From second chances to the national stage: RP valedictorian Sheila Khoo inspires at National Day Rally
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School of Infocomm
24 August 2026
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong closed his National Day Rally with the story of Sheila Khoo, an RP School of Infocomm valedictorian who graduated with a perfect GPA after overcoming years of setbacks, and will soon pursue Computer Science at NTU on a full scholarship.
When Prime Minister Lawrence Wong brought his National Day Rally to a close, he chose to end with a story close to many hearts: that of Sheila Khoo, a graduate of RP School of Infocomm.
Her journey was never a straightforward one. Bullied in school, Sheila dropped out of secondary school twice and polytechnic once. For years, even everyday social interactions felt daunting, but she kept finding her way forward.
An interest in Japanese led to translation work, and small successes gradually rebuilt her confidence. Three years ago, Sheila decided to give education another chance, this time at RP.
What followed was remarkable. She found friends and lecturers who believed in her. She pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of and began helping others along the way.
This May, Sheila graduated as valedictorian of the School of Infocomm with a perfect GPA. She will soon begin a new chapter at Nanyang Technological University, studying Computer Science on a full scholarship.
At the Rally, PM Wong spoke of the Singapore spirit as "the belief that where we start need not determine how far we can go." Sheila's journey embodies that beautifully, and we could not be prouder to have been part of her story.
Watch PM Wong share Sheila's story at the National Day Rally 2026.