Page 72 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

70 SCHOLAR’S PROFILE

Engineering Her Route To Success

JOLYN TAN REVEALS SOUND ADVICE TO MAKE THE MOST OUT

OF A SCHOLARSHIP.

Why did you choose the Would you advise others to What made you decide to
scholarship? take up a scholarship? choose your course in your
I participated in the National Environment A scholarship defi nitely provides many university?
and Water (NEW) Internship in Jan 2015, benefi ts, such as job security upon graduation I have always been interested in physics and
after completion of my A Level Examinations. as well as fi nancial support. The internships I mathematics, so the engineering path was
During that internship, I was attached to the took part in during my undergrad days have quite clear. I chose Mechanical Engineering in
Catchment and Waterways Department, also aided me in making a more informed particular due to its generality, because I felt
in particular the division that manages decision when opting for which department other engineering courses had too specifi c a
the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters to join after graduation. I would defi nitely focus for my preference.
Programme. This internship gave me the encourage everyone who is passionate and
chance to learn more about the work PUB keen to try applying and not be daunted by
does, and gain a deeper appreciation for the application process. Ask questions as well I chose to study at the National University of
Singapore’s water loop. The complexity of during the selection interviews, as it can help Singapore (NUS) as I was offered a place in
our water system, along with its dependency affi rm one’s decision to take up a scholarship the University Scholar’s Programme (USP), an
on climate change, made me realize how with that particular company, or otherwise. undergraduate academic programme. I was
dynamic this sector was, and the many drawn to the programme’s multidisciplinary
engineering challenges that would arise in However, I would not advice everyone to curriculum, along with a focus on developing
the near future in the water scene. Ensuring take up a scholarship. As I have seen from my critical thinking and writing skills. Indeed,
Singapore’s water sustainability is a noble peers in university, there are some who are being in the USP made me explore beyond
task, and I believed that this was the purpose still exploring where their passions lie, and the math and science which I was very
and meaning I wanted in my career as an university is a great time to venture into many comfortable with. Instead, for instance, I
engineer. So I took a chance and applied for different things to fi nd out more. Everyone learned math in the context of philosophy, as
the NEW Scholarship upon completion of the has a unique path to take, there is no one path well as how linguistics and culture are related.
NEW Internship, and have not looked back for all, At the same time, one should not take
since. up a scholarship simply for the prestige or
monetary value.