my idol:

Ms Elim Chew, Founder and Managing Director of 77th Street known as the Guru of youths and streetwears.

"I started out in life as a young punk. A rebellious teenager, I made it to the list of top 10 failures every year of my secondary school. After my O-levels, I went to London to further my studies, but due to some visa complications, I picked up hairdressing instead, enjoying it so much that I went to all the top hairdressing schools in London. I fit right into London punk culture, and had such a great time I decided not to return to Singapore - until one day my cousins, jealous of the favour I had with my aunt, whom I was staying with, bashed me up and I landed in the hospital. Once my mother heard of this, she flew to London, took me by the collar and shipped me home. So it was that I landed on Singapore soil complete with spiky rainbow-coloured hair, black and blue lipstick and weird dressing. I was 19 then.

I set up a hair salon with just $1,000. It had only six seats and I couldn't afford equipment. But I dreamed big and I had a definite goal: to be the most popular hairstylist in Singapore and even the world. I endured the bullying of more experienced shampoo girls and long hours from as early as 5am to as late as 2am, just to get experience. My dream came one step closer one day when I finally expanded to 16 seats.

But from then on, my goals changed. I aimed to make money. I wrote the words "MY MILLION" on a piece of paper, stuck it in my wallet and reviewed it every time I opened my wallet. Money by itself is a neutral thing; it can be used for good or bad, depending on the person who wields it. Today I believe that however I want to help society, be it building churches, orphanages or charities, it all boils down to money.

I did have my share of wild living. In those years, wanting to be known, I hung around the clubs where the Who's Whos in the industry hung out. I was drunk every night, until one fine day I threw up so badly that I thought I was going to die. I guess that really woke me up and I quit drinking. I never got into drugs and sex though - I was sensible enough to know the consequences, thanks partly to my Christian values.

My hairdressing customers would notice my far-out clothes and ask me to get the stuff for them. Soon, I started a little shop called 77th Street at Far East Plaza.

The early years building up both my salon and 77th Street, were difficult. I would be nowhere without the sacrifices my family has made for me. When I was 21, my father, who had always doted on me, passed away. It was a dark time for me. My mum and sister Sulim left for London to earn a living. Sulim was driving a mini-cab in London - a dangerous thing in those days, when cabbies were getting murdered on the job. She would also scour London for the funkiest things to send back. My mother washed dishes in a Chinese restaurant in London. I have a god-sister, Samantha, who has also helped me through thick and thin. We went through the worst of times - crying, laughing and sweating blood together. We live by the motto that money can always be made again, but relationships must never be broken.

Through my rebellious teenage years, I had one teacher who was always there for me. She didn't push me academically - she just listened to me, stood by me, believed in me. I shared all my worries and problems with her. She made it a point to have dinner with me twice a year - until she was killed in the Silkair crash.

My business and I would be nowhere without goals, the good people in my life, and my God. They have helped keep a rebellious young person on the straight and narrow. That's why I have a heart for young people.

Recently, I set up The Young Entrepreneur Mastery (TYEM) with a group of entrepreneurs. We go into schools, polytechnics and universities to help inculcate in the young an entrepreneurial mindset, reaching over 200,000 young people. I've learned that we need to believe in ourselves if we want others to believe in us. In recent years, I have seen a lot of local talents rise up and top quality products in the market that are made in Singapore.

It's now a myth that things from overseas are better. We should first buy our own products before we look at others. I want to be one of those to blaze the path to this new mindset."

'A lot of people are not willing to leave their comfort zone and work beyond a five-day week. But to be successful, you have to make sacrifices. If you want a body like actress Halle Berry, you must be willing to work out three hours three times a week.'

had a wonderful talk by her during assembly today! woa!
i'm gonna slot a note,'I WANNA OWN A CAR BY 21' in my wallet