My Education



The Past

My education began in a neighbourhood primary school like any other children from the middle class families. Never seemed to have much of a liking for studies and of course even less for exams. My fondest memories for those years revolved around the wonderful moments spent with my friends playing marbles, frisbee, police-catch-thieves and occasionally some monkey tricks on silly girls (Hmm... wonder where they are now??)

Then came my secondary school education which saw me spending four enjoyable years in Victoria School . Played very hard and managed to maintain decent grades in my report book. Had a few crushes here and there, and before long the 4-year cruise was over. I really miss those teenage years when life was so COOL.

After spending ten aimless years doing what most teenagers would do, I landed up in Victoria Junior College where I finally understood the meaning of my school motto Nil-Sine-Labore. Began to work harder and started to take studies more seriously! Did quite well for my GCE 'A' levels after two donkey years in VJC and went on to serve 11 months of national service in an armour battalion before flying off to France for further studies in January 92 under a Public Service Commission scholarship from the Singapore Government to pursue a dîplome d'ingénieur (equivalent to an honours degree).

Upon my arrival in France, I attended a six month crash course on French before embarking on a two year preparatory program for taking entrance examinations into the French Grande Ecoles (specialized engineering schools). Had a heavy dose of hard sciences from abstract algebra to quantum mechanics and received a lighter prescription of French literature as well, all in the name of cultivating a broader base of learning. Before I know, the two years of hard work in Lycée du Parc finally culminated in a two month long examination marathon, which ironically also marked the end of my long journey through les classes préparatoires. Gosh...am I glad that those days are over.

After two years of fruitless 'soul-searching' in Lycée du Parc, my successful admission to ESIGETEL (Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs En Informatique et Génie des Télécommunications) in Fontainebleau miraculously brought me back to focus. From that moment onwards, I was finally doing what I was originally there for and little by little, I started rediscovering my raison d'être in that country.

Following my liberation from the chains of les classes préparatoires, I was at last free to pursue my other interests in addition to the academic ones. I became actively involved in outdoor activities such as monoskiing and trekking, and other students' activities as well. I have just finished my term as the Vice-President (not President of Vice) of the Singapore Students' Association in France after serving dutifully in the committee for two years. However, good times always have to come to an end somehow and the moment has finally arrived for me to turn the page of my life in France. Adieu mes amis et Au Revoir La France!


The Present

Now with my days in France behind me, I am about to begin another chapter of my life in my new host country - America. This cross-Atlantic journey to the New World will mark the beginning of a new adventure into the heart of Carnegie Mellon University where I will pursue a Master of Science in Information Networking at the Information Networking Institute . As a fresh graduate with no prior working experience, I fully intend not only to make this rare opportunity to study in a university with an international reputation for excellence a fruitful learning experience but also an opening to enrich my understanding of another culture.