It is never too late to learn… Attending courses adds to your knowledge and also expands your social circle.

Passionate about sewing

 

Florence has always been passionate about sewing and making clothes. So when she visited the National Silver Academy (NSA) website and came upon the Fashion Design and Textiles Pattern Making and Sewing: Techniques of Top Making course, she decided to sign up for this course at LASALLE College of the Arts.

 

Learning sewing techniques to make my own clothes gives me great joy. She couldn’t help beaming brightly when asked about her decision to take up sewing.

 

Childhood dream comes true

 

She was happy to find out that eligible seniors can enjoy subsidies when taking short courses under the NSA and that she could use her SkillsFuture Credit for this course too. She is well on her way to making her childhood dream of making her own clothes comes true.

 

Back when she was still working, she would usually take courses which upgrade her computer skills to better her career prospects. But now, her mindset has changed; she is glad to be pursuing her interest in sewing and also acquire a practical life skill.

 

Worries unfounded

 

Florence had her reservations when she first found out that the sewing course will be taught using industrial sewing machines. But her worries were unfounded as the course was conducted at a comfortable pace. Aware that that many of their students are seniors, the instructor was patient and took time to explain everything in detail throughout the course. Florence soon found that she could operate the machine with ease. She even completed sewing her first blouse by the fourth session and wore it to the class the following week.

 

Besides acquiring new skills in sewing, Florence was also happy to have made new friends who share her same interest. After completing this course, Florence also intends to take up an advanced dressmaking course, as well as singing and ukulele courses.

 

"It is never too late to learn… Attending courses adds to your knowledge and also expands your social circle," she said.

 

**Special thanks to Madam Florence Chek who accepted our interview, we wish her all the very best in her lifelong learning journey.

 

For a full list of short courses, click here.

 

For a full list of exam-free modules, click here.

 

For a list of ad hoc learning opportunities, click here.