While most dreams are rooted in ambition and prestige, others sprout from a drive for positive impact and an unwavering dedication to people. For Caleb Ng, his decision to pursue a career in medicine began at home, as he observed his grandparents' declining health. His grandfather lived with a complex medical history, much of which remained quietly managed at home, away from formal treatment.

“That was the first time I noticed what it means when someone doesn’t get the medical attention they deserve,” he said.

It was through this painful experience that Caleb first understood working in healthcare was more than a profession. It was a way of showing up for people who need help, of making sure others didn’t fall through the cracks like his grandfather once did. 

Today, Caleb is a fourth-year medical student at Taylor’s University, balancing clinical rotations with original music production, band rehearsals, and stage performances, navigating what it means to hold space for both the scientific and the creative. 

Medicine Was the Dream, But Music Was the Constant

While medicine was the goal, music had always been a consistent presence in Caleb’s life. Raised in a musical family, he grew up surrounded by instruments and melody. “my grandfather played a lot of instruments, like the guitar, drums, double bass, clarinet, saxophone, and accordion,” he recalled.

By the time he was in high school and early college, Caleb found himself in multiple bands, often playing across a wide range of genres and roles. “Sometimes as a bassist, sometimes as a guitarist, sometimes as the vocalist. There were points when I was juggling a bunch of different groups.”

Today, Caleb plays in two bands: BLOSSOME! and Backlog. Both are collaborative outlets with their sounds and stories. Outside of rehearsals and songwriting, he performs gigs regularly, records original tracks, and continues to immerse himself in the broader creative community, juggling sessions, shows, and collaborations whenever time allows.

As important as music continues to be in his life, it has also taught him balance, reminding him that expression and discipline don’t have to be at odds, but can instead grow together.

Pursuing his MBBS at Taylor’s

After completing his IGCSE examinations and graduating from high school, Caleb entered a transitional period. He took on a handful of part-time jobs and even sat for his SPM as a private candidate. “It wasn’t like I had it all figured out. I was still finding my footing, trying to build something for myself bit by bit.”

He eventually enrolled in the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) programme at Sunway College, where he scored an impressive ATAR of 94.5. It was nearly enough to gain entry to Monash University, but not quite. “I missed the cutoff by 0.5. That sucked,” he said.

It was around then that he began seriously considering Taylor’s University, which offered a credible MBBS programme that aligned with his goals. 

He stepped into medical school with both caution and curiosity. “I need to know what I want so that I can set these boundaries for myself, and Taylor’s really helped with that.”

It was here, on campus and in clinics, that Caleb’s paths, both professional and creative, would finally begin to take shape.

Finding His People and Facing the Pages

Arriving at Taylor’s, Caleb was ready to start fresh, but theory-heavy coursework proved to be its own kind of test. The sheer weight of pre-clinical study gradually wore down the same passion that had first drawn him to the field of medicine.

But while lectures drained him, music filled the gaps. In 2022, he joined the Taylor’s Music Club, initially stepping in as a session bassist. He had only picked up the bass during the pandemic, but quickly found himself immersed in the society’s ecosystem of gigs, rehearsals, and friendships. “That was a very formative time for me,” he said. “It taught me how to work in a band. How to collaborate. How to speak up when something doesn’t sound right.”

While his performances with the society shaped his confidence, Caleb’s deeper musical identity continued to evolve outside of it. He was also playing in two independent bands, BLOSSOME! and Backlog, where he began to explore crafting his own sound and stories.

The Shift: Clinicals, Creativity, and a Chance to Care

After completing the first half of his MBBS, Caleb stepped into the next phase of his medical training: clinical practice. The jump from textbook theory to hospital wards was anything but smooth. “When you're in your third year and step into the hospital, it hits you,” Caleb said. “You’re not just memorising biochem pathways anymore. You’re dealing with people. You’re expected to think like a doctor.”

The expectations weighed on him. Even though students weren’t making significant decisions, such as prescribing medication, the shift in mindset was real. “How do I behave like the doctor I want to become? How do I study, present myself, and think like one?”

Amid the pressure, there was one patient who helped anchor his sense of purpose. During an internal medicine rotation, Caleb spent time with an older Indian gentleman battling a chronic illness. “He was standoffish at first, but after a while, he opened up. He told me about his condition, his work, and his family. He hadn’t even told most of his family about his illness because he didn’t want to worry them.”

Over the next few days, their bond grew. “When I brought my friends over to examine him, he called me his grandson,” Caleb said with a smile. “It was the sweetest thing.” The man eventually recovered and was discharged, but not before personally thanking Caleb. 

That moment helped him reconnect with the reason he chose medicine in the first place. But balancing that with music wasn’t always easy. At one point, he considered giving up music entirely. “I moved all my gear to my dad’s office so I wouldn’t touch it. But I came home every day and just felt miserable.” It was a turning point. Instead of choosing between the two, Caleb realised he needed both.

More Than One Kind of Performance

These days, Caleb’s creative centre of gravity lies in his two main musical projects, Backlog and BLOSSOME!

Backlog’s momentum was unexpected but welcome for Caleb. What started as a casual university band grew into something much larger. “We've played at TRX, we've played at REXKL, we've played back on home turf at Taylor's University for other clubs.”

The band’s online presence also started gaining momentum thanks to a simple, consistent idea. “We just made these short videos of us jamming and naming these instrumental sketches... just to capture the creative outflow, we'd post them on Instagram and TikTok,” he explained. The low-pressure, spontaneous vibe became part of their appeal.

Meanwhile, BLOSSOME! remains his more personal, story-driven outlet, a space where he experiments with narrative songwriting and long-form composition. The band is currently working on an album they hope to release next year, built around an overarching storyline. “I like to write music that comes with stories,” he explained. “How it comes apart, how things shape themselves over time: that’s what excites me.”

Beyond music, Caleb’s creative world has widened. He recently composed and recorded original music for a friend’s short film titled You Are My Rock. He also returned to acting through a 10-week motion theatre workshop with Hush the Theatre in TTDI, which culminated in a self-choreographed performance with two fellow actresses, Deena and Hanna. While these experiences have expanded his artistic range, music remains at the heart of it all.

Knowing What You Want, and Choosing Both

As he prepares to graduate, Caleb is thinking more seriously about the future. In the next five years, he hopes to complete his housemanship, continue releasing music that feels honest, and, if timing allows, learn to play his grandpa’s saxophone. 

Balancing medicine and music hasn’t always been smooth. There were moments when Caleb questioned whether he could keep up with both, but those doubts never lasted long. Over time, he realised that music wasn’t just a side hobby but a core part of his identity, not something to be sacrificed for structure, but something that gave his life meaning alongside it.

For Caleb, knowing what he wants has been the throughline. He hopes to become a paediatrician, maybe even a surgeon. But he also wants to be a good friend, a kind person, and a creative person who never loses that spark.

At the heart of everything is one core idea: human connection.

“There’s a kind of connection in music, in theatre, in medicine,” he said. “A good doctor treats the patient. A great doctor knows them. That’s what I want to be. Someone who really sees people.”