How Open Day Helped Me Take the First Step Into Tech

01 Jul 2026

5 Min Read

Nur Aisya Shasmeen (Unibuddy Ambassador), Nellie Chan (Editor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Discover how Unibuddy Ambassador Aisya explored her options, gained confidence, and found her direction in tech at Taylor’s Open Day.

I had just finished high school and was deciding what to study next. I didn’t have a specific degree or career mapped out, but I knew I wanted to be in tech—an industry that was ever-evolving and full of possibilities, whether that meant developing software through Computer Science, managing infrastructure through Information Technology, securing systems through Cybersecurity, or something I had yet to discover. Knowing where I wanted to be, though, wasn’t the same as knowing how to get there.

So I found myself trying to choose between two possible paths: A Levels or a foundation programme. A Levels seemed the safer, more familiar choice since I had just completed IGCSEs, but I wasn’t sure it was the most direct route into a tech-related degree compared to a more focused foundation programme in Computing, Information Technology, or Engineering. To make matters more complicated, I had never formally studied coding before; everything I knew came from teaching myself Python and Java in my own time.

And then there were the quieter questions that started to nag at me: Would I be able to keep up in a field that evolves so quickly? Was I choosing a path that would lead me where I wanted to go, or just one that made sense at the time? What if I made the wrong decision before I had fully understood all my options? But underneath all of them was the one that wouldn’t leave me alone: was I actually good enough to pursue a future in tech? Looking for answers to those questions was what eventually led me to Taylor’s Open Day.

The Questions I Came With

I attended the Open Day with my parents in 2022, not long after the Movement Control Order (MCO) had lifted, so many of the typical activities weren’t taking place that day. Instead, my visit consisted of a personalised counselling session followed by a campus tour. That quieter setting ended up being a blessing in disguise. Without the usual hustle and bustle, there was more space for meaningful conversations.

During the counselling session, my parents were mostly concerned with the practical, such as the facilities and support available to students. I, on the other hand, was more concerned with the existential—not just what programme to choose, but whether I was heading in the right direction altogether. I wanted to know if A Levels were the right fit for me and how different tech-related degrees could lead to different career paths, because at that point, they all felt more or less the same to me.

What the counsellor gave me, more than information, was reassurance. She explained that A Levels were well-suited to someone in my position precisely because of their flexibility, allowing me to keep multiple doors open as I explored my interests. The same turned out to be true of the degree programmes. Choosing a tech-related degree didn't mean committing to a single career path; many of the skills and knowledge gained could be applied across a range of roles within the industry. By the end of the session, the worries I had been carrying with me no longer felt quite so heavy.

Afterwards, we joined a campus tour led by a student ambassador, which offered a different perspective. Rather than learning about Taylor's through brochures or its website, I was hearing firsthand from someone who had recently been in my shoes. As we walked, I asked about everything from managing the workload to making friends and settling into college life.

The ambassador also shared practical tips on how to make the most of the facilities, along with the spots around campus worth knowing—whether for getting work done, grabbing a meal, or unwinding between classes. Their insights made college feel far less intimidating. For the first time, I could picture myself not just studying there, but belonging there.

The Answers I Left With

Two things stayed with me after attending the Open Day.

The first was realising that I didn’t need to have everything figured out before beginning my journey into tech. I had gone in thinking that I needed to know how to code already or have a strong technical background. Instead, I came away understanding that whichever path I chose, I would be building from the ground up. What mattered more was curiosity, a willingness to learn, and the resilience to keep going when the going gets tough. That completely changed how I saw myself and gave me the confidence to take the next step.

The second was recognising that college—and later, university—was about much more than academics. Before the Open Day, I had mostly thought of it as a place to attend lectures, complete assignments, and earn a qualification. But through the conversations I had and the time I spent on campus, I came to see it as somewhere I could grow both personally and professionally, through student societies, leadership opportunities, and industry-related experiences.

Looking Back as a Computer Science Student

Looking back, I'm glad I chose to study A Levels before my degree. Each of my subjects—Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics—taught me something about myself. Biology was a favourite and, for a time, I even considered Biotechnology, but I found myself drawn in a different direction. Mathematics was something else entirely. I had always enjoyed it, but A Levels deepened my interest in solving complex problems, spotting patterns, and making logical connections. Those interests ultimately led me to where I am today: pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) with a specialisation in Data Science.

None of it felt obvious at the time, though. The decisions that seem so straightforward in hindsight were anything but when I was making them, and I'd bet most prospective students feel exactly the same way. So if there's one piece of advice I'd offer, it's this: go to an Open Day, even if—especially if—you don't have everything figured out yet. I didn't either. The truth is, the right path rarely reveals itself all at once. It takes shape gradually through exploration, exposure, and experience. That's how you get there.

Aisya didn’t have all the answers when she started—just questions about where tech could take her. Open Day helped her explore her options and understand different pathways into tech-related degrees, showing her she didn’t need to have it all figured out to begin. Join our upcoming Open Day and start discovering your own direction in tech.

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