Author: Teresa Ong
Company: Life Air Cond Electrical & Services
Profession: Air Conditioning Repair, Installation and Appliance Services
Position: Chief Executive Officer，External Affairs Consultant
Resilience in Bloom: Cultivating Life Wisdom Through Love and Adversity
Hello everyone, my name is Teresa Ong.
I spent my childhood growing up in my grandparents’ grocery shop. After my father passed away and my mother went to Singapore to make a living, my unique upbringing shaped me into someone who is hardworking, compassionate, and determined never to give up. During my school years, I was the captain of the athletics team. Every time I gave my all to win a trophy, it was simply because I wanted to see a smile on my family’s faces.
After graduation, I worked while pursuing my studies. During the day, I worked hard to build my future, and in the evenings, I worked as a nurse. I later entered the insurance industry, starting as an entry-level agent and eventually rising to become a team manager. Along the way, I faced criticism, rejection, and moments of hurt. Whenever life became overwhelming, I would quietly retreat, pray, heal, and then continue moving forward with a heart full of gratitude.
After getting married, my husband and I stood side by side, building our lives and working together in the air-conditioning engineering, electrical, home-appliance, and environmental industries. We undertook major projects for associations, schools, and other organisations. For more than two decades, we worked alongside our employees and treated them like members of our own family.
Life is filled with unexpected encounters and opportunities. I once brought my children to participate in television and advertising productions. During the pandemic, I stepped forward as a frontline worker. I was also invited to participate in a government public-service announcement for Talian Kasih 15999, through which I shared a message of hope and encouraged people across the country, through large screens in shopping malls, never to give up on life.
Three years ago, however, my husband suddenly suffered a stroke and passed away. It was a devastating blow. After wiping away my tears, I chose to stand strong and carry the responsibilities of the entire family on my own, determined to provide my children with a sense of security and a future to look forward to.
This year, I was also honoured to be appointed Secretary-General of the Pudu Binjai Zone Neighbourhood Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where I now serve the community on a voluntary basis.
Life is filled with warmth and kindness, and as long as we are alive, there is always hope. In this era of artificial intelligence and rapid change, I constantly remind myself to live in the present and continue cultivating the wisdom and resilience needed for life — including adversity quotient, emotional intelligence, love intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and health intelligence.
— Teresa Ong (王玉群)
I have been hurt, yet I still choose to love deeply. I have weathered storms, yet I remain grateful. Life may bring hardship, but as long as we hold on to faith and love in our hearts, we can courageously overcome every challenge and live a life that truly shines.