Young people should nurture a hunger for learning beyond passing school examinations, develop their fluency in English, and maintain a sound moral foundation if they wanted to succeed in life.
The key attributes were outlined by Jason Tan, assistant professor of management studies at the National Institute of Education, Singapore, guest-of-honour at Valtorta College's 21st speech day.
Professor Tan recalled how eyebrows were raised when he decided to take his master's degree in education at the University of Hong Kong, rather than in Singapore, 10 years ago.
He said he had never regretted the decision because of the enriching experience gained in Hong Kong and later in the United States.
He urged graduates to develop a desire to become fluent in English, which would open doors. As well as being knowledgeable, they should also be honest, kind and thoughtful, he said.
Professor Tan summed up his message with the school's motto, Lumen Accende, Corda Inflamma (by studying we learn many things, from knowledge is derived the impulse to act).
