Becca Qiu

I thought the PSC scholarship gave me more flexibility in choosing university courses and subsequent career paths, as compared to some of the scholarships offered by other organisations. This was important to me as I was not one-hundred-percent sure what I wanted to do. I also thought the Government is a good platform to work on with wide-ranging impact. The mission of public service also resonates with me. 

The PSC Scholarship has not really impacted my university experience, if compared to the experience of not being on a scholarship, except for the comfort of not having to worry about funding the education. You can still work on-campus, take up internships, or participate in school activities as much as you like. Outside of college, I also enjoyed the experiences of the Preparatory Course and Foundation Course, where I got to meet others in my cohort and learn about their diverse experiences. 

After I graduated, I joined GovTech and was placed on the PSLP-General (Engineering) track. I am fortunate to be able to pursue my interest in Computer Science and technology throughout my education and starting out in my career. I have had a wide range of experiences working in GovTech, from programming, operations, to engaging stakeholders. I have also had the opportunity to work on a COVID-related product. The experience is immensely stressful as our priorities may change day-to-day based on the COVID situation on the ground, but also rewarding as I can appreciate how my product impacts operations across the Government and helps different teams serve citizens. 

I thought that the Government is a homogeneous monolithic whole and all parts of the Government are the same. In reality, through my own experiences and those shared with me by my peers, different parts of Government can be quite different in terms of culture, pace, and areas of work. 

Purposeful. I have met many public  officers from different parts of the Government who have amazed me with their dedication to their missions, and who, besides working very hard, are also very good at their jobs.

It is difficult to be sure of what kind of career you want at the point of scholarship application, especially if you are applying for an undergraduate scholarship, so I would advise that you follow your interest at the current point in time in choosing scholarships and majors. If your interest changes in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out for those different opportunities that can allow you to learn and grow, be it opportunities on campus, internships, or suitable postings when you join the Public Service.