David Tameeris

How has your SMU scholarship benefitted you so far?

My fellow Lee Kong Chian scholars are amazing, and there is a strong sense of community among us. I have attended very insightful career talks by scholar alumni and joined a student-run policy proposal group led by Singaporean scholars around the world (SAF Merit, PSC, etc.). You will find yourself surrounded by people who continuously push you towards being your best self, and people who will support you in whatever passions you pursue.

With the Lee Kong Chian Scholars Programme, you will also find many opportunities for overseas exposure with top institutions like Oxford and Yonsei University: going for international exchanges, short-term study programmes, or summer school programmes.

The highlight of your student life at SMU so far.

A pivotal moment for me in SMU was joining Cognitare, a business case competition club. I have had many late nights with my teammates as we prepared presentation decks, but the people make it worth it. With my clubmates, we went from strangers to having regular late night hot pots at Hai Di Lao within a few months. With the many clubs and societies of SMU, you are bound to find a community of people you can bond very well with.

Please share your internship experience.

I spent the summer as an associate consultant in Simon-Kucher & Partners, a German consulting firm. Having so much exposure to a professional career early on in my education guides my decision-making by clarifying my academic path towards the profession that I want. For example, aspiring to go into consulting has determined which second major I want to do, which clubs I want to join, how I balance school with professional experiences (part-timing, etc.), and how I build my network within school.

Name your favourite class/mod at SMU.

My favourite of all has got to be Big Questions; a module that challenges students to identify and confront our predisposed beliefs about the world and society around us. My topic was on War and Peace, and my favourite part about it was writing my final essay on applying methods of achieving peace explored in my favourite anime (Attack on Titan) to the war in Ukraine.

What is the #1 thing you think you will miss about SMU after you graduate?

Having random picnics in Fort Canning whenever my friends and I want a change of scenery.