AIMING HIGH

A Marine Systems Specialist in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Military Expert (ME) 1 Nicole Lum is frank about the fact that her goal, from the moment she signed on, was to rise through the ranks.

"I would love to be able to lead an engineering team," she says. Her ultimate goal? "I hope to be the head engineer in the RSN one day," she said.

But the 21-year-old — who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2017 with a diploma in Marine and Offshore Technology — also realises that it takes more than just talk to achieve her aim. She is looking to pursue a full-time degree in Marine Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

At work, she enjoys the camaraderie on board frigate RSS Tenacious. "I like the teamwork, and that my department works hand-in-hand together with each other."

In her free time, the self-professed foodie likes to visit her favourite hawker stalls for ban mian (handmade noodles) and wanton mee (dumpling noodles). The active sportsperson also likes to hit the gym and exercises together with her two younger siblings. "I am really close to my sister, Natalie, she’s like my other half!"