A Tapestry of Friendships and Experiences

Behind every fulfilling journey, there are often pivotal figures and unforgettable moments that shape one’s path. For Prof Chan, the influence is multifaceted, marked by interactions with classmates, teachers, colleagues, and students who have become life-long friends. She recalls the profound perception of Professors Ngiam Tong Lan, T.R.R. Kurup, R. Karunanithy, Lee How Sung and Lam Pin Woon, the selfless commitment of fellow Pharmacists Wu Tuck Seng, Lim Mun Moon, Grant Sklar, Yong Pei Chean, Tan Mui Ling, Felicia Ling and Annie Chia, as well as Mrs Teo Say Moi’s 40-year dedicated service to NUS.

Her journey was filled with many memorable events. Prof Chan fondly reminisces about an Annual Dinner and Dance in 1979 that took an unexpected turn of events due to heavy rains. With knee-high floods obstructing their paths, Prof Chan and the fellow members of the organising committee had to wade through the deluge, carrying their gowns, suits, shoes, and prizes above their heads. Despite the sparse attendance, they seized the opportunity to savour the leftover food with pharmacy friends at the Science canteen the following day. Another cherished memory dates back to the Rag and Flag event of the late ’70s. Together with fellow pharmacy classmates, they crafted a simple float on a lorry in just a week. Their journey down Orchard Road, amidst a procession of floats from other schools, was an adventure in itself, as they would hop on and off the lorry during pit stops, wielding tin cans to canvas for donations.

Prof Chan also shared laughter-inducing memories, such as how the event unfolded during a year-end party at the Pharmaceutical Department, Ministry of Health, when she was playing the piano accompaniment for Ms Amy Lim. She could still remember the momentary freezing that she experienced when Ms Lim’s soprano voice resonated through the room, and it took quite a while for her to catch up and harmonize with Ms Lim.

Reflecting on her time in Belfast, Prof Chan fondly recalls the humour of the staff and fellow PhD students who surprised her with a pair of badminton rackets ingeniously transformed into “snow boots”, accompanied by a hollow pole. This humorous gesture was their response to her anxious inquiries about preparing for the winter and the anticipated depth of snowfall. Their playful advice was for her to don the “snowboots” and, in the event of being buried under a mound of snow, to breathe slowly through the pole. However, it’s worth noting that, back then, Northern Ireland experienced little snowfall.

Amidst these light-hearted recollections, Prof Chan remembers sombre moments too. For her, witnessing a resilient student with terminal cancer attending the commencement ceremony serves as a poignant reminder of the strength displayed by students and pharmacists who have tenaciously committed to complete their tasks and responsibilities while battling personal challenges.

Prof Chan acknowledges that the heart-warming and gut-wrenching moments are countless, and too many to pen down, yet, they remain precious and etched in her memory.