ITE student out to prove cynics wrong at regional competition
Nur Afryna ready for WorldSkills competition
What men can do, women can do as well.
And 18-year-old Nur Afryna Irdyna Mohd Yusof, a first-year student in the Nitec in Facility Technology (Air-conditioning and Refrigeration) course at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), is out to prove that.
Standing at 154cm, she may be petite, but she is also one of the most skilled in refrigeration and air-conditioning engineering among her peers here.
Now, she will compete with the best in the region, representing Singapore at the upcoming WorldSkills Asean 2018 competition in Thailand. The regional competition will be held in Bangkok from Aug 31 to Sept 2.
A total of 40 students, the largest team ever sent by Singapore, will be competing in various skill categories.
When Miss Afryna mentioned she wanted to pick up skills in refrigeration and air-conditioning, friends mocked her and her family tried to dissuade her.
"They said it was a man's job, and asked why I was doing this," she said.
"Friends said it was difficult for me to understand the technicalities, because I am a girl."
The words meant to put her down have only fuelled her determination.
"This is a new generation, and what men can do, girls can do as well," Miss Afryna said.
"It is true that girls rarely get such an opportunity, which is why I grabbed this. I will prove all the naysayers wrong."
She is both nervous and excited to compete and vows to give her best even if she may not win.
"I hope to win, but more than that I hope to open everyone's eyes to (the fact that) it is not just a man's job," she said.
Miss Afryna said she aspires to join the Singapore Police Force one day.
She said: "The skills I am picking up now teach me how to be a problem fixer, and hands-on skills will always come in useful in one way or another."
Another student participating in the competition is 17-year-old Vanessa Kow, a second-year ITE student in the Nitec in Beauty and Wellness course. She will be competing in the beauty therapy category.
When she started out, Vanessa struggled financially, juggling part-time jobs and intense training sessions.
"I worked in the food and beverage line part-time even though I did not like it," she said.
"I had to raise money to pay for the things I use, supporting myself financially."
Her mother, a civil service administrator, is single-handedly raising Vanessa and her sister. "My mother said from the start that she would support me no matter what," she said.
"She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and be determined about what I do."
She added that winning at the competition would make all the struggles worth it.
"I want to win and prove myself, and then hopefully become a lecturer or trainer one day," she said.
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