“I enjoyed meeting people from different cultures and learning about their diverse experiences and perspectives. For instance, some of my university friends were passionate about sustainability and environmental issues. They took active steps to promote sustainability in both a personal and social capacity, such as adopting a vegetarian and vegan diet, making it a point to buy locally sourced and sustainable products, and running college-wide initiatives to reduce food waste. I found it interesting that their approaches to promoting sustainability differed from what I was used to. Every child in Singapore has learnt about the 3Rs, but we are less likely to consider where our food comes from and its environmental implications. It was also inspiring to meet people my age who felt empowered to come up with solutions to large-scale problems that they could enact in their daily lives.”
- Lim Ci Hui, MOE Scholar
“One of my most memorable experiences was a weekend road trip with some friends to explore national parks. We managed to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Redwood National Parks. A specific core memory was when a snowstorm hit Crater Lake the week before we arrived, and we had to change our plans. Instead of the usual hike, we rented snowshoes and trekked across areas with avalanche risks. It was challenging but so rewarding when we finally reached the viewpoint and saw the stunning Crater Lake—it’s a sight I’ll never forget. It was a great way to disconnect from the intensity of university life, and the breathtaking views along the way are something I’ll never forget.”
- Ernest Goh, HDB Undergraduate Scholar
“One of the highlights of my time abroad was in my third year, when we were tasked with designing a fighter aircraft, from conceptualisation to flight simulation. The project was a true test of problem-solving and collaboration, as our team of 20-30 people each took on different components while coordinating closely. Watching our design soar in the simulation was an unforgettable moment of accomplishment.”
– Chia Jieru, ST Engineering Scholar
“In my sophomore year, I joined a tech club on campus and was part of a team that helped to build a mobile web app for Google. A memorable week from that semester was taking a flight with my team to our retreat in Los Angeles. During our trip, I enjoyed seafood at Malibu Beach, tried to buy a bottle of water only to find it was $20, visited friends (also DSTA scholars) at the University of California, Los Angeles, and shared a sunset with my team at Griffith Observatory. We also had an all-you-can eat KBBQ and I almost missed my flight back to Berkeley. After returning to campus the next day, I went to Googleplex (Google’s headquarters) in Mountain View, Silicon Valley, to present our project to the Vice President of Engineering!”
– Ng Zeming, Michael Eugene, DSTA Scholar
“One of the more memorable times was when I was at a concert in London. We bought standing tickets and were determined to get as close to the stage as possible. So, we arrived at the venue early to queue. Despite it being March, the air was still cold, and every time a cold gust of wind blew, we huddled together, shivering. It was difficult, but we were surrounded by other fans with the same heart. As we camped out in the cold, we talked, sang, bonded, and had so much fun with people as passionate as we were. Despite the cold, my heart felt warm, and I made a lot of friends. The concert itself was incredible, and I still cherish the memories from that day a lot.”
– Lim Jo Xin, DSTA Scholar
“The most memorable experience from my time abroad was the view at the top of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican during Christmas of 2022. The historic city, decorated in Christmas livery, created an atmosphere of festivity that left me mesmerised for the duration of my trip. It was a stark reminder that the cultures present in the world are diverse and that we should be cognisant of our limited perspectives.”
– Sean Ooi Hui Jie, SIA Open Overseas Scholar
