“Anything is possible”—SG:D Scholar Esther Goh

By Lu Yinuo

Behind the impressive graphics and immersive gameplay of modern video games lie thousands of lines of code that define what a player can or cannot do. For many people, those lines of code are like a story written in an alien language—completely incomprehensible, to say the least.

Ms Esther Goh Yu Xian, a Partner Engineer at Facebook, used to belong to the group of non-coders unable to read or write in any computer language. But an encounter with a final year student’s project at a university open house sparked in her an intense desire to pick up programming.

Browsing through computer science-related courses offered by universities, the Nanyang Technological University-Georgia Tech integrated Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science/Computer Engineering) and Master of Science (Computer Science) programme piqued her interest. The icing on the cake? The programme was covered under the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s SG:D Undergraduate Scholarship. Ms Goh submitted her application, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, Ms Goh leverages her digital skillset to help Facebook’s partners solve technical issues and build new digital products or services. She shares with IMPact News how the scholarship has opened doors for her and allowed her to chase her ambitions.

Q:  For someone without any prior experience in programming, could you tell us how you managed to excel in computer science?

A:  I’d like to think that my success in picking up programming has to do with my personality—many people have told me that I have a can-do attitude; that I am unafraid to try. To be honest, I had my doubts too when I applied for the scholarship and the university programme.

In fact, during the interview for the programme at the university, I did highlight my complete lack of programming skills. However, I was assured that if I followed the curriculum, passionate about programming, and put effort into my learning, I would be fine.

Realising that there was so much room for improvement, I started working harder to understand the fundamental concepts in programming and computer science, and things got better from there.

Q:  Why did you choose the SG:D Scholarship to further your studies?

A:  For me, the main draw was the fact that it supported me in pursuing both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Also, I had always wished to live and study overseas, spending enough time in a foreign place to truly understand it. The SG:D Scholarship allowed me to do all that.

Frankly, without the scholarship, I don't think I would have had the opportunity to pursue an overseas degree due to the cost associated with it. Being able to streamline my education was another plus point since I did not start off searching for a combined bachelor’s/master’s track.

Q:  What is something that you appreciate about being an SG:D Scholar?

A:  I appreciate the many networking sessions that IMDA organised for us scholars. These sessions consisted of various bonding activities that allowed me to interact with peers as well as mentors that I would not have met otherwise. Listening to their stories and learning about what they're doing inspires me constantly, especially on those days where I feel like the path of being a programmer is really tough.

I also feel encouraged by those who have returned to Singapore after completing their studies overseas and started contributing back to our nation. Their relentless work ethic and determination has similarly fuelled my drive to give back to society.

Q:  How do you think the SG:D Scholarship has prepared you for your role at Facebook?

A:  Having had the opportunity to study overseas thanks to the SG:D Scholarship, I have become more open minded and empathetic to other cultures. This is beneficial now that I’m working in a multinational corporation, where I interact with many international customers and partners whose work practices differ greatly from country to country. I’ve gained the ability to listen patiently to their needs and propose solutions that best fit their cultural context. Hence, beyond granting me the technical skills, the scholarship also helped me in developing my soft skills.

Q:  Do you have any words of advice for students who are looking to venture into a new field, or are interested in the SG:D Scholarship?

A:  What matters the most is passion. If you are keen to solve problems, or if you’re looking for the sense of achievement that comes with conquering something new, anything is possible, even if you don’t have prior experience in a particular field.