Finding Purpose Through Education, Community, and Courage
When Devanshi Soni first visited Singapore in 2017, she was just a teenager on vacation. “Even as a teenager, something about this place just clicked. I remember walking around the city and thinking, ‘I want to live here one day,’” she recalls. Years later, that dream came full circle when she enrolled in the University of London (UOL)’s Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business and Management programme at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Global Education. Today, she proudly calls Singapore her second home and works as a Sustainability Consultant at Sustainable Living Lab (SL2).
Devanshi’s decision to study at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø was guided by more than just academic aspirations. “Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø stood out. It offered the UOL programme, which had the academic depth I was looking for. Plus, there were so many Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) to explore, and I loved how culturally diverse the student body was. It felt like a place where I wouldn’t just study, but I would grow into the person I wanted to become.”
That growth was not without its challenges. “I had to figure out how to cook, do my chores, manage my budget, even navigate public transport,” she shares. “You don’t arrive with a friend group, you build it from the ground up.” She found her footing through Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s CCAs and student leadership roles, eventually building her community and voice.
Her journey at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø took an unexpected turn the day she arrived in Singapore. “I tested positive for COVID-19 at the airport. Instead of settling in, I spent my first 10 days in quarantine, completely alone in a new country.” But that experience became a turning point. “That’s also when I truly experienced Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s spirit. They sent me a proper guide on the next steps and emergency contacts and checked in with me throughout… It all sounds small, but to someone alone in a new country, it meant everything.”
Throughout her studies, Devanshi immersed herself in student life. She took on leadership roles in clubs like Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Young Entrepreneur Network (YEN), and Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Investment & Networking Club (INC) and served as a Student Ambassador. As part of that role, she participated in the Kayak n Klean initiative, where she and fellow ambassadors helped clean up Jurong Lake as part of a hands-on sustainability effort. She also represented Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø at the ESSEC Business School Hackathon, where her team clinched first place by pitching a saltwater lamp powered by magnesium chips, a sustainable innovation aimed at energy access.
These experiences sparked a deeper passion for community and sustainability beyond Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. As a volunteer with , she served as a senior befriender for elderly residents and conducted door-to-door surveys on recycling habits in HDB estates. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, she founded the , a youth-led organisation that champions causes such as education access and menstrual hygiene. “Some of the conversations and the stories the girls shared have stayed with me long after the workshops ended,” she says. “Through Paalan, we wanted to show that young people don’t need to wait for permission to make a difference - they can start right where they are.”
At Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø, she also discovered her academic voice. “It wasn’t about memorising facts; it was about understanding ideas, thinking critically, and learning how to build your point of view,” she shares. This mindset shaped her approach to work and gave her the confidence to land her current role. “As an international student, getting that first job wasn’t easy but Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s Career Connect Office guided me through it. I ended up getting two job offers, and that wouldn’t have been possible without their support. I’m now at Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), working on sustainability strategies for global clients, which I’m genuinely passionate about.”
Devanshi’s crowning achievement came when she received the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø EDGE Award , an honour she once believed to be beyond her reach. For her, the award symbolises transformation: “It was a personal victory. Proof that I had grown and that I had overcome my self-doubt.”
Looking ahead, she encourages new students to take the initiative. “Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø gives you the platform, but it’s up to you to make the most of it.” As she continues to grow her career and the Paalan Foundation, she remains committed to the spirit of contribution that defined her time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. “Keep going. Everything you’re doing will add up.”