Building a Student Community Around Working Adults

President, Applied Computing Student Management Committee

When I joined SIT's Applied Computing CSM pathway, I realised that university life looked quite different for working adults. Most of us had jobs, professional responsibilities and commitments outside school. We were not necessarily spending our afternoons on campus or taking part in the traditional university experience. Sometimes, the only opportunities to see classmates were during scheduled lessons, assessments or examinations.

I felt that university should be more than a sequence of modules and assignments. That was one reason I became involved in the Applied Computing Student Management Committee, eventually serving as its President.

For me, student leadership was not simply about organising activities. It was about helping create a sense of community among people juggling work and education. I wanted students to have chances to get to know one another beyond academic requirements: to exchange experiences, ask for advice or simply have a conversation outside an assignment.

Serving as President gave me another perspective on leadership. At work, activities are often guided by formal responsibilities, business objectives and established structures. Student leadership is different. People contribute their time alongside their own commitments, often because they believe something is worth doing.

That makes communication, cooperation and understanding people's circumstances especially important. I learned to appreciate the importance of setting a direction while giving others room to contribute. I also learned that an idea has very little value unless someone is willing to take responsibility for making it happen.

My involvement in university life also extended to supporting wider technology community initiatives, including the SIT team's involvement in PyCon Singapore 2025. Experiences like these reminded me that some of the most useful learning happens through people. A programming language can be learned through a course, but understanding how others work, communicate, collaborate and approach problems often requires stepping outside formal lessons.

I do not see student leadership as separate from my academic journey. The technical modules developed my knowledge. The projects challenged me to apply it. Student leadership developed my understanding of people, communication, responsibility and collaboration.

And perhaps the most important lesson was that leadership is not only about individual progress. It is also about helping create opportunities for others.

Make progress, then bring others with you.