Quest Alumni Journeys Series

Memories That Shaped Her

For Kartini Binte Alit, Class of 2004, the corridors of Queenstown Secondary are remembered in bright fragments of sound and motion. The thrill of sprinting across the finish line in the 100m and 4x100m relay. The chatter of friends trading secrets between lessons. The joy of netball training under the afternoon sun. And always, the canteen aunties’ sambal hotdog buns, warm and comforting before the school day began. These memories, sweet and straightforward, stitched together a sense of belonging that still lingers in her heart.

Guiding her along the way were teachers like Cikgu Naim and Miss Choong, who saw beyond grades and spoke to her potential with kindness.

“Their words never disappointed me, even when my results weren’t the best,” Kartini reflects.

Friends, too, made their mark, especially Amelia Leong, a companion who listened without judgment and reminded her that closeness and trust are treasures to carry through life.

A Passion Found in Fitness

Sport was Kartini’s heartbeat at Queenstown. Track, field, and netball taught her discipline, teamwork, and joy in movement. Yet life after graduation tested her in unexpected ways. A young mother with only N-Level qualifications, she worked wherever survival demanded, from retail to F&B. Later, she trained as a make-up artist. Still, it was in the gym that she rediscovered herself.

Fitness soon became her anchor. What began as casual workouts evolved into something deeper, a passion that made her feel alive. Determined to take it further, she enrolled in a personal training course and started working with real clients. Kartini then joined a well-established fitness chain as a full-time trainer, where she built her client base. Each session became more than a job; it was an opportunity to guide others through the same journey of strength and confidence she had walked herself.

Discovering Boxing

Her first brush with boxing came in her early twenties. Friends encouraged her to try, though at first she resisted, believing the sport was not for her. That changed when she walked into Legends Fight Sports and trained under Muhammad Ridhwan, a SEA Games medallist and professional fighter. What began as a trial quickly grew into an obsession. What drew her in was not bravado, but the honesty of the craft. “They taught real boxing, simple and authentic,” she says. Soon, what started as curiosity turned into devotion.

Muhammad Ridhwan, Singapore’s first pro boxing world champion.

Kartini often calls boxing “dancing in the ring.” To her, it mirrors the rhythms of life itself.

“We can plan, but there will always be unforeseen obstacles along the way. Like a dance, you must move with what you are given and adjust as you go. Even if you falter, you must keep moving.” 

For Kartini, it is also about learning to roll with the punches, both inside and outside the ring. Challenges may land unexpectedly, but resilience is found in how one responds, adapts, and continues the fight.

Strength in Family Support

Boxing also became a way for Kartini’s son to see another side of her. Though not an expressive child, he supported her decision to train and once turned up to watch one of her competitive fights. After the match, he surprised her with advice of his own, sharing what he had observed about her movements in the ring. For Kartini, that moment was deeply moving. It was not just about winning or losing, but about knowing that her journey had inspired her son to see strength and strategy in her, and to voice his pride in his own quiet way.

Lessons for Life

Introducing boxing to others has been one of her greatest joys. Whether sharing techniques or revealing the nuances between amateur and professional fights, she finds fulfilment in creating a community that uses boxing not only to keep fit but also to learn about discipline. Beyond the punches, she hopes they carry with them the same lessons she has learnt: patience, resilience, and the quiet belief that “this too shall pass.”

If she could whisper to her younger self in Queenstown’s classrooms, Kartini would say, “Embrace your difference. Being athletic as a girl is a gift. Honour that gift.” To today’s Queenstown students, her message is equally heartfelt:

“Passion is what lights you up inside. It is not for your parents, not for your siblings, it is yours. Even if it begins small, nurture it, because the world notices when you come alive.”

From the school track to personal training to the boxing ring, Kartini’s journey is defined by strength, courage, and an enduring legacy of resilience. She has shown her son, her trainees, and her community that perseverance is as necessary as passion, and that discipline can be a gift passed on to others. Each step, each choice, and each dance in the ring reflects the same spirit she discovered as a Queenstown student, that life is not about standing still, but about daring to move, adjusting to the rhythm, and always finding the strength to roll with the punches.