RP’s top graduate, who almost did not enter secondary school, plans to make an impact in public service

“My dad felt that it was important I spend my secondary school years in Singapore because of how well-recognised the academic certificates here are,” Mr Faiq said. “I was quite sad to leave (Saudi Arabia), because I was used to the more relaxed pace of life there.”

As a Sec 1 student, Mr Faiq found himself struggling to adapt to the syllabus in Singapore.

He said: “My first exam in secondary school, I was getting Ds and Fs for everything. It was a long journey to catch up with my peers.”

He credited his teachers at Naval Base Secondary School who took extra steps to help him, and his grades steadily improved with each examination. 

“They knew my foundation was weak, so they would stay back during breaks or after classes to help me with my studies,” he said. “Through a lot of repetition and practice papers, my teachers pushed me to do better and better.”

After his N levels, Mr Faiq chose to pursue pharmaceutical science at RP via the polytechnic foundation programme, a scheme for Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) students which allows them to apply directly to polytechnic for a foundation year instead of completing Secondary 5 and the O levels.

“I was choosing my course during the peak of COVID-19 and there was a lot of focus on vaccines in the news, so that kind of sparked my interest in Pharmaceutical Science,” said Mr Faiq.

He also attributed his academic success at RP to the more hands-on learning environment. “Rather than pure memorisation, I can see how what I’m learning in class translates into the real world.”

A youth leader in various mosques and community organisations, Mr Faiq has also found purpose outside the classroom.

To date, he has organised some 20 youth engagement and outreach activities, including Hari Raya celebrations bringing together young people and visually impaired participants from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), a late night cycling activity with low-income families, and a beach clean-up.

He was also a recipient of the National Youth Achievement Award (Gold Award) in 2025.

“For me, community service is about the impact I can make in other people’s lives, no matter how small,” he said.

Mr Faiq recalled a particularly heartwarming incident in February when a visually impaired SAVH representative recognised him from the sound of his voice during an online meeting.

“I had helped her into a taxi at an event we organised close to a year ago, and she still remembered me just from my voice. I was really touched,” Mr Faiq said.

Following his graduation, Mr Faiq plans to pursue a healthcare- and management- related degree in a British university on a scholarship, and pursue a career in the public service after he graduates.

He said: “I want to be able to expand the amount of good I can do, and make an impact in people’s lives no matter their background or how disadvantaged they are.”