I first heard of the award when I was in college in Malaysia. I had a British lecturer who was an instructor and the previous years had done the Bronze award. We were the first to do the silver. I completed it. It gave me confidence and I had a chance to participate in activities not available to me when I was in school as I was not from the city.

Slightly over a year before I turned 25, I decided to complete the Gold award on my own so I would have no regrets and had a chance to meet the Duke. What an achievement!

I met Prince Phillip in 2012 at the Gold award ceremony and he spoke to me. He was interested in my experience doing it outside the confines of school. He was someone who clearly cared a lot about the scheme. This was a memory I would cherish. My parents had a chance to meet him as well.

In the years to come I did the Diamond challenge and during the challenge I met my now husband on one of my personal challenges!

The award has been a truly inspiring one for me. It made me push myself, experience new things and gave me the motivation I needed. All the challenges that I did through the scheme were boosters during difficult periods in my life. I received certain training that I needed to improve myself through award. It has truly been a life changing scheme for me.