The Quiet Power of Presence: What Isyana Sarasvati and Joseph Schooling’s Parents Got Right

By Adinazeti Adnan | Editor-in-Chief, 22Muse

The Moment: Two Talents, One Thread

It was just past 2AM when I stumbled upon a video of Isyana Sarasvati, surrounded by her parents and husband. Not on stage – but in a quiet, unfiltered moment behind the scenes. She smiled, grounded. And beside her? Her mother, present. Not managing, not competing – just there. Her father, still watching her growth with thoughtful precision, had even used AI to analyze her daughter’s albums, music journey path and quietly predicted: film composition would be her next chapter.

This wasn’t a performance. This was the foundation beneath it.

Isyana Sarasvati is no ordinary artist. She is one of the most celebrated names in the Indonesian music scene – known for her versatility across genres like pop, opera, and progressive rock. With over 12.8 million followers on Instagram, she’s not just a performer but a regional cultural icon. Her career, which includes multiple awards and features in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30, is a reflection of what quiet, consistent presence can nurture.

And that presence began early.

At just 16, Isyana received a scholarship from the Singapore Government to study Music Performance at NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts) – a respected conservatory. She graduated with honours through a joint program with the Royal College of Music, London, earning the prestigious RCM Excellence Award Scholarship. Today, she is estimated to earn close to USD$1 million annually, from a blend of music, endorsements, and influence.

Across the border, in a different world of discipline and gold medals, Joseph Schooling was once a boy who dreamt of swimming beside his idol, Michael Phelps. Raised in Malaysia during his early years, his parents saw something in him – and made a choice. They moved to Singapore. They committed to structure. They followed the future. In 2016, Joseph beat his idol Micheal Phelps at the Rio Olympics and brought home Singapore’s first Olympic gold.

But the real story wasn’t the win.
It was the daily 5AM swims. The parents who didn’t just believe in their son – they moved their lives to meet him there.

The Realisation: The Power of Intentional Presence

Both stories are beautiful. Not because of the outcome – but because of what they were built on.

Isyana didn’t become a national icon because she was pushed. She became one because she was supported. Her family nurtured her love for music, encouraged her classical training, and stood beside her as she explored new creative territory. The spotlight never outshone their quiet presence.

Joseph didn’t become an Olympian because of luck. He became one because he had parents who aligned themselves with his discipline. Who built their lives around his lane. Who stayed long enough for him to trust his own rhythm.

It wasn’t about pressure.
It was presence – without pride. Vision – without control.

Olympic Gold Medalist Joseph Schooling with his parents

The Broader Truth: What Happens When Someone Truly Sees You

So many young talents fall through the cracks – not because they’re not good enough, but because no one around them knows how to see them properly.

These two families didn’t project their dreams onto their children. They participated. They adapted. They stayed.

And that, more than anything, is what builds greatness that lasts.

The Mirror: For Every Parent, Every Dreamer

If you're raising a child today – or still healing from the one you used to be – let these stories remind you:

Support doesn't always look loud.
Belief doesn't need to post itself.
And love, when quiet and consistent, becomes the most powerful legacy of all.

You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to be present enough to hold space for someone’s unfolding.

The Closure: Let This Be a Reminder

To every artist quietly composing their path.
To every athlete swimming before the sun rises.
To every parent watching from the sidelines.
To every child hoping someone finally sees them..

This is for You.

Because presence doesn't need applause.
It just needs to be there – every day, in small ways, until something extraordinary grows.