Uprooted, Yet Unstoppable: How Marcela Turned Change into Growth
From crossing borders to redefining her academic journey, Marcela Lakhwani Nathani's story is one of resilience, resourcefulness, and responsibility in action. Despite entering SIM with no background in the field she now pursues, she demonstrated academic excellence. Today, as a SIM STARRR Award recipient, a programme under the SIM Impact Fund, the award is more than a recognition of her success; it marks the moment she took ownership of her future and turned uncertainty into opportunity.
Marcela Lakhwani Nathani was just 19 when she packed up her life to pursue further education in Singapore.
Having graduated top of her high school cohort with the best GPA and a full-ride scholarship, she was no stranger to high achievement. But even for a student of her calibre, the transition was not without its challenges. Despite English not being her first language, she embraced the academic and cultural transition as an opportunity for development.
What carried her through were the values she had learnt from football back home.
"Growing up in Chile, football was always part of my daily life," she recalled. "Being part of a team taught me discipline, consistency, and the importance of showing up even on difficult days. It pushed me to handle pressure, stay focused, and keep going even when things did not go my way."
These were lessons she carried both on and off the field, and now, to Singapore.
Marcela elaborated, "I had to adapt not only to a new country, but also to a different culture, education system, and language – all while being away from my immediate family. I was faced with a choice: to feel overwhelmed, or to take ownership of my path and create a new foundation for myself."
"I chose the latter."
MOVING FORWARD, ONE STEP AT A TIME
To overcome the challenges, Marcela created her own support systems.
She stayed up each night to practise English, sought tutoring from a neighbour, made regular visits to the library, and pushed herself to participate in student activities and leadership roles.
She also joined a women's football club, finding both community and continuity in the sport she loved. When she was not studying, she was at the car park practising drills on her own.
Marcela's efforts eventually paid off. Through her commitment to football, she joined Arion FC Women's Club, which went on to win the National League Cup in 2023.
Academically, Marcela also secured an internship at Duke-NUS Medical School, working as a Research Intern in the Laboratory for Translational and Molecular Imaging. One of her key contributions was participating in the engineering and evaluation of a modified novel sodium iodide symporter (NIS) to improve non-invasive cancer imaging.
Despite that success, Marcela found herself looking further ahead into the future.
"Working in a lab often felt structured and slower in translating ideas into real-world applications," she explained. "I was looking for a field that allowed for more flexibility, faster iteration, and a more direct way to solve problems. Computer science offered exactly that."
A NEW FIELD, A NEW BEGINNING
With no formal background in programming, Marcela proactively upskilled through self-directed learning in Python and data analysis, demonstrating the learning agility required in fast-evolving digital roles.
"I chose SIM-University of London (SIM-UOL) because of its strong academic structure and international reputation," shared the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science final-year student. "The Honours degree was particularly important to me, as it reflects a higher level of academic depth and challenge which I was eager to take on."
The programme's emphasis on self-directed learning was equally appealing to her.
"Coming from a non-traditional path, I valued a system that would allow me to take ownership of my learning, think critically, and grow both academically and personally. Choosing SIM-UOL was a very intentional decision — one that aligned perfectly with my goal of using technology to create meaningful impact."
If her early journey built her foundation, it was at SIM where Marcela put those values into practice in visible and impactful ways.
One of her most significant leadership experiences was serving as a Marketing Subcommittee member in the SIM-UOL Computer Science Student Council (CSSC).
"I was nervous to join because I knew it meant I would need to be more visible, take responsibility, and work with others who might be more confident than me."
Drawing on her earlier experiences, she reminded herself that growth only happens through discomfort, so she chose to fully commit.
In this role, Marcela worked on promoting student-led events, creating digital campaigns, and increasing participation across initiatives. Each challenge became an opportunity to take responsibility for outcomes, manage pressure, and navigate uncertainty with resourcefulness.
"I learnt to face my fear by focusing on the bigger picture: supporting my peers and building a strong student community."
Through this, Marcela developed a deeper understanding of leadership.
"Leadership is not about being the loudest or most confident person in the room. It is about being responsible, willing to learn, and creating space for others to shine."
Beyond the classroom, Marcela also represented SIM Women's Football Club at Singapore University Sports Council (SUniG), balancing leadership, academics, and competitive sport — a clear demonstration of responsibility and time ownership.
For her industry attachment, Marcela secured an internship with Bosch Mobility Aftermarket, a global automotive technology leader, gaining early exposure to how large scale organisations operate across markets and functions. Working across the ASEAN region, Marcela took on responsibilities spanning digital content development, market research, data analysis, and direct customer engagement—experiences that required her to translate information into actionable business insights.
For a company like Bosch to place a student in such a broad role reflects how much someone can grow when they choose not to be limited by where they start.
For Marcela, aiming high meant approaching each opportunity with intentionality, accountability, and a willingness to learn—traits that continue to shape her professional mindset.
"I know what it feels like to have to rebuild, adapt, and start from unfamiliar ground, so I do not take opportunities lightly," Marcela asserted. "I give each one my full effort because I see it as something meaningful."
In recognition of her resilience, responsibility, and resourcefulness, Marcela was awarded the SIM STARRR Award — presented to exceptional students who exemplify SIM's values and demonstrate the potential to become future leaders.
For Marcela, the award carried significance beyond the recognition itself.
"SIM showed me that what we sometimes label as 'unrealistic' is often just something we have not yet fully committed to," she reflected. "Being here, growing through the experiences, and receiving the scholarship proved that with the right mindset, discipline, and consistency, dreams can become reality."
Her message to those just starting out is simple: "Your starting point does not define your ending — your mindset, effort, and consistency do. If I was able to rebuild, adapt, and grow in a completely new environment, then I truly believe that others can do the same."
About the SIM STARRR Award
The SIM STARRR Award, a programme under the SIM Impact Fund, recognises exceptional new undergraduates who demonstrate strong leadership potential, academic excellence, and remarkable co-curricular achievements. The SIM Impact Fund is a $60 million, 10-year transformative initiative that creates pathways and boosts the employability of learners.