Excelling both on the sports field and in the classroom – meet Class of 2021 Computer Engineering graduate Putra Mohammad Danish Bin Mohd Rafee, who was able to juggle his studies and his passion for the sport as a world rugby referee.
For Putra, playing rugby alone was not enough. He also learned to officiate the game after a teammate invited him to attend a referee course in 2014.
“As a referee, the best part is the friends you make along the way,” said Putra, who graduated in May this year. “I’ve had good relationships with plenty of referees representing many different countries. We share strong bonds as we go through the ups and downs together.”
He is also grateful for the support from his professors, who exercised flexibility when his refereeing duties clashed with his class schedules. Some were also flexible with his work submissions or made special arrangements for his exams when he had to officiate at overseas games.
Putra’s commitment to his sport meant he had to squeeze in time for exam revision while in transit or on the plane during the pre-pandemic days.
But he learned to put his studies first, turning down any offers that interfered with curriculum time. “More opportunities will come,” he told himself. “[So I should either] take all the opportunities that come and do them with 100 percent effort or don’t do them at all.”
He has a solid academic record. He was awarded the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore mid-term scholarship in 2019 and started working with the public agency in May this year.
He believes his experience as a professional referee will serve him well wherever he goes, as it has taught him to perform under pressure and communicate with different groups of people.
“Travelling the world [as a referee] really allowed me to grow my social and professional skills,” he said. “It taught me how to speak with athletes, managers, coaches, fans, and perform under pressure”.
Putra is proof that student-athletes can excel both in and out of the classroom with hard work, self-discipline, and a strong support network.
This news is also available at NUS News.
