SINGAPORE – Ms Dorcas Tang had always wanted to study art since she was in primary school. But following the advice of those around her, she chose a more practical path, pursuing studies in science and architecture, while continuing to make art on the side.
She accepted a scholarship that would fully fund her polytechnic and university studies in architecture, in return for a three-year bond.
But this decision eventually took a toll on her mental health.
While studying sustainable urban design and engineering in polytechnic, the straight-A student was so overwhelmed by the demanding course that on one particularly challenging day, she could not even get out of bed.
Gradually, she started skipping classes, and her grades slipped to the point where she was almost debarred from school.
Noticing that something was amiss, her boyfriend accompanied her to a polyclinic. At 19, Ms Tang was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety. Still, she persisted, graduating from polytechnic as valedictorian.
Armed with antidepressants, meditation techniques and a network of support groups, Ms Tang decided to plough on with her scholarship to study architecture at university. But three weeks into the course, she suffered a relapse.
“There were days when I would feel a fog come over me, and I’d just not be able to do anything or answer any calls.”
At one point, she did not leave her room for a week. “I felt very trapped,” said Ms Tang, who is now 24.
After completing three semesters, she decided to defer her studies and began serving part of her bond. But she failed to show up for work and was dismissed after three weeks.
This was when she dropped out of school and broke her scholarship bond in February 2023. “That was rock bottom for me because I had tried to do my best to earn all those grades and be a good student, but all that backfired on me,” she said.
