About a week ago, one of my very skilled first-year students asked me to write a letter of recommendation so she could get an internship at GovTech. I said no. My student is not just one of the most highly skilled students in my class; she also has a lot of gumption, having personally led her team in hackathons, and is mature beyond her years. So I explained that while GovTech produces some pieces of software that many of us know and love, like Singpass, I told her that to grow in the organisation, she might pick up some bad habits from HQ, like ringfencing her work, backstabbing her colleagues, or stonewalling useful initiatives. I also did not want such a capable student to be hurt when joining an organisation with a different career ladder for scholars and farmers; perhaps her stint in ITE and N-level grades might be held against her....