Liaw Lay Kian

Other Awards

St Luke's Silver Medal & Prize

Diploma with Merit 

While going back to school may be the last thing on the minds of many people in their 50s, Liaw Lay Kian’s learning journey has only just begun. Not only does the 55-year-old plan to pursue a Specialist Diploma after graduating from polytechnic, she knows exactly which field she hopes to specialise in: palliative care nursing.

Motivated by her love for people, Lay Kian only discovered her calling after she became a full-time caregiver to two of her loved ones. For about two decades, the former homemaker cared for her father-in-law, who was bedridden from a stroke he suffered in the 1990s. The mother-of-two was then dealt a second blow in 2008 when her husband was diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer. She cared for him too, until he passed away in the same year, within 10 months of his diagnosis.

Following her father-in-law’s death in March 2012, Lay Kian decided to train to become a nurse, first at the Institute for Technical Education, then at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP).

“Having been a caregiver before, I know how important it is to help patients live out their remaining days with dignity. No one wants to be a burden, and I hope to nurse them in a way that makes them feel loved and valued,” said Lay Kian, who returned to school because she wanted to learn how to deliver better care to other patients.

“I never imagined that I would become a student again, let alone be in a class with students younger than my daughters. It was definitely challenging but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” she added.

Despite being the oldest in her cohort, Lay Kian found it easy to fit in with her younger classmates. “They treated me like one of them and made me feel at home. I’m grateful that they were always ready to help, especially when I was trying to figure out how to use the school’s online portal,” she shared.

Besides juggling her school work and motherhood, Lay Kian also found time to volunteer at the Dover Park Hospice throughout her three years at NP. Lay Kian is currently working as an assistant nurse at Dover Park Hospice, and believes her life experiences have taught her the importance of providing holistic end-of-life care to others.

On what motivates her to keep going, Lay Kian, who counts Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa as her role models, said: “I remain focused on my goal to be a competent nurse, and to bring comfort to those feeling down and out in their season of life.”