Page 17 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

RYAN KWOK 15

Smart Nation Scholarship

"Singapore is already an attractive

target for cyber-attacks, and I want

to do my part in defending the

information we hold in our nation. "

What was your fi rst In your opinion, what is your Smart Nation Scholarship
experience in the fi eld of tech? key strength that helped you Ryan Kwok
Were there any memorable land the scholarship?
moments you would like to Passion. I am driven by a thirst to learn and a Age
20
share? passion to keep improving myself. I signed up
To be honest, my fi rst exposure to computing for more courses to expand my knowledge Attained
and understanding of cybersecurity.
/ cybersecurity was from watching Mr. A Levels
Robot. The show had made hacking look
really cool, and spurred me to explore more What do you hope to achieve Now
into coding. I had fi rst learnt Ruby through in your career in the public Bachelor of Computing in Information Security
a coding course conducted by Singapore (Enrolling in 2020),
Management University, which made me service in contributing to National University of Singapore
realise how much I had enjoyed the logic Singapore’s progress towards
involved in coding. a Smart Nation? From
My most memorable moment was a mobile Raffl es Junior College
app making course that I had attended, I wish to be able to contribute to Singapore’s
where I created an app to help me with my cyber defence the best I can. With the Ryan will be joining Cyber Security
hobby, sailing race management. Being able changing technological landscape in Agency of Singapore (CSA) upon
Singapore, the next biggest defence system
to identify a practical problem, design a tech has to be focused on the digital world. completion of his studies.
solution, and use coding logic to solve it, was
the thing that made me realise that tech is Singapore is already an attractive target for
the fi eld I wanted to be in. cyber-attacks, and I want to do my part in
defending the information we hold in our
nation.
What attracted you to
apply to the Smart Nation Any advice for your peers who
Scholarship? are looking to apply for the
One thing that appealed to me was the scholarship?
hacking scenes from the Smart Nation Don’t ever feel like you’re not good enough.
Scholarship video advertisement. I realised You don't have to be the next Einstein. Just
that this scholarship would give me an possessing the knowledge will also not carry
opportunity to further explore my interest in you far in your career. Instead, be proud of
cybersecurity with the Cyber Security Agency your passion and wear it on your sleeves.
of Singapore. I believe that the scholarship People will see and admire the fi re in your
will give me a good platform to fi nd my heart and hunger to learn. Just be yourself,
path in this career while also enabling me and that’s really all that matters.
to contribute to something that is bigger
than any start-ups or companies. Being
able to make a difference in the society we
live in while Singapore transits into a digital
environment will help me further appreciate
and enjoy the work that I would do.