SINGAPORE : A ballerina and a youth leader were recipients of this year's Youth Excellence Award.

13-year-old Sarah Pineda Sharfudin started dancing at the tender age of three, and her efforts have paid off. She is the youngest Singaporean to be accepted at the Australian Ballet School.

She said: "I don't really have a secret.. (but) probably to work hard, and don't cheat in class."

Teo Ngee Yong is another Youth Excellence Award recipient. Two years ago, he headed to a preparatory school in the US. There, he took part in Model United Nations Conference, which engages youths from around the world in current issues.

Teo said: "I met very like-minded and very passionate people, who share this dream of a better world. I think that they have inspired me to go beyond the traditional boundaries of a student and to really go and chase our dreams.

"Without this strong sense of idealism there, it would be very difficult for change to come about, because I think idealism entails a certain amount of possibilities that challenge the status quo." - CNA /ls