When Ng Jia Long (GDipSA ’24), Jeremy Yap (Science ’21, GDipSA ’24), and Tony Lim (GDipSA ’24) enrolled in the same NUS-ISS graduate tech programme in systems analysis, they didn’t expect to walk away with lasting friendships. Coming from vastly different backgrounds — Jia Long from transport operations, Jeremy from life sciences, and Tony from academia — their paths would likely never have crossed. But the intensity of the one-year journey forged a bond that went far beyond the classroom.
Initially, the trio focused solely on surviving the coursework and adapting to a steep learning curve. Jia Long, a former Chief Controller at SMRT, discovered his passion for IT while digitising work processes. Jeremy stumbled into automation while streamlining administrative tasks at the NUS Science Dean’s Office. Tony, a lecturer at ITE, was driven by a long-standing desire to break into the tech industry. Though they each arrived at the programme from different routes, they found common ground in their drive to make a change.
Tony and Jeremy first teamed up for a project, where professional collaboration gradually gave way to casual conversations about AI and tech trends. Jeremy later joined a study group with Jia Long, and the shared grind of tight deadlines and technical challenges quickly sparked a strong rapport. A surprising twist deepened their connection — Tony and Jia Long discovered they had a mutual friend who, as it turned out, had recommended the programme to Tony.
The year was intense. Concepts were taught and tested within hours, leaving little time to fully digest the material. But through it all, they leaned on each other. They divided the learning, shared tips, and helped one another through rough patches. “Sometimes one of us would get it faster and explain to the rest,” Jia Long recalled. “It wasn’t just teamwork — it was friendship in action.”
Jia Long also emerged as the group’s unofficial scout for opportunities. He kept an ear to the ground for career fairs and networking events, encouraging the others to show up and take chances. “He was our go-to guy for what was happening outside the classroom,” Tony said. “Thanks to him, I found the confidence to approach recruiters — and that’s how I got my first job.”
Today, they’re thriving in different roles — Tony as a DevOps Engineer, Jeremy in application development, and Jia Long in tech sales — but their friendship continues. They make time for regular catch-ups, swapping stories, advice, and industry updates over coffee or dinner.
For this trio, what started as a quest to switch careers turned into a meaningful friendship that helped each of them navigate uncertainty, push through self-doubt, and grow professionally. In the end, it wasn’t just the skills they picked up that shaped their paths — it was the people they met along the way.
