Beyond the Stereotypes: My Unconventional Journey as a Computer Science Student in Singapore

When people hear “international student taking computer science student in Singapore,” they often picture a coding prodigy grinding LeetCode daily, juggling internships, and chasing a six-figure salary. Let me tell you—that wasn’t me. My journey was messier, more uncertain, and far more human.

The Myth of Productivity

Looking back at my calendar, I see a pattern: cycles of self-doubt, guilt, and last-minute sprints. I’d convince myself I was a chronic procrastinator—until I realized my “flaw” was simply how I worked. I thrive under pressure, especially when deadlines loom or teammates depend on me. Whether it was carrying ghosting group members or scrambling to match overachievers’ pace, I always gave 100%. But that didn’t stop me from feeling like an impostor in a major that glorifies round-the-clock coding marathons.

Breaking the "Smart Student" Mold

Computer science here comes with unspoken rules: Get straight A’s. Land four to five internships. Build a GitHub graveyard of projects. But halfway through a data structures project, I had an epiphany: I hate programming. I didn’t want to debug code up until 3 AM. I didn’t care about AI buzzwords or rewriting algorithms from scratch. The pressure to “grind” left me numb—while peers flaunted hackathon wins and LinkedIn milestones, I felt stuck in a race I never signed up for.

Finding My Light Outside CS

Everything changed when I took a psychology elective. For the first time, I wanted to read textbooks. I Googled concepts for fun. I felt alive connecting theories to real life, expressing ideas without fearing a wrong “output.” That class wasn’t just enlightening—it was liberating. It wasn’t that I was “bad” at CS; I’d just been in the wrong environment.

The First Two Years: Survival Mode

My early university days were brutal. Walking out of exams, I’d hear peers laughing about how “easy” the questions were. Meanwhile, I wondered if I’d ever earn a single A. I compared myself to everyone—the internship stars, the coding club presidents, the ones who seemed to have it all figured out. My motivation crumbled; I felt like I’d achieved nothing.

Failures That Forged Resilience

I didn’t get the grades I wanted. I didn’t land dream internships. I had professors who mumbled through lectures and groupmates who vanished. But those “failures” taught me grit. I learned to lead teams, teach myself skills, and dissect industry trends alone. I stopped waiting for rescuers—I became my own lifeline.

Beyond Grades: The Unseen Curriculum

While I struggled in CS, I thrived elsewhere: leading volunteer trips to the Philippines, working part-time at a library, joining volunteer clubs, dancing for cultural musical , writing a screenplay, and mentoring juniors. These experiences shaped me more than any coding project. They taught me adaptability, empathy, and how to navigate ambiguity—skills no GPA could reflect.

Redefining Success

Today, I see my degree differently. University isn’t about acing exams—it’s a bootcamp for life. It’s about learning to stand back up when the world says you’re “behind.” It’s realizing ambition looks different for everyone. For me, success isn’t a trophy salary or a flawless transcript. It’s the independence to carve my own path, the curiosity to explore beyond my comfort zone, and the resilience to keep growing—even when the code won’t compile. To anyone drowning in comparison: Your worth isn’t defined by LeetCode rankings or LinkedIn flexes. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is admit, “This isn’t for me”—and pivot toward what sets your mind on fire.

P.S. To the stereotypes: Thanks for the motivation. But I’ll write my own story. 🚀