Her Burning Passion
Selina Sapii’s passion for her course and skills area; Restaurant and Culinary Operations, was ignited when working across different restaurants as a teenager, where she got to work as a team to brighten up customers’ day through a great
dining experience.
This made Pastry and Baking a natural choice when picking a course in her days at the Institute of Technical Education, where Selina officially started her journey in restaurant service and the F&B business.
Moving into Republic Polytechnic’s Restaurant and Culinary Operation course, she gained better understanding of the professional world she would step in, through modules such as kitchen service and revenue management.
The Start of WorldSkills
“I was plating the food and coordinating my team when suddenly, my lecturer approached me and asked if I was interested in the WorldSkills module.” Selina recalled with a smile on her face. This remains one as one of her proudest moments and “It was so unexpected to be able to represent my school at a national level for something that I loved doing.”
Despite the unexpected opportunity, the plucky lady certainly did not disappoint, serving up a sizzling performance at WorldSkills Singapore 2023 which clinched her a gold medal in the skill area of Restaurant Service.
Selina Sapii at WorldSkills Singapore (Photo by: Selina Sapii)
That medal earned her a place as one of the 44 competitors representing Singapore at the upcoming WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 (WSA 2023) competition, happening from 22 to 27 July 2023.
The road to WSA 2023 certainly has not been a walk in the park.
While the training can be exhausting due to the long hours, Selina is motivated to grow her skillset as the skills taught during training are “more in-depth compared to the lessons in school.”
Through these in-depth lessons, she hopes to boost her portfolio and try to enrol at one of the greatest institutes to pursue her passion.
Her Future and Motivation
Selina plans to pursue her studies in the culinary and hospitality sector. She has her mind set on La Cordon Bleu, a premier institute in France which specialises in culinary arts such as pastry-making and restaurant dining services.
The motivation behind training at Le Cordon Bleu? Obtaining all the skills needed to run a successful café business in Singapore and ultimately allowing Selina to share her passion for food and service with the world.
Selina has a message for her peers and those who are seeking their pathways, “Don’t give up easily, be open-minded, try new skills and experience which can be very helpful for your future.”
This writer, for one cannot wait for the culinary adventure that Selina will bring us on in the near future.
Want a taster of the 22 skills areas of the 13th WorldSkills ASEAN competition? Gather your friends and family and join the free workshops on 23 Jul (Sun) at Suntec City Convention Centre! Click here to find a suitable workshop for you.