Victor Jong's Journey of Building Momentum through Education
Recipient of the SIM Chairman's Award for Resilience, Victor Jong Soon Peng transformed early financial hardship into a journey shaped by discipline and perseverance. From working part-time at 14 to balancing full-time work with his studies at SIM-University of Wollongong, he now works at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on AI and machine learning platforms within the financial sector while pursuing a Master of Technology in Artificial Intelligence Systems at NUS-ISS.
For Victor Jong Soon Peng, stability was never something he took for granted. It was something he learned early on had to be built step by step, decision by decision. Experiencing uncertainty at a young age shaped his sense of responsibility early on, but more importantly, it shifted his mindset.
Rather than focusing on what was out of his control, Victor chose to focus on what he could change. "What changed me was not the hardship itself, but the realisation that I had to take ownership of my own path and focus on what I could control." By the age of 14, Victor had already started working part-time to support himself and ease the burden at home. What began out of necessity gradually evolved into purpose.
Those early experiences laid the foundation for a strong sense of discipline. Balancing long working hours with school commitments was not easy, but it taught him discipline and consistency long before he stepped into university.
Victor still remembers one particular moment from his early working years that stayed with him. "What I remember most is the first time I had to answer a customer complaint call for a missing delivery order. I was terrified and had no idea what to say or how to handle it," he shared.
But with his manager's guidance, he learned an important lesson that would continue to shape how he approached challenges later in life. "That experience stayed with me. It taught me that I did not need to have all the answers immediately. I just needed to stay calm, learn, and handle the situation step by step."
As he progressed through his education, Victor began approaching every opportunity with intention. "There were moments growing up where the future felt very uncertain," he said. "But rather than letting it hold me back, it gave me a sense of urgency."
That mindset continued into his journey at SIM-University of Wollongong (UOW), where he pursued a Bachelor of Computer Science (Big Data). For Victor, SIM-UOW became more than just a place to earn a degree. It was where years of discipline and persistence began translating into tangible opportunities.
"At SIM-UOW, I graduated with Distinction and received the IRAS Book Prize (Bronze) in both 2025 and 2026. Those results did not come easily. They were the result of years of persistence and discipline."
Beyond academics, Victor also took on leadership roles as Vice President of his polytechnic's Judo Club. Managing leadership commitments, part-time work, and studies simultaneously pushed him to make difficult decisions about what mattered most. "Walking away from judo was one of the hardest things I had to do, not because of the role, but because it was something I genuinely loved," he shared. "But I also knew that in that moment, my studies had to come first. It taught me that discipline is not about being perfect, it is about being consistent."
That discipline became even more important during the next phase of his journey, when he balanced full-time work at National Computer System (NCS) Singapore while pursuing his degree at SIM-UOW. The dual experience allowed him to bridge academic learning with industry application in real time, accelerating both his technical and professional growth.
"What I learned in the classroom was no longer just theoretical. I could apply it directly to real projects. It made learning more meaningful and helped me build practical skills faster." Despite the long days and demanding schedule, Victor found confidence in proving to himself that he could handle both responsibilities simultaneously.
"In 2025, I was recognised with the NCS Client Commendation Award for my contributions to a key government client," he shared. "That moment meant a lot to me, not because of the award itself, but because it validated the years of effort and sacrifice."
But even amid these achievements, life brought moments of profound loss. During his final semester, Victor lost his grandmother, someone who had always encouraged him to persevere. "Finishing my degree became my way of honouring her memory," he shared.
Today, Victor works full-time at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on AI and machine learning platforms within the financial sector while pursuing a Master of Technology in Artificial Intelligence Systems at NUS-ISS. Building on the technical foundation he developed at SIM-UOW, he hopes to contribute to solutions that create meaningful impact and improve everyday lives.
"My goal is to contribute to solutions that create meaningful impact and improve everyday lives," he said. At the heart of his ambitions, however, is still something deeply personal. "My primary goal moving forward is to give my mother the life she deserves," he said. "After years of watching her carry so much for our family, I want to make sure she can live comfortably and enjoy the life she once put aside for us."
Looking back, Victor sees responsibility not as a burden but as a defining force that has given him clarity, discipline, and purpose. "What I have come to realise is that responsibility does not just weigh on you. It gives you purpose."
Receiving the Chairman's Award for Resilience marks a meaningful milestone in his journey. More than recognition, it affirms the values that have guided him through every challenge and reinforces his commitment to continue giving back to others.
That desire to give back continues to shape how he sees success today. Beyond professional and academic goals, he hopes to one day mentor and support others facing difficult circumstances, especially those who may feel limited by where they started in life. "I want to mentor and support others who are facing their own challenges and remind them that their circumstances do not define their future."
His message to others facing difficult circumstances is simple, but deeply personal: "Where you start does not decide where you end."
About the SIM Impact Fund
The SIM Chairman's Award for Resilience, an award under the SIM Impact Fund, recognises SIM students and alumni who have demonstrated exceptional perseverance and determination in overcoming personal and academic challenges. The SIM Impact Fund is a $60M, 10-year transformative initiative that creates pathways and boosts the employability of learners.