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Four students awarded President’s Scholarship

SINGAPORE — Growing up, Ms Clara Lim Shu Qi would often tinker with circuits and chipboards, motors and gearboxes, and even built unpowered gliders and remote-controlled planes from scratch.

President's Scholarship recipients (from left) Etsuko Lim Tze, Tan Kuan Hian, Clara Lim Shu Qi and Russell Ewe Yuhang. Photo: Jaslin Goh

President's Scholarship recipients (from left) Etsuko Lim Tze, Tan Kuan Hian, Clara Lim Shu Qi and Russell Ewe Yuhang. Photo: Jaslin Goh

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SINGAPORE — Growing up, Ms Clara Lim Shu Qi would often tinker with circuits and chipboards, motors and gearboxes, and even built unpowered gliders and remote-controlled planes from scratch.

Her fascination with “things moving by themselves” has led the 19-year-old to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the University College London — making her the first President’s Scholar in nine years to choose the subject, over commonly-favoured courses such as philosophy, politics, law and medicine.

Ms Lim is among four young Singaporeans who have been awarded the prestigious President’s Scholarship this year. The other three are Ms Etsuko Lim Tze, 19 (Hwa Chong Institution); Mr Russell Ewe Yuhang, 20 (Hwa Chong Institution); and Mr Tan Kuan Hian, 19 (Raffles Institution).

The four received their awards from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at a ceremony held at the Istana today (Aug 14).

Ms Clara Lim said her interest in engineering was sparked by her father, who works in a manufacturing operations department.

At Dunman High School, she joined the Robotics Club out of curiosity, but enjoyed its activities so much that she stayed on for six years, and became its president.

On her decision to pursue mechanical engineering in the university, Ms Lim said: “The main consideration for me was interest and passion.”

She added that having an engineering background would “provide her with a different lens”, and being trained to think logically and systematically will help her when it comes to policy-making in the future.

Ms Lim said when her family first learnt that she had been awarded the scholarship, her father reminded her of a Chinese proverb which says “do not forget the source of your good fortune”.

“It … reminded me that this scholarship comes with responsibilities, and made me think of how I can best contribute in my capacity in the future,” said Ms Lim, who has two younger siblings.

Contributing to the community is something that she has been doing even as a student. For example, for the past eight months or so, she has been giving weekly tuition at the Boys’ Town, a role which requires her to befriend the youths there and earn their trust.

Ms Lim, who also did a five-month internship at the Ministry of Social and Family Development this year, said: “These experiences in volunteering taught me that there’s a lot more I can contribute, and in the end, no matter which sector (in the Government) I might get posted to, it’s about having the heart to care and serve.”

Another President’s Scholar, Ms Etsuko Lim, said getting the award is both a “huge responsibility” and a “great motivation”.

“There’s a lot to live up to, given the history of the recipients, many of whom have gone on to do a great many things,” said the young woman who will read law at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

When asked to comment on the view that senior civil servants might be too far-removed from ordinary citizens, Ms Etsuko Lim said: “I think there’s been more efforts by ministers and civil servants to step up on ground involvement, like going on (regular) house visits.”

She shared that her stint as a case writer at the Meet-the-People sessions at Yuhua Constituency, when she was in Secondary 4, gave her a first-hand glimpse of the bread-and-butter issues that people face, such as applying for a flat.

Although all the four President’s Scholars will be going abroad for their studies, they still plan to continue doing volunteer work in their free time.

For example, Ms Etsuko Lim hopes to help out with the Innocence Project, an organisation which investigates cases of people suspected of being wrongfully convicted.

Mr Tan, who will read liberal arts at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, United States, plans to enrol in a social outreach programme that will look at policies and issues affecting residents in Baltimore.

Mr Ewe, who will read politics and philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, noted that he had been “enabled” by many people in his life, such as his family, teachers, and instructors.

“It has inspired me to be an enabler for people in the future,” said Mr Ewe, who will be joining the Singapore Armed Forces after graduation.

 

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