myself, and have fun. Piano is one of the hobbies that has taught me discipline and perseverance. I used to feel nervous about public performance, but I worked hard to overcome this fear by practising regularly and learning to stay calm during recitals. This helped me perform more confidently and achieve my ABRSM Grade 3 certificate with Merit, and I continue working towards Grade 4.

I also enjoy playing Pokemon Go with my friends. What started as a fun way to spend time together has also become a way for me to connect with younger children during Kampong Glam Youth Network activities, where I teach them how to play and use the game as a way to foster bonding and get them interacting with one another.

Beyond that, I enjoy spending time with family, taking part in community activities, and finding ways to keep learning new things. These interests help me stay balanced and remind me that growth happens both in serious responsibilities and in everyday life.

Reflections

Looking Ahead

The experiences that have shaped me most are the ones that taught me to serve others, work with people, and keep growing even when something feels difficult. Through school leadership, volunteering, and personal challenges, I have learned that character is built through consistent actions, not single moments.

I hope to continue growing as a leader who serves. I look forward to taking on new responsibilities, learning from others, and finding more ways to give back. Whether through community service, peer mentorship, or simply being a dependable teammate, I want to keep using my strengths to make a positive difference.

I believe that the values I have built, resilience, compassion, humility, and a willingness to serve, will help me contribute meaningfully to my community and continue becoming a person of service and integrity.