Finding Direction, One Decision at a Time

At 18, it can feel as though you're expected to have your entire future mapped out.

For Bettina Tee, that expectation felt especially daunting. Like many students approaching the end of junior college, she was unsure what she wanted to do. The only thing she knew for certain was that she genuinely enjoyed mathematics.

That simple certainty became the first of many decisions that would shape her future.

She considered studying mathematical sciences but quickly realised that pure mathematics was not quite the right fit. Statistics appealed to her more. Then, recognising the growing importance of computing, she began searching for a discipline that combined statistics with coding. That search eventually led her to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) at NTU's College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS).

Looking back, Bettina realises she never found her direction through one defining moment. Instead, each thoughtful decision opened the door to the next.

As she progressed through DSAI, her understanding of the discipline deepened. What had initially attracted her as a blend of coding and statistics gradually revealed itself to be much more than that. She began to appreciate the mathematical foundations underpinning algorithms and machine learning models, discovering the rigour that lies beneath today's AI technologies.

That mindset stayed with her whenever new challenges emerged.

For her Final Year Project, Bettina chose to venture into neuroimaging – a highly specialised field she had never encountered before. Learning to work with unfamiliar data, understanding a completely new application domain and adapting state-of-the-art models demanded far more than technical ability. It required the confidence to embrace uncertainty.

Ironically, one of the greatest challenges was not coding at all.

"I naturally dislike writing," she admits.

Documenting her research proved every bit as demanding as conducting it. With the patient guidance of her supervisor, Prof Jagath, and her mentor, Bettina learnt to refine not only her experiments but also the way she communicated them. More importantly, she discovered that unfamiliar territory becomes far less intimidating when approached with curiosity and a willingness to learn.

The same philosophy extended beyond the classroom.

In her first year, Bettina committed to performing at the Hall Olympiad Closing Ceremony while juggling the demands of a rigorous academic workload. There were moments when balancing rehearsals, assignments and deadlines felt overwhelming, but she learnt to stay disciplined, manage her time carefully and lean on the support of friends who never hesitated to help.

Through every stage of her journey, one person remained her greatest source of encouragement.

"My mother has been my biggest strength throughout my academic journey," Bettina says. "She has always been my loudest cheerleader, pushing me to my fullest potential."

Her mother's advice was deceptively simple: only you can control your life, and only your own effort can determine what comes next. It is a lesson Bettina has quietly lived by ever since.

Receiving the DSTA Gold Medal therefore came as a genuine surprise.

"I was very shocked as I truly never expected to win any awards," she says. "Ending my undergraduate studies with this recognition means a lot to me... It serves as validation and acknowledgement that my sleepless nights and hard work... have truly paid off."

Yet perhaps the medal says less about a single outstanding achievement than it does about the countless decisions that came before it. The choice to pursue what genuinely interested her. The willingness to step into unfamiliar territory. The discipline to persevere when things became difficult. The humility to keep learning.

After graduation, Bettina will begin her full-time career while remaining open to wherever the future may lead. As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, she is excited by the opportunity to help shape technologies that can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

For students who may still be searching for their own direction, her advice is both simple and reassuring.

"Always give your best in whatever you do, so you never have to look back and regret not trying harder."