Reudi Chan: more than just jumping around
By Grace Ang, Senior Executive, Communications & External Relations
Just moments before stepping onto the trampoline to perform his painstakingly rehearsed routine in front of the judges, Reudi Chan decided to practise the most difficult jump – a half twist to backdrop – one last time. That turned out to be a fateful decision.
“I heard something like the cracking of a whip,” said Reudi, who soon after could not lift his arm. He had fractured his elbow, and was out of the competition before it had even started. He was whisked away in an ambulance to the nearest hospital, leaving him anxious and helpless.
When he was first assigned gymnastics as a co-curricular activity (CCA) in secondary school, Reudi decided to appeal, as he felt gymnastics was too ‘girly’. But after his appeal was turned down, he grudgingly gave the sport a go.
Starting from scratch, he worked his way through, from basic tuck jumps to more advanced combinations such as the half twist to backdrop and gradually grew to love the sport. In fact, he discovered he had a talent for it. Not long after, Reudi qualified for inter-school competitions. Elated, Reudi said, “I’ve learnt the value of maintaining an open mind when an opportunity presents itself.”
Of course, Murphy’s law had to strike when all seemed to go so well. The accident left him with a phobia of practising the very move which caused his fracture. Thankfully, with the support of his coach, team mates and family, he finally faced his fear. One year after the accident, he was back at the same inter-school competition, ready to do his best, to much cheering from his coach and team mates.
Even though he did not win, Reudi felt more accomplished than ever. He had overcome this psychological barrier and emerged as a stronger individual. “In truth, I am competing against no one but myself,” he said. “Since that experience, I have always held myself to my own expectations and standards, and not that of others.”
The experience, which instilled in Reudi not only positivity in the face of challenges, but also a steely resilience, saw him through the gruelling application process to get into medical school. Well-meaning acquaintances, who had cautioned that medical school was going to be an immensely rigorous path, only made Reudi more determined to succeed. The discipline and dedication demanded of him during his gymnast days paid off for he got into medical school with ease.
Now a Year 3 medical student, 22-year-old Reudi said, “Perseverance has served me well, especially when navigating the many challenging topics in medical school.”
Used to practising the same routine all year long to perform it to perfection just once, Reudi lives by the mantra practice makes perfect. His constant strive for perfection and excellence has indeed brought him new opportunities, including the chance to take part in the University Research Experience on Campus (URECA) during his second year. Reudi impressed his supervisor with his strong sense of commitment, responsibility and inquisitive mind, which helped him earn a distinction in his project.
Now a Year 3 medical student, 22-year-old Reudi said, “Perseverance has served me well, especially when navigating the many challenging topics in medical school.”
Used to practising the same routine all year long to perform it to perfection just once, Reudi lives by the mantra practice makes perfect. His constant strive for perfection and excellence has indeed brought him new opportunities, including the chance to take part in the University Research Experience on Campus (URECA) during his second year. Reudi impressed his supervisor with his strong sense of commitment, responsibility and inquisitive mind, which helped him earn a distinction in his project.
Despite his academic achievements, Reudi remains level headed. Having once been in the shoes of a patient – waiting between appointments, experiencing the inconvenience and interruptions an injury or illness brings – he has learnt first hand that theory alone doesn’t solve a patient’s woes. Now as he goes around the hospital wards on his clinical attachments, Reudi holds both the physician’s perspective and the patient’s story in his mind.
Armed with empathy for the ill, Reudi aspires to specialise in internal medicine in the future, a field in which he hopes to provide cross-specialty and holistic care to patients.
“All it takes is a little effort to make patients feel at ease in the clinic,” said Reudi. “Even if I do not have all the answers, I want to be able to reassure others and help them achieve peace of mind.
