Yann Ling: There is so much more to the whole tertiary experience, including learning how to overcome the challenges that come with it.
LAST year, as the Covid-19 pandemic was still raging, I found myself booking a one-way flight to a country more than halfway across the world.
Filled with trepidation and excitement at the same time, I packed my bags and headed for the United Kingdom to study engineering and architectural design at the Bartlett School of Architecture in University College London.
It was certainly a one-of-a-kind journey for an 18-year-old like me.
Entering university affirmed my belief that life is a never-ending cycle of growth.
Back when I was studying the A-Levels in college, my aim was to enrol in a renowned university.
Having started university, I realised that there is so much more to the whole tertiary experience, including learning how to overcome the challenges that come with it.
Since my course is mainly graded through coursework, instead of examinations which are the predominant assessment method at the A-Levels, my workload now is very time-consuming.
As I am studying architecture, I undertake a few design modules which entail having long class hours, and my schedule at university runs from 10am to 6pm.
There were several times where I returned to my dorm room exhausted but thanks to my friends and the memories made in and outside of classes, I have managed to keep myself motivated.
Despite my strenuous schedule, the feeling of amazement and surge of gratitude that I had made it to my desired university has never left me.
In fact, for the past 10 months since I first arrived here, I have thought to myself “Wow, I am in London!” at least once every day – truly, never had my nine-year-old self ever imagined that I would one day be living independently in a foreign country.
My time in the UK has had its bursts of culture shocks and first-time experiences that eluded me when I visited the country on a holiday years ago.
Prior to my flight here, I knew that there would be minimal Covid-19 restrictions even though the coronavirus had yet to be contained.
Despite knowing that social distancing and the wearing of face covering were not required outdoors, I was constantly surprised at the sight of people carrying on with their daily lives as if we were back to pre-pandemic times.
Furthermore, ever since arriving in London – where it is common to go anywhere in the city on foot – I have been chalking up at least 10,000 steps daily.
At first, the thought of walking for more than 10 minutes seemed tiring but I soon became accustomed to it, and have been travelling on foot to anywhere that can be reached within a 35-minute walk.
This change in lifestyle has allowed me to maintain a healthy lifestyle, enjoy the surroundings and save money on the transportation cost.
Due to the pandemic, cashless payment has increasingly been used here, with some stores even rejecting the use of cash.
Once I had settled down, I took to making cashless payments too, from buying a snack to getting a bus ride. It felt strange to not carry my purse around but it is another thing that I have since gotten used to.
Believe it or not, one thing I miss about Malaysia is its weather. Whenever I step out of my dorm room, I am instinctively reminded of the sunny weather back home.
The sun in the UK has almost non-existent sun rays, and sets as early as 4pm. Moreover, the weather can be very unpredictable. In one hour, the temperature could be at 12 degrees Celsius with a clear sky and in the next, it could be pouring rain with strong wind. It is almost essential for me to check the weather forecast every day.
When I return to Malaysia, I would never take its weather for granted ever again.To those of you seeking to land a spot in top universities abroad, here are a few tips which may come in handy for you.
1. Dig deep within yourself
In order to scream “Pick me!” in your application, you have to “sell” your unique self to the administrative officers. Start by listing your strengths and passions. Then, build your application – entrance essays, interviews, etc – on a few common themes from your list.
2. Learn about the university of your choice
It is important to know what universities are looking for in an application. For example, those in the United States emphasise extracurricular activities compared to their counterparts in the UK. While some universities may not put great emphasis on extracurriculars, you should still actively participate in activities because the experience and lessons gained will help you grow holistically as a person and enable you to discover your talents and strengths.
3. Understand your desired course
Reading books and articles relating to the course of your choice will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of it. This will make constructing your application easier.
4. Write with flair
Knowing how to convey your passion through writing is important to make your application stand out. Apply essay-writing techniques such as “show, not tell” and vary your sentence structure. More importantly, you should read sample application essays so you know how best to project yourself.
5. Check everything off
The last and the most important step is to ensure you achieve all the essential requirements or conditional offer requirements laid out by the university. This can be done by creating a checklist of the requirements you have to complete in order to apply for and receive an unconditional offer.
Yann Ling, 20, a Malaysian student in the United Kingdom, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.
If you had the opportunity to study in a foreign country, which would you choose and why? Write down your answer in your Star-NiE scrapbook. Next, look in today’s copy of the Sunday Star newspaper (especially the StarAsean+ and StarWorld sections) for articles related to the country you have chosen. Cut them out and paste them in the scrapbook. Read the articles and then, list at least five things that you have just learnt about the country. When you are done, share your findings with an activity partner.
Since 1997, The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme has supported English language teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. Now in its 25th year, Star-NiE is continuing its role of promoting the use of English language through a weekly activity page in StarEdu. Parents and teachers are encouraged to work on the activities with their children and students. In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme will continue to be a platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as develop their journalistic interests and instincts. Follow our updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
