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One look at Sherry, you wouldn’t think she’s a person with a rare chronic disease.

However, when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at age 19, her entire life changed.

"I was at home sleeping when a sudden sharp pain went up my left leg and it resulted in a left foot drop,” Sherry recalled. “I was sent to a hospital and went through about 10 days of various tests and that was when they diagnosed me with Vasculitis.”

is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the blood vessels in the body. For Sherry’s case, the blood vessels in her feet are affected, leading to rashes on her legs or worse, open ulcers which are “really, really painful”.

As Vasculitis is a disease without cure, Sherry has to rely on lifelong medication to suppress the intense symptoms to have a better function of life.

The side effects from the medication and the occasional nerve pain remain a daily challenge. These days, the 43-year-old also utilises a leg brace to ease her mobility.

But Vasculitis affected more than just Sherry’s physical body – it impacted her life in other ways as well.

 

SOCIAL ANXIETY AND MENTAL STRESS

The first few years of Vasculitis were lonely as Sherry felt different from her peers.

“I encountered significant limitations in my daily activities, such as an inability to engage in prolonged standing or walking,” she explained.

“The visible symptoms of the disease, particularly the painful and ugly rashes, were a constant source of embarrassment and self-consciousness, impacting my social interactions.

“Consequently, I felt isolated from peers who were able to fully participate in campus life.”

Sherry was an undergraduate at a local university at that point in time. However, the constant stress from her studies and her student life took a toll on her well-being.

It was then a friend studying at SIM-RMIT University introduced her to the university’s flexible schedule, offering Sherry the opportunity for more independent learning and project-based work.

“This appealed to me as it promised a better balance between my studies and personal growth - including volunteering activities,” she said.

 

PIVOTING HER PASSION

Sherry’s younger self, who once dreamt of being a nurse or a teacher because she “loved the idea of helping people directly”, had to give up on her original aspirations as the physical demands of teaching and a compromised immune system ruled those options out.

It was a tough reality check, and Sherry found herself lost and unsure what she should do next.

Rechannelling her passion to help others, Sherry started to explore volunteering opportunities as it offered her “a much-needed escape and a sense of purpose”.

It was also why she chose to take up a business course with SIM-RMIT – Sherry wanted a solid business background to be equipped with the necessary tools to achieve her objective of contributing positively back to society.

Time flexibility for her to pursue her interest in volunteering was a bonus.

“Beyond academics, volunteering as an assistant at the  playroom and as an early intervention assistant at  were incredibly rewarding experiences,” Sherry recounted.

“Dedicating at least three months to each role allowed me to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, fostering a deep sense of purpose that continues to influence my career today.”

Upon graduating, Sherry leveraged her business degree to enter the non-profit sector, specifically working with students with dyslexia at .

Building on this experience, she later expanded her expertise in supporting children with special needs at , working with children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In 2017, Sherry established , a ground up movement to support persons with disability. The organisation has since grown into a social service agency running befriending programmes at welfare homes and providing support for families with children with special needs through curated play activities, parent workshops and family bonding events.

 

SUCCESS IN A DIFFERENT FORM

As an Executive Director of a startup charity, Sherry credits her time at SIM for equipping her with a strong foundation in business skills that have been instrumental in her current role.

“The strategic thinking, financial acumen, and resource management expertise I gained have been invaluable in driving our organisation's growth and impact,” she elaborated.

The valuable insights gleaned from her active engagement in volunteer work during her schooling days also helped Sherry to better advocate for the marginalised.

And while the 43-year-old business graduate acknowledged that her pathway to success looks different from her peers in the corporate world, she found purpose in the non-profit sector, explaining that “it was a deliberate choice, driven by a desire to make a tangible impact on society".

“Although this is a road less travelled, the journey has been incredibly rewarding, with the sense of fulfillment and purpose outweighing the monetary compensation,” she affirmed.

“SIM provided me with the tools and flexibility to not only overcome obstacles but to transform them into opportunities for growth.”

 

 

EDUCATION, PASSION & RESILIENCE

When asked what fuels her, Sherry highlights the strength of the beneficiaries she serves: “Witnessing the positive changes we have achieved at Be Kind SG, and the heartfelt gratitude and inspiring stories from the communities we serve give me the motivation to keep going.

“Their courage and resilience in the face of adversity inspire me to persevere, transforming challenges into opportunities to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.”

Sherry’s resilience is further demonstrated in her advice to current and future learners of SIM: “Adversity is an inevitable part of life, but it's how we respond to challenges that defines us.”

She also encourages her juniors to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn, grow, and make a positive impact.

“Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, pursue your dreams, and make a difference in the world.

“Your education is a powerful foundation, but it is your passion, resilience, and commitment that will propel you forward.”