Lim En Hui James
Diploma in Computer Engineering
Smart Nation Scholarship (GovTech), 2020
The Quintessential Problem Solver
James likes using technology to solve real-world problems - and this affection for problem-solving is not limited to just engineering. He enjoys going through the design thinking process to create an effective product that users need. A tech enthusiast, he keeps up to date with rapidly evolving technology by watching documentaries from both independent producers and CNA, listening to podcasts about science and technology and “lurking” in discussion forums to get multi-sided opinions on various topics.
The alignment of the SMART Nation scholarship with his personal interests and professional goals appealed to him greatly. Professionally, he wants to leverage his skillsets for solving real-world problems to good use by giving back to the community via technology. Through learning and mentorship, he hopes that his technical skills in software development can propel him to be a forefront leader to innovate for community’s future and beyond. Having interned at Grab, a dynamic start-up, and at CSIT with its meticulous and conscientious work culture, he realised that he would thrive in a public sector agency that embraced the best of both worlds. GovTech, he realised, would be the perfect fit for what he was looking for in a career.
Receiving the Scholarship was a humbling yet empowering moment for James. Recalling his scholarship preparation, he notes how there were times he felt he could have done better for interviews and took it as a learning point to improve. He researched intensively on Smart Nation pillars, strategies, existing frameworks and reflected on initiatives that he wanted to be a part of, as Singapore builds its Smart Nation. Glad that his efforts were not in vain, he credits his success to his lecturers - “the entranceway to every opportunity I had access to during my Polytechnic years, including hackathons, competitions, SRE-YMAC, and mentorship.” He advises all scholarship hopefuls to have clarity on how the aim of a scholarship aligns with their beliefs and the contributions they can make to the scholarship provider.