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Reviewed: The PSC Scholarship


The PSC Scholarship

Scores of tourists throng the streets about this urban cafe in the heart of Tiong Bahru. Seated across from me is a colleague from one of the year-long projects that we have just completed. Two ice-cream waffles separate us on marble-esque plates.

There was finally some time to sit down and catch up. As I recall it there wasn’t a missing beat in our conversation. She led mostly about our personal lives, dreams, intentions and plans. We chatted for a bit over the 90 minutes that we had between schedules.

I had always known intellectually that we live very different lives, but I did not imagine the great extent to which this is true. She shares of adventurous climes in overseas travels (and missing our local food while abroad), studying a fourth language, exploring a part-time job, applying for internship, writing original songs, taking guitar lessons, chairing a student conference, and training for badminton up to four times a week at the community club. Some people are just able to do a bit of a lot of things most of the time, and have their toes in every community. I would later learn from LinkedIn that she is matriculating to Harvard University.

I ask if she intends to return to Singapore. She mentions in contextual explanation, that her PSC scholarship has a bond duration of 6 years. Unequivocally, it is quite the dream to be fully-sponsored with a guaranteed career awaiting in the public service. I am vicariously thrilled and excited for you, and perhaps when you’re back we can go out again for “bak chor mee”.

The premise of effective government is to have the highest-functioning citizens in positions of leadership throughout the public service. I strongly believe that the Singapore Dream involves giving back to the community in service with honour. To that end, I give the PSC Scholarship four stars.

_____
Some details modified. Footnotes: The Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship is the premier government scholarship awarded to outstanding young men and women who are committed to serving Singapore through a career in the Public Service (PSC, 2022).

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