Every morning, the first person we see as we walk out our doors usually isn’t a student or a fellow resident but instead, it’s usually one of RC4’s many hardworking cleaning staff. For the residents of Ursa, that’s Uncle Jaya. To many of us, Uncle Jaya is our beloved cleaning staff, but did you know that before his time in RC4, he worked as a courier delivering parcels to the people and before that, he served as a master warrant officer in the navy?

As a high-ranking commander, he was entrusted with training cadets, enforcing discipline and maintaining strict regimentation. Despite being a former commander in the military, Uncle Jaya is known for his incredibly sweet and kind demeanour, which he carries into his role as a cleaning staff member.

Outside of work, Uncle Jaya maintains his fitness as an avid jogger, a habit that traces back to his military roots. Beyond staying active, he is a seasoned foodie who loves exploring the rich variety of traditional foods in Singapore. He enjoys visiting different hawker stalls and eateries to sample various versions of classic dishes, always seeking to find the best while sharing his discoveries with family and friends along the way.

At work, Uncle Jaya’s typical day revolves around looking after the common areas, such as the corridors, lounges, and perhaps most importantly, the pantries. He ensures that these areas are clean, dust-free and well kept. Maintaining these spaces is certainly no easy task, especially with Singapore’s unpredictable weather. When asked about the main challenges he faces, he said, “Sometimes it’s tough when there’s a lot to clean, but otherwise, the daily routine is okay. Upkeeping is challenging- with bad weather sometimes, there are a lot of leaves and other things that fly into the building that we have to clean up.”

For the residents of the 10th floor, Uncle Jaya is a living reminder of what it means to be kind. Ahmed Saheer (Year 2, Computer Engineering) shared, “He always says good morning, have a good day, and overall, he’s a really nice guy who greets everyone with a smile.”

Jay Ang (Year 2, Data Science and Analytics) added, “He’s so nice, he always asks whether I’ve eaten, and when I was in Year 1, he even taught me how to turn on the light in the laundry room.” These are just a few of the comments that highlight the impact he has made on our community.

As a fellow resident of the 10th floor, I can personally attest to these sentiments. Almost every morning, I look forward to wishing Uncle Jaya a good morning as I start my day, while he is already at work. Uncle Jaya consistently looks out for us, and you can truly feel the kindness in everything he does. Though we are strangers to him, he makes it a point to treat everyone with care, leaving a lasting mark even in ways we may never fully realise.

When asked about his interactions with the students in RC4, Uncle Jaya mentioned that, even at his age, he works mostly to pass the time but still finds joy in the appreciation shown by students, including exchange students. He shared that he often experiences brief but heartwarming exchanges with residents, like when students greet him in the morning or ask if he has had his breakfast or lunch yet.

While many of the residents of RC4 are focused on academic excellence or preparing for success in their future careers, Uncle Jaya shows that success can also be found in the way we care for others and the people around us. Through his everyday acts of care, responsibility, and kindness, he shows that leaving a positive impact on others is just as important. In many ways, the lessons we can learn from him are skills that will stay with us far longer than any exam score.

Our cleaning staff work diligently every day, often behind the scenes and without enough recognition, to ensure that we can live and study in a clean, comfortable environment. While our academic achievements may not be directly linked to their efforts, their work creates the space that allows us to focus and thrive. Kindness shows up in small gestures, often unnoticed, but even the simplest act can brighten a day, restore faith, or change a life. Just as Uncle Jaya has sown seeds of kindness on the 10th floor, we are reminded to do the same in our own communities.