For 26-year-old Samuel Chew, growing up with profound hearing loss meant navigating differently from his peers.
Simple classroom instructions were hard to follow, and the sounds of everyday life often felt distant. Yet, with the support of his family, teachers and friends, Samuel slowly found the confidence to speak up, learn in ways that worked for him, and to keep moving forward.
Samuel’s parents did everything they could to ensure he had the same opportunities as his peers. Saving up for his first pair of hearing aids, they gifted them to him when he was just five years old. He also attended speech therapy sessions by the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) and attended enrichment classes by Chinese Development Assistance Council.
At 13, Samuel took on another role beyond being a student: caregiver. When his father was diagnosed with Fahr’s syndrome, a rare disorder caused by an abnormal build-up of calcium in the brain that may lead to movement disorders and dementia, Samuel adjusted his polytechnic schedule around caregiving duties and studied late into the night. Years later, after his father passed away, he stepped up again to support his mother following her brain tumour diagnosis.
Through it all, Samuel kept pursuing his aspirations. His perseverance was recognised when he received the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Scholarship, offered in partnership with SPD, in October 2025.
Finding his dreams
“My parents raised me to believe that despite my differences, there are still many things I can do. I should not compare myself to others or think that I am any less of a person,” Samuel said. For him, education became a process of discovering what worked: using his strengths as a kinesthetic learner and finding environments where he could connect ideas through sight, movement and hands-on experience.
A turning point came during a 21-day Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) Classic Challenge Course. While kayaking Tanjung Pinang, Samuel was struck by the beauty of a stars-filled sky with little light pollution. That moment sparked his interest in environment studies.
Today, as an Environmental Science student at Nanyang Technological University, he hopes to turn that inspiration into action for a more sustainable future.
A Youth Day reminder
Samuel’s ambitions extends beyond the classroom. Drawn to marine ecology, he hopes to work on environmental impact assessments, restoration projects and policies that balance development with ecological preservation. With the APB Foundation Scholarship easing financial pressures, he can focus on deepening his understanding of environmental issues and growing into the changemaker he wants to be.
His message to other young persons with disabilities is this: “Keep on dreaming big, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and give yourself the time, grace, and space to grow. Progress is not always visible, and your journey may look different, but different does not mean it is any less meaningful.”
This Youth Day, Samuel reminds us that every young person’s journey is different. With courage and purpose, he is showing how youths can overcome challenges to help build a better tomorrow.