Ranya Shameeta Devandran, a student from NTU School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), reflects on how university life extends beyond academics to opportunities for growth and new experiences.
Although I entered NTU certain that I wanted to study electrical engineering, my academic strengths were mainly theoretical and I had little practical lab experience. That left me doubting whether I could keep pace with my peers. In the end, that fear became my motivation to work harder and excel.
I stepped into NTU as an Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) freshman with clear goals: maintain a 5.0 GPA, make the Dean’s List, and build a strong academic portfolio. However, within months I realised that university life could not be measured by grades alone.
What I discovered was a journey of growth, community, and opportunities. I joined the school’s makerspace club, Garage@EEE, under the Business Development portfolio where I began pitching the makerspace to companies. My goal was to seek sponsorships, partnerships and opportunities to co-create meaningful projects for our students.
Binary-coded decimal counter, an early lab exercise
My first industry pitch was daunting, but it taught me how to communicate with clarity and confidence, even when I felt out of my depth. Since then, I have been involved in sustaining relationships with our partners and reaching out to new companies to expand opportunities for the makerspace.
Today, I serve as one of the directors of business development, mentoring juniors and encouraging them in the same way my seniors once encouraged me.
I have since taken on other leadership and event roles, including at EEE LEAD, where I helped organise the Senior Buddy Programme for freshmen. I was also involved in Escendo 2025, a makethon that demonstrated how engineering can be practised beyond the classroom, and Enitio 2025, a technology-centred orientation programme.
Through these co-curricular experiences, I found, above all, a sense of community. EEE is demanding, but it becomes far more manageable when you have peers to lean on and grow alongside. The friendships and support system I built here have made all the difference.
Academically, I continue to challenge myself. I am currently working on an Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) project on high-powered laser light delivery through hollow-core fibres. Each experiment reminds me that engineering is not just about formulas and circuits. It is about patience, problem-solving, and resilience.
Devandran at Singapore International Energy Week
I plan to pursue a career in power and clean energy. My mother’s work as an electrical engineer in the field of oil and gas first helped me understand the energy industry and scope of what a EEE grad could contribute. The broader sustainability conversations at NTU clarified today’s pressing challenges and where I feel I can make the biggest impact.
Looking back, I came to NTU hoping to achieve excellence on paper. What I uncovered was so much more - a community, opportunities to lead, and the courage to step beyond my comfort zone.
My story is still unfolding, but I carry with me one lesson: growth comes not only from success, but from the willingness to try, stumble and keep moving forward, together.
This story also appeared in the 2026 NTU Engineering Annual Magazine.
