Journey In My ITE Years!

When I finished my N(A) Levels back in 2023 with 16 Points, I decided to study Nitec in Hospitality Operations at ITE College West. At first I thought that the course would focus on the Hotel Industry site, turns out it was focused on Food & Beverage Operations instead!

Apparently, learning about the Hotel Industry Site is only offered to Higher Nitec and not in Nitec course!

Eventually, after thinking through my decisions whether I wanted to switch to Higher Nitec in Hospitality Operations, I decided to continue pursuing the Nitec course because I was already working as a F&B Part-Timer and thought that the knowledge I would learn from the Nitec course would help me understand better in my F&B Part-Time work.

During my time in Nitec Hospitality Operations (2024-2026), I learned practical and theory skills such as beverage service, wine service, customer service, barista skills and other F&B theories.

One of the most memorable part of my journey was when I had my 6 months internship at Bettr Barista with a scholarship programme, where I got to learn in depth more about the Coffee Industry. Through the internship I gained working experience and improved my communication, teamwork and customer service skills. It also gave me a better understanding of how the F&B business industry works in a professional environment.

Besides academics, I also made many meaningful friendships along the way through my ITE journey, which made my school experience more enjoyable, memorable and looking forward to. I was part of the Student Council Member CCA (2024), where I had opportunities to contribute to various school events and activities, mainly community work. Eventually, I stepped up to become the Student Council EXCO Projects Deputy Chairman (2025), which helped me strengthen my leadership, teamwork, and communication and gave me the chance to do event planning too such as the Student Council Camp and the CCA Leadership Sports Fair!

To be honest, I originally had a dream in mind to become a Clinical Psychologist my Journey in ITE. However, my educational journey led me towards hospitality instead. I chose hospitality operations because I had a learning journey back in secondary school at Conrad Singapore Orchard. That was when it sparked my interest in the hospitality industry and its skill sets. What I enjoy the most is the human connection. Interacting with customers, understanding their needs and creating positive experiences for them made me realise how much I value communication and helping others. Hospitality has allowed me to connect with people on a personal level and develop a deeper appreciation for the industry. For example, when I see a staff member make a small mistake, I am more understanding because I recognise the pressure and effort behind their work. This perspective is something I genuinely value and enjoy.

After graduating from Nitec with a GPA of 3.328, I continued my studies in Higher Nitec Hospitality Operations (1-year fast-track programme) in 2026. Unlike Nitec, Higher Nitec focuses more on the hotel industry instead of F&B operations. This gave me the chance to experience another side of hospitality and deepen my understanding of hotel operations and guest services.

I am now 1/12 into my studies in Higher Nitec in Hospitality Operations, and I am enjoying the course so far, learning about Front Office, Housekeeping and Law & Security in Hospitality!