Bernice Koh Kee Yuu is a civil engineer who moved to a new company in February just before the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented. Construction and engineering projects around the world have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in numerous ways, and many projects have been shut down. Hence, it was only natural to feel anxious of how things would unfold for Bernice who was new and under probation.
Despite these uncertainties, Bernice adapted quickly to her new environment. Working during MCO was challenging for her and her colleagues as they were always expected to complete the tasks within a short time frame including a task that she had never had any experience in handling before. But no matter how tough the situation got, Bernice took it all in her stride.
Anchored by her Buddhist practice, she resolved, “My Buddhist faith enables me to forge on with courage, wisdom and unlimited potential. Never succumb to one’s fear. I believe that when I do my very best, the protective functions in the universe will also be activated. I also seek guidance and professional opinions from my seniors and colleagues in my company so that I can complete my tasks efficiently and work well with others.”
With the principle of never be defeated, Bernice carried out all her projects successfully despite being new in the company. Gaining the trust of the people around her, she was confirmed as a permanent employee in May. She is thankful that despite the economic challenges, her company is able to withstand the storm and all employees have not been affected.
One guidance that has always inspired her is a quote by Nichiren Daishonin that goes, “The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its colour; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one’s own blessings will increase.”

Source: SGM Facebook, 2020