SINGAPORE – Ms Raphaella Gautama was only 16 when she was diagnosed with a rare condition that restricted her mobility, confining her to a wheelchair and resulting in frequent hospital visits.

It was 2020, the year that Ms Gautama described as the lowest point in her life because she had to deal with her diagnosis, her father dying from a stroke and her O-level examinations. 

The Temasek Polytechnic (TP) student, now 20, has a rare condition called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, which makes muscles and tissues turn into bone, causing stiffness and limiting her movements. 

“That year, everything just happened at the same time, and there was no break in the middle,” she told The Straits Times on May 2, describing the circumstances that she and her family had to go through.

Ms Gautama is one of 5,315 students in 36 full-time and 48 part-time courses graduating from TP in 2024.

Despite being in and out of the hospital, sometimes having to skip lectures or tutorials, she refused to let her situation define her. Instead, she learnt how to advocate for herself at home and in school, surrounded by her family, friends and lecturers who supported her. 

She said that when she first started at TP, she did not know what accommodations needed to be made for her, including physical amenities like lifts and ramps, but her lecturers and the school’s special educational needs support team gave her the time to figure it out.

Ms Gautama said: “In that way, it was like a self-discovery journey to find out what I personally needed, what support I needed, and which people to look for. 

“It was me taking personal responsibility, to tell others what I need help with, instead of waiting for them to ask me.” 

Ms Gautama, who graduated with a Diploma in Law and Management, said her desire to pursue law came after she saw her mother deal with legal issues regarding her father’s assets after his death.

She currently works as a paralegal in a family law firm and hopes to pursue a law degree in Singapore.

Congratulating the graduates, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on May 2 that the polytechnic sector has become more inclusive over the years, welcoming students from various pathways, including those from Normal (Academic) streams, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and junior colleges. 

About 4,000 ITE students are admitted into polytechnics every year, Mr Ong added, and some 300 students every year who have completed JC decide to switch track to polys. 

Polytechnics have also shifted their focus from just academic strengths, by introducing aptitude-based admissions for students based on interviews and portfolios, he said.

Partnerships forged between polytechnics and industry leaders have also given students the opportunity to study a variety of courses, move on to universities, and secure good starting jobs, Mr Ong added.

Likening polytechnic education to an adventure, he said: “It has moved with the times, and perhaps even ahead of the times, to prepare our students for a fast-changing world.”

He was addressing graduates from the School of Applied Science’s Diploma in Medical Biotechnology and Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science courses at the first of 17 TP graduation ceremonies, which will be held till May 9. 

“The industry needs you, and you are entering a growing sector with a strong demand for good workers and good professionals,” Mr Ong said. “Get a degree if you have the opportunity. If not, keep learning and seize opportunities to learn and upgrade.”

Mr Ong presented awards to 11 students, including Ms Gautama, who received the Ngee Ann Kongsi Most Outstanding Overcomer Award. It recognises students with good academic achievements and strong perseverance in overcoming challenges. 

When asked how she has maintained a positive outlook despite her circumstances, Ms Gautama said she intentionally chose not to dwell on the negatives and not to be ashamed of asking for help.

She said: “I just have to think of (the situation) positively. I know that there are people who want to help me, and if I can just reach out to them and remove myself from situations of self-doubt, I can always find a solution.”