Quest Alumni Journeys Series

From Caregiver to Compassionate Nurse

Every Queenstown student has walked their own path beyond the school gates. For Rizwana, that path began in the school parade square, nervously giving the morning command as vice-chairperson of the Red Cross Youth. Today, it continues in the wards of Singapore General Hospital, where she serves as a Senior Staff Nurse, drawing strength from lessons of resilience and care first shaped at home and in school.

Early Memories of Queenstown

One memory that still makes her smile is her very first attempt at leading the morning assembly. “I remember stuttering at the start, trying to compose myself while my friends laughed in the audience. It was nerve-wracking then, but looking back now, it makes me laugh too,” she recalled. That moment was a turning point, teaching her composure and courage in front of a crowd.

Friendship is another part of Queenstown Secondary that Rizwana continues to treasure. She keeps in touch with a small circle of classmates, often over karaoke and dinner after work. To her delight, one of them even became her colleague in the hospital ward, turning school ties into professional support.

Lessons of Care and Resilience

Teachers also played a quiet but influential role in her journey. She remembers Madam Wong, her form and history teacher for four years, who constantly checked in on her well-being. Knowing Rizwana came from a family managing financial challenges and a father on dialysis, Madam Wong offered snacks during reading periods and genuine concern beyond academics.

“She left a big impact on me. You could feel she cared,” Rizwana said.

At that time, Rizwana often took on part-time jobs during the school holidays to help ease her family’s financial strain. Balancing studies, CCA commitments, and work was never easy, and Madam Wong often showed genuine concern for her well-being. Rizwana would reassure her teacher that she only worked during the school breaks, but she never forgot the kindness and care behind those questions.

Her years in the Red Cross Youth left lasting impressions, too. From shouting across corridors to NPCC friends, to standing in full white uniform for hours during National Day Parade rehearsals, the experience taught her discipline, teamwork, and a sense of service. “It influenced me, but more than that, it was my father’s illness that inspired me to go into nursing,” she shared.

A Calling Shaped by Family

“I grew up accompanying my Appa to his dialysis treatments regularly. Looking back, I think nursing chose me, not the other way around. I was probably born to be a nurse.”

As a child, Rizwana often accompanied her late father to his dialysis sessions. Unlike many, she was never fazed by the sight of blood or the urgency of medical care. Instead, she felt drawn to it. “I saw the connection nurses had with patients and families, and I wanted to be part of that,” she explained.

She would also join her father in festive celebrations organised by the dialysis centre, where the nurses and staff felt like extended family. One vivid memory was of her father dressing up as Elvis Presley, filling the room with laughter and joy. Those moments of warmth and dignity left a lasting impression on her understanding of what care entails.

The Heart of a Nurse

Today, she finds the most rewarding part of nursing in small but profound moments of appreciation. A patient’s heartfelt “thank you,” or a family member’s smile, keeps her going even on difficult days. For her, the role goes beyond medicine.

“Sometimes the reward isn’t a recovery, because not every patient gets better. It’s knowing you gave them comfort and dignity, even at the end of life.”

At the same time, she wishes people understood the depth of nursing work. “It’s not just wiping patients. We’re also advocates, educators, and caregivers. People don’t realise how much assessment goes into even the simplest task.”

To younger alumni considering nursing or healthcare, Rizwana’s advice is both realistic and hopeful.

“Passion is important, but it’s not enough. You have to take care of yourself, too, or you’ll burn out. Just like pouring from a cup, you can’t keep giving if you don’t refill your own.”

When asked what song would capture her nursing journey, Rizwana laughed before naming All the Stars by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, from the Black Panther soundtrack. To her, the lyrics reflect her milestones, from being a caregiver for her father to surviving nursing school and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. “Each star represents a part of my journey,” she said.

From the school assembly stage to the hospital ward, Rizwana’s story shines with empathy, resilience, and purpose. Her late father’s strength and journey continue to live on in the care she now gives to every patient she meets.