She Did It Anyway Vol. 02: Adeline Raja
From Army Routines to Event Hustles - And the Quiet Courage In Between
“Adeline, what do you do exactly? I see you everywhere.”
That’s the question Adeline Raja hears most often. And honestly, it’s a fair one.
Because Adeline is many things - ex-SAF officer, event planner, entrepreneur, licensed security professional, lecturer and a loving Atthai (aunt) to my kids and her brother’s twins. But what ties it all together is one word: resilience.
I still remember the fateful call that brought us together. I was fresh out of polytechnic, working in my first job when my phone rang. She introduced herself and said, “Your aunt gave me your number - I hope it’s okay. I just need a friend.”
We didn’t become best friends overnight. But a few years later, when I was building Dance Embassy and teaching Zumba classes at the YMCA back in 2009, she showed up. Again and again. And over dinner one day, she opened up about her life. What I heard stayed with me.
Today, I’m honoured to share Adeline’s story - in her own words.
The Highs That Shaped Me:
Pursuing my interest (events) as a career & getting a job where, unknowingly, everything fell into place. My dad always wanted me to be a teacher - and somehow, that dream came true too.
Starting a business I never imagined I’d have the guts to start.
Earning a security licence and getting the chance to meet amazing people and artistes.
A husband who supports every dream and every whim. (A rare gem!)
And now, my world revolves around my brother’s twins - they’ve become my why.
The Lows That Shook Me:
Leaving the army after 10.5 years was one of the hardest transitions of my life. I had stability. Good pay. A system I understood. Everyone told me the switch to civilian life was brutal - and they were right. Some of my peers couldn’t take it and returned. I took a huge pay cut, lost structure, and had to start from the ground up. But I told myself: this discomfort is temporary. Growth is permanent.
The real breaking point came with loss.
I lost my aunt. I lost my grandmother. I was the last to see them alive - my aunt being taken away in an ambulance, my grandmother wheeled into A&E. I didn’t know then that it would be the last time I saw them.
My grandmother passed during COVID, when safety regulations didn’t allow us to say goodbye the way we wanted. No full family send-off. Just a void that still aches today. Some songs still make me cry. That grief has stayed - but I carry it with grace now.
And Yet, She Did It Anyway.
Adeline didn’t just “make it through” life changes - she redefined herself through each one.
From structured army routines to the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. From uniformed discipline to event chaos. From grief to grounded joy.
Her life is a beautiful paradox: wildly flexible, yet deeply rooted. Adventurous, yet loyal. In the world, but anchored in love.
Today, she juggles twins, clients, licenses, and logistics like a queen. She doesn’t always shout about what she’s doing - but the people who know her, know her impact.
She’s everywhere because she’s meant to be everywhere. She fills gaps, lifts people up, and creates experiences that matter. And in a world of titles, Adeline just chose to be.
To every woman reading this who’s in a season of transition - career shift, personal loss, or simply asking, “What now?” - this is your sign:
You don’t have to have one label. You just have to have heart.
And Adeline Raja? She’s living proof that you can do it scared, do it messy, do it while healing - and still make it beautiful.
Still figuring it out? Same. Let’s build anyway.
If Adeline’s story touched you, share it with someone who needs it today. Or reply and tell me yours.