A Springboard to the Future

What is it like to work at Tanglin? We caught up with a few Tanglin Alumni who had recently taken up the TTS Foundation Internship programme to work in various capacities on campus to find out more.

Did you know that Tanglin has an internship programme sponsored by TTS Foundation? Established in 2016, it gives our Alumni between the ages of 18-25 the opportunity to complete valuable work experience on campus. By participating in a 4 to 6 week long internship in a professional setting, the alumni are able to gain real-life experience and explore their desired career trajectory in a safe and familiar environment like Tanglin. Camille, Jing Hye, Daniel, Katelyn and Bhavika tell us their story. WHO: I joined Tanglin in Year 10 and recently graduated with the Class of 2021, having successfully completed my IB Diploma.

WHAT: I decided to take up the Infant School internship at Tanglin as I thought that it was the perfect way to begin my gap year; being able to return to such a familiar environment, and gain valuable experience, all while giving back to the community.

Camille, 2021 Cohort, Infant School

WHY: I think that Tanglin’s internship programme is beneficial for graduates like myself as it is both an accessible and great way to gain work experience in an international school setting. I was able to develop new skills, meet so many new incredible people (both students and staff!), and grow as a person.

Jing Hye, 2018 Cohort, Senior School Art

WHO: I recently graduated from the University of Bristol where I studied International Business Management. I was at Tanglin for about 11 years.

WHAT: I worked with senior art students and every moment was memorable because it was a new experience being on the other side— helping with classes instead of being taught. Staff and students alike were very supportive and I’m really grateful to everyone for making the internship so enjoyable. Furthermore, reflecting back on my time as a student and how everything operates the way it does was really interesting. Wish it was longer!

WHY: Prior to graduating from University, I decided that I was interested in pursuing Art. I had such a positive experience at Tanglin so I thought that the internship would support my future endeavours as well as just being a great experience overall. This internship is a great start for those looking to gain insight and experience into their respective fields and interests. In addition, being back in a familiar environment does make it easier to improve soft skills such as communication and teamwork in the workplace.

Katelyn, 2021 Cohort, Junior School Drama

WHO: I did A Level at Tanglin for two years. Before that, I had moved to Singapore from Beijing, China.

WHAT: I worked with students in the Junior School Drama Department. It was fun and upbeat to work with them because of the uplifting energy they bring to every class as well as the memorable smiles on their faces. It may have been challenging at first with all the hectic preparations and set-ups between classes, but I eventually got used to it and it became an easy routine for me.

WHY: It’s beneficial for graduates like myself to gain personal firsthand experience working with students in the role of a teacher and get an exciting insight into the world of teaching. I feel it’s important to create a nurturing and passionate environment for younger students to be encouraged and grow in confidence while performing and collaborating with others.

Daniel, 2020 Cohort, Senior School Science

WHO: I was a Sixth Form student at Tanglin from 2018 to 2020. Before this, I was in the French educational system so it was a fairly big adjustment to make. However, I was able to get used to the British system quickly with the school’s support. I’m currently in my second year at the University of Cambridge studying Natural Sciences and intend to specialise in chemistry.

WHAT: I worked with the Senior School science department and was able to try a lot of different activities such as giving presentations or providing extra learning support. I learned how to better communicate with a range of different people and organise my own work.

WHY: When I was at Tanglin, I received significant support from other alumni regarding university and post-secondary plans, so I felt like I could do the same for current students. I also felt it would be interesting to see things from the perspective of the teaching staff.

Bhavika, 2020 Cohort, Senior School Computer Science & ICT

WHO: I was a Sixth Form student at Tanglin and graduated with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Now I’m an Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering student at Loughborough University.

WHAT: I had applied for the internship because I saw it as an extremely engaging way to explore my chosen field. I was also keen to review and build up my subject knowledge in computing! I really enjoyed my experience at the school. I particularly enjoyed my work with the senior Hackathon team (see p54). It was a challenging task putting together the event with the restrictions changing at the last minute, however it was extremely gratifying to see the event being pulled off without a hitch in the end.

WHY: Tanglin provides a known and comfortable environment to help interns like me safely transition into the professional world by providing an additional safety net of familiarity. ■