At 45, Mr Rahman Sanip stands out among his teenage course mates pursuing a fine arts diploma at Lasalle College of the Arts.
But he is determined not to let this deter him, as the course is a fresh start for the former convict, who has spent the last 20 years in and out of prison.
The former drug addict was released in April last year, and said he was very thankful that his school’s head had taken a chance on him.
Mr Rahman, who is in the second and final year of the course, said he had rediscovered his passion for art during his last stint in prison.
“With this talent, I want to do something with my life… I don’t want people to know me only as someone who has been in and out of prison,” said Mr Rahman, adding that he developed his passion in drawing and painting at Changi Prison Complex Visual Arts Hub.
He said that his prison officers encouraged him to continue studying and one of them introduced him to the head of Lasalle’s McNally School of Fine Arts, Dr S. Chandrasekaran.
Mr Rahman was elated when Dr Chandrasekaran decided to accept him into the school after seeing his portfolio of work and interviewing him.
Dr Chandrasekaran, 60, said he could tell that Mr Rahman had a lot of passion for art and was very determined to make things work.
When Mr Rahman had difficulties paying the school fees, Dr Chandrasekaran recommended him to the school’s student services body, which worked out a subsidised scheme for him.
The fees are also being subsidised by the Yellow Ribbon Foundation STAR (Skills Training Assistance to Restart) Bursary programme.
Mr Rahman said he is very grateful for the support of Dr Chandrasekaran and his lecturers in school. His dream is to one day have a stable job as an art teacher, or to work as a display artist.
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Source: The Straits Times, 4 September 2020