Alumna Sophia Pang (NBS/Class of 1994) defied extreme environmental challenges such as brutal winds, sub-zero temperatures and 24-hour sunlight over 38 days to become the first Singaporean woman to ski the South Pole.

(Interview excerpt from NTULink Magazine Feb 2010)

Signing up for the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition was my way of wanting to do something for myself. But, when my daughter quipped that it would take a miracle for me to succeed, I became motivated by a cause bigger than myself – a desire to show my children life’s possibilities.

The Antarctic Expedition Experience

We encountered blistering winds, treacherous landscapes and temperatures that plunged below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Not everything was smooth sailing. The last 10 days were the most trying, as we were all physically drained. But, I kept telling myself to push on no matter how tired I felt because I did not want to let the whole team down. I willed myself to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, taking a single step at a time.

Being the first Singaporean woman to fly the flag at the South Pole

I am proud to carry the flag of my country. Flying my alma mater’s flag at the Antarctic was also a great feeling. Now that I have completed my Antarctic mission, I find another equally important mission, which is to share the experience of the expedition, not just with other women but with the younger generation. I hope to inspire them to set their sights high. I also want to prove that intercultural understanding and cooperation will yield impressive results. I am appreciative of NTU’s support for the expedition.

Lessons from the adventure to the ‘bottom of the world’

That it is important to get out of our comfort zone because when we do that, we will discover we can do the thing we thought we were incapable of. Attitude and mental strength counts more than experience. I believe that mothers should also give time to themselves. If a mother neglects herself and breaks down, everything else will fall apart and she would not be able to take care of her family for the long haul.