From 'late bloomer' to model trainee: ITE student juggles work and study successfully

This article was contributed by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Eng Kai Teng Janita
Higher Nitec in Service Management (Traineeship) @ ITE College West/Lifesystems Chiropractic Pte Ltd
Recipient of Lee Kuan Yew Model Trainee Award 2023

Serving with Passion

Twenty-one-year-old Janita Eng considers herself a late bloomer. While she was aimless in secondary school, her good performance in her Nitec in Retail course encouraged her to stay on track and achieve more. After Nitec, the independent youth enrolled in the Higher Nitec in Service Management course in traineeship mode to gain industry exposure in a clinical setting. 

A role model for trainees, she embraces a service mindset while juggling work and study effectively. As a Customer Success Specialist at Lifesystems Chiropractic Pte Ltd, Janita’s job scope requires her to perform administrative tasks, manage customer touchpoints, attend to patients’ needs and assist patients in treatment and therapy sessions. She impressed both her employer and its patients with her professional work ethics and interpersonal skills. 

Janita formulated a clear goal to pursue nursing as a career. She felt that it was important to learn all aspects of patient management first to understand the job demands in nursing. She is confident that her traineeship experience has put her in good stead as she transits from service wellness to the healthcare sector. With the money she has saved up from traineeship, she has progressed to study nursing at diploma level. 

Foresight, determination and careful planning are key attributes that set Janita apart. One will not doubt Janita’s competency to rise above challenges and build the future she envisions for herself – serve and make a meaningful impact in people’s lives, especially in their moments of vulnerability.

From the Heart 

“Just be yourself. Ignore the negativity that may abound in tough circumstances and people around you. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you will be rewarded with success.”

Life after ITE 

Janita secured an Early Admissions Exercise placement in nursing at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. She is one step closer to realising her dream career in nursing.

Top Achievements 

• The business owner of Lifesystems Chiropractic Pte Ltd was very satisfied with Janita’s overall performance at work. In the last term of her traineeship programme, she was graded 96 per cent in the second half of the term with a cumulative Grade Pont Average of 3.4.

• Prior to joining the traineeship programme, she volunteered in Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen where she prepared food for the needy. 

• In 2020, when Janita worked part-time at Raffles City Market Place, she received the ‘Putting Customers First’ Award based on positive customer feedback. She was then appointed as an onsite mentor to new employees.