Allison Margaret Loo Li Houng

My name is Allison, and I entered Singapore Polytechnic through the Common IT Programme (DCITP) in SOC before moving on to the Diploma in Information Technology (DIT), Software Development Specialisation. In Year 2, I had the opportunity to join the Industry Now Curriculum (INC) Pathway, where my team and I are currently working on a web development project for our client, The Institute of Management Consultants Singapore (IMCS).

When it came to choosing a course, I was a bit indecisive. I enjoyed the little computing activities I had in secondary school, and with the rise of technology, I was keen to explore it further. However, with only experience in Scratch and Microbit, I felt unprepared to dive straight into a specialised course. Initially, I placed the Diploma in Applied AI and Analytics (DAAA) as my first choice in the JAE, believing it would be a good fit, especially since I did well in mathematics. But the day before submitting my choices, I realised it wouldn’t be wise to specialise in something I had no real experience with and risk closing other doors in the tech space. That’s when I chose DCITP, as I’d heard it covers all the basics of computing and gives you extra time to decide on a specialisation.

Looking back, joining DCITP was the best decision I ever made. My class was full of like-minded individuals, all just starting their tech journeys and unsure of their paths. We helped each other out, learned together, and made the process of learning to code far more enjoyable. During my time in the Common IT Program, I was introduced to all the basics of computing, and that’s when I fell in love with the Front-End Development module, where I could blend my passion for graphic design with technology. At the end of the program, I chose DIT because I preferred the visual aspects of software development over working with numbers in DAAA.

For secondary school students interested in computing, I highly recommend entering DCITP. You won’t miss out on any modules since every freshman across all SOC courses takes the same modules in the first semester, so it’s a great way to give yourself more time to decide. This program also gives you the chance to talk to SP seniors in different courses, helping you better understand what they do in their specialisations.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This quote resonates with me, not only because I’m a handball athlete who loves shooting goals but also because it reminds me that if I don’t try new things, I might miss out on experiences I never knew I would enjoy. Joining DCITP was one of those shots I took that turned out to be a life-changing experience, and I don’t regret it one bit. The same goes for joining the handball team—though I didn’t know much about the sport at first, I gave it a try, and now I absolutely love it. SP has given me many opportunities where I felt unsure or lacked confidence, but taking those chances has always led to rewarding and transformative experiences.