Student Stories

“Getting good grades are important (and awesome) but the experiences and friendships I gained are something that cannot be learnt inside the classrooms.” – Irene

What were some of the most valuable take-aways from the programme you took at PSB Academy?

One of the important things my programme has taught me is that strong theoretical concepts and regular practical works are both important to ensure the success of a project. It is necessary to understand fundamental concepts before jumping into hands-on learning because the concepts will allow us to fully comprehend how the practical thing works. However, to fully commit to the engineering concepts and knowledge into memory, practical work is necessary so that the concepts can be applied directly in real life and learnt in a more interesting way.

Perseverance is another thing I have learnt when doing different engineering projects through the course of study. Often, the first proposed solution did not work, and the project had to be redone several times. This was quite a norm during all my projects but it was important to keep trying and revisiting the related concepts to have a better understanding, tackle the problem from different angles, as well as try different solutions to solve the problem with the most optimal method.

What did you miss most and learning points for yourself as a student leader? Any staff you would like to specifically highlight?

Being a student leader helped me to improve my time management skills. On top of my intensive engineering programme, I also took on a leadership role that required me to regularly attend more events and meetings with my team. I was able to divide my time efficiently and effectively between my academic life and club activities. Furthermore, I got to know and work on projects with fellow schoolmates from different nationalities. Getting good grades are important (and awesome) but the experiences and friendships I gained are something that cannot be learnt inside the classrooms.

I enjoyed the opportunity to work with various Student Affairs (STA) staff as they are always ready to assist and willing to help whenever I required any sort of assistance during my school days or after I graduated. It also created a platform for me to learn how to work with professionals in a different environment. I am grateful to meet, know and work with all the STA staff as a student leader as well as an alumna.

Why do you think it is important to keep in touch with the school after you graduated?

Keeping in touch with schools as alumni can bring many opportunities as we transit into working life. The Career Services team in the school helped me to prepare for job hunting through career readiness workshops as well as networking events to build and expand our professional social circle. They also organised Career Fairs in the campus where we got to speak with hiring managers from various companies directly.

What inspired/motivated you to make the decision to spend about five months in China to learn Chinese?

After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I planned to apply for PhD study as encouraged by my university lecturer. However, I had to wait for the application cycle to start before applying. As the application cycle has yet to start and I do not want to sit around waiting for it, I decided to learn Chinese for a semester in China. Knowing that I am an eager learner for new things, my parents also encouraged my decision.

I had chosen to study in China specifically as this country will have a major role in future world affairs and many international businesses are looking to hire people who are bilingual especially in Chinese. I knew that learning Chinese can give an edge when competing for a job and that it will open more opportunities for me in the near future. Furthermore, this is also a chance for me to further broaden my cultural and language skills after pursuing high school and university studies in Singapore. I believe the experiences in China will be as memorable as the ones I had in Singapore.

Share a personal quote or mantra you live by.
Always be kind to one another.