From Curiosity to Confidence: How Education Shaped Damien’s Journey
From Curiosity to Confidence: How Education Shaped Damien’s Journey
Education does not always follow a straight path and Damien’s journey is a powerful reminder that growth often begins outside one’s comfort zone.
Before enrolling in the Computer Science programme under SIM–UOL, Damien came from a Logistics background, with his interest in technology sparked through self-learning and coding during his National Service. Entering a new academic field without a traditional foundation initially led to self-doubt. Yet, what began as uncertainty soon became a journey of discovery, one that reshaped his understanding of learning itself.
Through his studies, Damien came to realise that education is not about starting with the “right” answers, but about persistence, adaptability, and trusting the process. While the workload and project demands were challenging, effective time management and a habit of critically reviewing his own work allowed him to find balance and purpose in his academic journey. More importantly, he learnt to approach challenges with resilience rather than pressure.
Beyond the classroom, Damien’s university experience was deeply enriched by his involvement in student life. From being part of SIM Dreamwerkz, to serving on the SIM–UOL Computer Science Student Council and eventually taking on the role of Vice President, his leadership experiences extended his learning far beyond lectures and tutorials. His time as an intern, and later a team member under the Student Life Department, organising schoolwide events, further reinforced the importance of ownership, teamwork, and thoughtful decision-making.
These experiences highlighted a key lesson: university life is not defined solely by grades, but by learning to work with people each bringing different perspectives, ideas, and opinions to the table. Through collaboration and leadership, Damien developed essential soft skills such as communication, conflict management, and emotional awareness skills he found to be just as critical as technical expertise.
Today, Damien has graduated with First Class Honours and has stepped confidently into the working world in a full-time role with Cognizant. Reflecting on his journey, he remains grateful for the experiences that shaped his growth over the past three years of experiences that built his professionalism, confidence, and commitment to lifelong learning.
While acknowledging that there will always be others who may excel in specific areas, Damien believes that what truly matters is the willingness to keep improving, challenge oneself, and grow sustainably without losing sight of well-being.
His journey serves as an inspiring reminder that education is not just about where you begin, but how you grow along the way.
