Stand-up comedian Mr. Vivek Ashok Mahbubani kicks off the 2009/10 Career Challenge Youth Mentorship Programme. The first session attracts over 100 students.

Vivek pokes fun at his own appearance, saying that he may look like one of the terrorists in a movie, and this could well be the reason why he is always stopped by the police to check his identity. He does not mind getting checked and always maintains a very positive attitude. When he turns all these “anecdotes” into jokes, everybody bursts into laughter. Vivek believes that mutual respect is the key to racial harmony. He felt lucky that his parents have urged him to learn Cantonese from childhood, as they believe that the best way to integrate into a society is to learn the local language.

Vivek was able to secure high marks with an average of 3.99 points (out of 4) in his university study. Being a high achiever, he reminds the audience that in order to excel, we could not acquire knowledge just in class. Instead, we have to look up for useful references in every possible way. He adds that hard work will pay off soon.