Jasmine Ong, HTB 3 1) What are you doing now (working or studying in a university)?
I am pursuing a degree in NUS.
2) How much are you paying for your University Education (no exact figures needed; rough estimates per year good enough)?
Approximately $18,000.
3) Which JC were you from before (and which year did you graduate from it)?
Tampines Junior College. I graduated in 2004.
4) What is your reason for choosing the polytechnic route when you chose to study in TAS?
I have a strong liking for the hospitality and tourism industry.
5) (i) If you are currently pursuing further studies, did you ever consider instead to work straight after studying in TAS?
(ii) If you did, why? If you didn't, why not?
No, I prefer to obtain a degree first.
6) What do you hope to become in the future? Has that changed after your time in TAS, compared to what you had hoped for before you received your A Level results?
I probably want to be in a hospitality or tourism industry, doing finance-related stuff. So it's an integration of my diploma studies and my business degree. Hope to do consulting for hotels or airlines, or revenue management for hotels or maybe even marketing in the Singapore Tourism Board. I'm open to options actually, but preferably in the tourism and hospitality sector. Before my A levels, I didn't really know what I was going to do in the future. I only knew a degree was next. I was offered a place in NTU's engineering faculty, but I gave it up in the end because it wasn't something I could see myself doing. |
Low Hui Ee, DHTB5 1) What are you doing now (working or studying in a university?
I am planning to pursue further studies and is currently waiting for local university enrollment.
2) How much are you paying for your University Education (no exact figures needed; rough estimates per year good enough)?
If I do get into a local university, it would be around $6000 per year.
There are scholarships offered by the universities and government bodies which you can apply.
3) Which JC were you from before (and which year did you graduate from it)?
I graduated from Pioneer Junior College in year 2005.
4) What is your reason for choosing the polytechnic route when you chose to study in TAS?
Before coming to TAS, I did not know what I wanted to become. People talked about the best-paying jobs and what specialisation you should study to secure that particular job. I didn't want to follow the flow. I needed to find meaning in the things I do. Therefore I decided to try out a polytechnic route which offered a different kind of education from junior colleges.
5) (i) If you are currently pursuing further studies, did you ever consider instead to work straight after studying in TAS?
Yes.
(ii) If you did, why? If you didn't, why not?
I did my internship at an airline company, and work was very challenging and enjoyable. I got interested in the airline industry. Towards the end of the internship, there were job opportunities offered to me from other airlines which we worked with. Thus, I was seriously considering to take up the offers. Unfortunately, the economy wasn’t very good when I graduated, and the companies had freezed their positions and were not planning to hire any staff at that point of time. I thought it was a good time to further my studies instead. With more knowledge and the right attitude, I believe there will alway be other better opportunities.
6) What do you hope to become in the future? Has that changed after your time in TAS, compared to what you had hoped for before you received your A Level results?
I wouldn't state any particular job position because I am open to options and that can change in time to come. I think Singapore is a great place, so ultimately I hope I can do something to promote Singapore as a travel destination.
Before coming to TAS, I did not know what I wanted to become. But studying in TAS has changed my outlook in life.
Education in TAS is rather different from the other institutions. People may think of it as just a polytechnic education, but it is far more than that. TAS is a school with an international cohort, and I think when you meet people from different countries you gain a little more knowledge of what is out there. You look at things from a global perspective.
There are also deployment and internship opportunities for you to experience different kinds of jobs and working styles in the 'real world'. When I was at work and if there was something that I didn't agree with, I thought, "hey, that's not how I want to work next time". You become more certain of what you want to be. Moreover, teachers provide a lot of support and guidance to unlock your potential. It is really much more interesting to learn from people and experience than from books. Studying was fun and I enjoyed every moment of it. |
