Student Stories

Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself please?

My name is Wai Yan Maung Oo, or “Wymo” for short, and I am from Myanmar. I studied for IGCSE and A-levels in my home country before coming to Singapore to join the Bachelor of Information Technology programme in PSB Academy.

How has life been since you graduated from PSB Academy?

After I graduated from PSB Academy, I continued to study for the Master of Information Technology degree for one more year. I have been working as a Software Engineer at NEC Asia Pacific in Singapore since February 2019.

What is it like working there? Did you apply what you’ve learnt at PSB Academy to your work? 

It has been an amazing journey! I have learnt a lot of new things through projects, such as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Work Pass project. All the projects that I have worked on at PSB Academy have been extremely helpful, especially my final year project. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Tan Han Kee, who was my programming lecturer. His teaching style has always inspired me, motivating me to learn more and equip myself with the necessary skills to jump-start my career.

Participating in the students’ activities at PSB Academy has also given me the confidence to be proactive at work and interact with professionals worldwide.

Why did you decide to study at PSB Academy in Singapore, and not any other countries, or even your home country?

Singapore has always been my dream destination since I was a child. I love the country, the culture, the food and the standard of living! I came across this programme while searching for a university and I knew instantly that this is the programme that I want to pursue. Before I joined PSB Academy, I have already heard about its good reputation.

What’s your favourite part of the programme? It seems that you are very much into cybersecurity.

Growing up, I have always been fascinated by technology. But I was also anxious about the increasing cyberattacks and threats as we were getting more connected. One of my favourite courses at PSB Academy was “Contemporary Issues in Information Technology”. Each week, we would form different groups to discuss the threats and issues concerning technology. The interaction with my classmates made this one of the best courses I had attended.

You were also the Vice President of the Singapore Computer Society when you were studying at PSB Academy. And it seems like you are a guitar enthusiast too! How did you cope with the demand of this programme, volunteering and pursuing your passion?

I have been very active since my high school days. I led the football and basketball teams and participated in the school band while managing my A-levels. When I first started university, my parents were worried that I might not be able to keep up with my studies if I joined too many activities, but I assured them that I would be able to do it by managing my time more effectively.

You’ve achieved quite a lot over the past few years. What accomplishment are you most proud of?  

It would be winning the 3MT Thesis Competition with my thesis “Emotional Health: Why Does It Matter?” I’ve been interested in this topic since 2018, and I was glad to share my knowledge with everyone.

Since young, have you had any dreams? To what extent do you feel that you’ve fulfilled some of that?  

My dream is to have my own start-up company that will provide personalised IT solutions. There are also a few web-based and mobile applications that I want to develop and launch in my country.

Any last remarks, words of inspiration… or advice for those looking to take the same path as you?

Live your university life to the fullest. Participate in activities with your friends and create memories together. Also, spend more time in the library and read more books. It’s never too late to start!