By Liaw Wy-Cin

WHEN 30-year-old Lina Chong was diagnosed with pre-cancer of the womb last August, she told her doctor to hold off surgery for the time being. The assistant manager of leadership and personal development at Nanyang Polytechnic's students affairs office wanted to complete the 10 youth projects she had on her plate.

Yesterday, she was one of six people to receive the annual Singapore Youth Award from Senior Minister S. Jayakumar at the Istana.

For Ms Chong, the award was a welcome surprise. She said: 'Previous awardees were very well-known people...I'm glad that the award also recognises heartlanders like me, that the judges saw my passion for community service.'

This award, for community and youth services, has special meaning for her. She was very touched by the support for her medical condition shown her by her family, grassroots leaders, MPs, friends and volunteers with the People's Association Youth Movement.

She said: 'One of my volunteers told me: If you cannot continue the work you have been doing, don't worry, we will continue it for you.'

The youth award - established in 1975 and presented by the National Youth Council, the national coordinating body of youth affairs in Singapore - honours those 35 and below for their contributions and excellence in five categories: arts and culture; community and youth services; entrepreneurship; science and technology; and sports and adventure.

Film-maker Ho Tzu Nyen, 33, and Mandopop singer JJ Lin, 28, won in the arts and culture category. Mr Clinton Ang, 35, who has a successful family wine business, won for entrepreneurship.

Dr Tong Joo Chuan, 31, who specialises in computational applications in life sciences, won in the science and technology category, and national sailor Koh Seng Leong, 26, won in the sports and adventure category.

Mr Koh, who bounced back from a motorbike accident in October 2005 to win a silver medal in sailing at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in December 2006 - his best performance in his career - hopes that youth would be inspired by his resilience.

For full-time musician Lin, the award is also a reminder of one's personal strength. He said: 'It is a chance to cherish my youth, to remind myself of what I'm given and what I can do with what I'm given.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.