From teaching underprivileged kids to bagging dance medals, this SP student is not afraid to try anything

This article was contributed by Singapore Polytechnic.

Elyn See Kailin
Diploma in Engineering with Business

Awards: Lee Kuan Yew Award, ExxonMobil Gold Medal, OCBC Prize, The Institution of Engineers Gold Medal Award

Never Afraid To Try

From taking the world stage at international ballet competitions, to co-chairing the Institution of Engineers Singapore-Singapore Polytechnic (IES-SP) Student Chapter, to volunteering at The Food Bank Singapore – Elyn See Kailin has never been afraid to try just about anything.

The Crescent Girls’ School alumna enjoyed Physics and Mathematics, and was intrigued to find out more about the field of Engineering. Inspired by her father who is a business manager, Elyn eventually enrolled in SP’s Diploma in Engineering with Business.

Elyn enjoyed her engineering and entrepreneurship lessons, and was even exposed to information technology through modules such as mobile app development. This piqued her interest in computer science, which she further explored during her internship at Government Technology Agency (GovTech).

She was placed in the video analytics team, under the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence division, where she tried her hand at developing deep learning models and User Interface & User Experience Design.

She also witnessed first-hand how technology was able to improve the lives of others, through a project she worked on – an application that farmers can use to shortened their work process from 20 minutes to mere seconds. The positive outcome of the project solidified her dream to effect positive change through the use of technology.

Back at SP, Elyn is the vice-president of the SP Outstanding Talent (SPOT) Club which gave her the opportunity to co-organise the S Rajaratnam Endowment Youth Model ASEAN Conference. The energetic girl is also an SP’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Ambassador, where she led her peers to manage and organise events and programmes, such as the COGITO Ideation Competition in 2018.

Elyn also has a heart for the community. She has organised workshops to teach underprivileged children programming and also sets time aside to volunteer for Meet-the-People sessions at Tanjong Pagar GRC.

Over the years, her various community service and academic achievements earned her numerous accolades such as making it to the Director’s Honour Roll for two consecutive years, receiving the SP Model Student Award, SP Sports & Arts Award and National Young Leader Award.

Outside of SP, Elyn took part in hackathons and competitions and emerged champion at GeekOut 2019, and is a proud recipient of the Lee Hsien Loong Interactive Digital Media Smart Nation Award. It was not just all work and no play for Elyn.

The avid ballet dancer also represented Singapore at the Hong Kong Dance Challenge Cup and took home Gold and Silver Medals in various categories, despite a serious ankle injury just two months before her competition.

Elyn attributes her successes to good time management and always wanting to put in her best effort for her commitments. She plans to continue doing so by pursuing her studies in computer science either at a local or overseas university.

Elyn ultimately aspires to become a business manager in the hopes of developing technological solutions to improve lives. Elyn also intends to play a part in shaping existing policies and laws, in tandem with technological advancements.

We can’t wait to see the success that awaits Elyn.

Read more about Singapore Polytechnic's top graduates here.