MADAM Karamjeet Kaur is 50 and the mother of three children. Two of them had medical issues when they were young.
Her son suffered from a condition which saw fluid build-up in his brain.
A shunt had to be inserted to help drain the fluid.
That, however, did not prevent her from pursuing her education.
She completed two master's programmes at the University of Melbourne and is currently pursuing her PhD in Nanyang Technological University.
Recognising her achievement and that of several other recent Sikh graduates, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Heng Chee How presented awards at a function organised by the Young Sikh Association (Singapore) and the Sikh Centre, Singapore on Oct 23.
Speaking to the guests, which included the parents and families of the graduates, Mr Heng said: "In Singapore, the Sikh community is prosperous, well-integrated and self-sufficient, and it continues to make a telling contribution to Singapore's development even though it is not very large in size. This enterprise is built very much on the commitment and involvement of the leaders and volunteers within the community."
He added that this should not be taken for granted and encouraged participation from the young graduates at various levels of the Sikh community in order for the Sikh community to continue to be an asset to Singapore's socio-economic fabric.
Young Sikh Association president Hernaikh Singh added: "Mr Heng's message is important as it signifies the need for the Sikh community to continuously look at the bigger picture. We are a small community but our contributions are just as important as other ethnic groups in Singapore's progress and growth. In Singapore today, there are many dynamic avenues to contribute back to society. We must play our part."