Keeping the Beat While Chasing My Dreams
Written by Ashanti, a MILK ITE Scholarship (Jan 2024 Batch) recipient, who is pursuing a Higher Nitec in Business Administration at ITE College East.
My name is Ashanti D/O Karthikeyan, and this is my journey of balancing my studies with my Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) — dance. My love for dance began in primary school when I joined Indian Dance. I was deeply committed and even became captain. Two years later, our CCA transitioned to
Secondary School, Dance Club (Amplify), Vice President.
Modern Dance, introducing me to genres like modern and hip-hop. I fell in love with them instantly, but decided to keep dancing as a hobby so it wouldn’t affect my studies.
When I entered secondary school, I already knew I wanted to join dance again. I reminded myself to stay equally focused on academics. My friends were my biggest support; they often invited me to study with them after school. Since home wasn’t the best environment to study, I spent most evenings in libraries and community clubs. After two years, I became Vice President of my dance club, which came with new challenges and responsibilities. My teacher-in-charge constantly checked in on me and guided me through both academic and personal struggles. Dance became my outlet, something that helped me relieve stress and express myself.
When my batch stepped down, I shifted my focus to preparing for my N-Levels, staying back after school for study sessions and extra classes. Even after stepping down, I continued to dance occasionally with my friends.
National Day ‘GO-Live’ Music Video shooting, 2025
In ITE, I joined East Squad and worked towards being part of the EXCO. Although I was nervous at first, my batch quickly grew close. Balancing studies and dance was challenging. There were a few instances where we trained until 1 a.m. but still attended 8 a.m. classes. In our second year, I was selected as EXCO for my club, in charge of the Admin. At times, I struggled to keep up my passion as the heavy schedules began to drain me. But the support of my friends and instructors helped me push through and rediscover my love for performing.
During my industrial attachment at ServiceSG, I was selected for the National Day Parade, juggling rehearsals, long shoots, and internship duties. Later, I represented ITE for an overseas attachment in Kuala Lumpur, learning about HR systems and teamwork. After returning, I performed in Emblazon, an annual event where all ITE dance groups showcase their talents, a truly unforgettable experience that reignited my passion. Through it all, I’ve gained valuable lessons. This journey taught me that even when passion fades, perseverance, support, and self-belief can help you find your spark again and that balancing what you love with what you need to do is possible with heart and determination.
ITE Emblazon 2025, Admin EXCO for East Squad
ITE Industrial Attachment 2025, ServiceSG