“It took some convincing to get some of the students on board, because they were reluctant about the almost-year-long commitment to participate in the mentorship programme,” says recalls Ms Bhavaniswari D/O Batumalia. “But once they saw the value in it, we saw a visible increase in their commitment through the effort they put into their tasks and how they looked forward to meetings with their mentors. This engagement spread to other aspects of school too.”
The Head of Department for Partnerships and Engagement in Boon Lay Secondary School (BLS) was responding to a question about the changes she observed in her students after undergoing the mentorship programme. Acronymised as FLEX (Fulfilling Lives through Experience), it is born out of a partnership between BLS and the Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG).
“We wanted to better engage our students outside of school,” explains Ms Bhavani. “And we thought of tapping on PPHG’s expertise in hospitality to give our students exposure to the industry and get to know what a career in the hospitality industry might be like.”
Boon Lay Secondary student Ryan Yong learnt to make the bed while working in the hotel’s housekeeping department.
Learning out of the classrooms, in the hotels
The FLEX mentorship programme with PPHG, which has been running since 2022, comprises a four-day externship where students shadow their mentors. The mentors show them the ropes of working in a hotel, followed by three months of fortnightly mentoring sessions. Every year, over a dozen students are paired with mentors who are industry veterans. The teenagers gain career insights and newfound confidence from the mentorship, among other skills.
Boon Lay Secondary School and FLEX programme alumni Anson Ho went on to work part-time as a concierge for the Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
Anson Ho, who graduated from BLS in 2023 and is an alumnus of FLEX 2023, says that the programme was “a transformative and eye-opening experience”. He chose to pursue a post-secondary course in Tourism Management, and he secured a part-time role as a concierge at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, a hotel under the Pan Pacific Hotels Group, where he further deepened his knowledge of the industry.
“I gained better clarity of what I want to do when I graduate. And it also instilled in me a sense of purpose and responsibility, encouraging me to become a positive influence in my community,” adds Anson.
Echoing Anson’s sentiments, Feby Lim, a 2024 graduand of the programme, says, “My FLEX experience has been nothing short of meaningful. My mentor was kind and patiently answered our numerous questions, so I’m very grateful for that.”
Students who graduated from the programme even helped their teachers convince the next batch of invited students to join FLEX. “It’s really encouraging to see them agree to share their experiences with their juniors, especially those who were initially reluctant to join FLEX,” adds Mdm Rosetta Fung, BLS’s Education and Career Guidance (ECG) counsellor. She works with Ms Bhavani to identify students who can potentially gain the most out of the mentorship programme.
Chef Concierge Mr Muhammad Syahir Bin Mohd Sulaiman (centre), with Boon Lay Secondary School students who were attached to PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering Hotel’s Concierge team.
Mdm Fung recalls fondly how experiences gained during FLEX helped students gain confidence because they see the impact of the work that they do. “We had a student who was attached to the hotel front desk, and a guest was so impressed with his service that he posted his positive feedback on social media. The hotel received news of the review and shared it with us. It’s a boost to the student’s confidence,” she says.
True hospitality, in every way possible
The PPHG mentors also share that it has been a fulfilling experience, taking part in FLEX. Many of them were heartened to witness the students openly share their thoughts and confide in them about their goals and aspirations.
Assistant Executive Housekeeper Ms Joann D Brozas shares, “I saw in the students, a younger version of myself who was eager to learn and discover potential career paths. So, to guide them through the process of discovery and witness their curiosity and growth was very rewarding for me.” One of her mentees even joined her team for a part-time role during his school break too.
Ms Bhavani attests to the impact of FLEX in helping to open up career opportunities to students, adding how the programme inspired Anson, who was initially set on another course, to switch to study Tourism Management. “It gives them exposure to something that is beyond the scope of their learning in school, and it’s really quite a unique experience that they might not get anywhere else,” she says.
Mdm Fung adds, “While the students shadow a mentor, they are actually learning from a circle of support that they get from everyone they interact with, from the programme coordinator to the hotel staff they encounter. This opens their mind to different paths they can take in future.”
(From left to right) Boon Lay Secondary School students Lin Jinhao and Feby Lim with Restaurant Manager Mr Veerapan Girubanantham playing a game at their final mentoring session.
Restaurant Manager Mr Veerapan Girubanantham, who’s one of the mentors for FLEX, says, “I hope that sharing my knowledge and professional experiences with the mentees will help them improve decision-making and encourage their career growth. I wish I had access to this kind of programme that could have helped shaped me into a more competent individual when I was younger!”
Photos courtesy of Boon Lay Secondary School and Pan Pacific Hotel Group.
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