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When fall season is just the beginning for scholar Adil Hakeem

If there’s one person in Singapore who is looking forward to the Autumn season, it is likely to be a Toa Payoh youth, Adil Hakeem Mohamad Rafee.

For 20-year-old Adil Hakeem, the fall season will mark the start of his four-year study at one of the top universities in the US, the Yale University, a private Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut.

He is one of the President scholars who will be in Yale University to read Ethics, Politics and Economics. The President’s Scholarship is generally awarded concurrently with another Public Service Commission scholarship and in his case, he will take up a scholarship with the Police. After graduating he will be bonded to serve the Police Force for six years.

Adil Hakeem, who loves the outdoors, said, “I think it is an interesting job where you get to do field work. I have been on attachments with them. It is a lot of hands on work and I am looking forward to the day I join them. My parents also encouraged me to take up this scholarship.”

But for now, this Army 2nd Lieutenant has his National Service stint set aside while he goes for his studies overseas. He will have to serve his remaining National Service commitment in the Police Force when he returns.

When interviewed just before the Hari Raya, Adil Hakeem was all set for his trip, having already been abroad previously. “I will be able to adjust myself and learn to be fairly independent,” he added. “I will have three Singapore classmates at the same university.”

On what his thoughts are about leaving his other friends behind, he said he hopes to be back every year to catch up with them. “I am on Facebook and we will still be in touch,” he said.

Adil Hakeem lives at Lorong 2 Toa Payoh with his parents Mr Mohamad Rafee bin Salleh and Madam Zulinah bte Mooksan, younger brother Arif Izzuddin, and grandparents.

He was among the top “A” level students at Raffles Institution in 2012 and is the first Malay recipient of the prestigious President scholarship in more than 40 years. He is also a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Book Prize.

– This interview first appeared in a Town Council newsletter.