“My time at university can be summed up by one word, ‘bustling’. Amidst the back-to-back deadlines, classes, activities, and not to mention the sudden switch to online classes due to the pandemic, each day seemed to pass quicker than the last. While a cliche, it is undeniable that going to university has pushed me miles out of my comfort zone; metaphorically and physically. Being in a completely new environment that is a 15 hour flight away from everything that is familiar can be a tough endeavour for anyone. Having to juggle settling in, getting used to a new culture, going to classes in large lecture halls with hundreds of unfamiliar faces, putting myself out there to make new friends, and battling homesickness, it was a trying first few months. I was always kept on my toes with a jam packed schedule week after week. Despite this, everything soon started falling into place. I picked up a routine, made some new friends for life, got used to a new city, and really enjoyed learning on a course that I was getting more and more passionate about.
Looking back, I have grown considerably both intellectually and emotionally since getting on that flight bound for the UK 3 years ago. To be candid, I never realised how much I have learnt in classes and gained from my experiences until the final year of my Architecture degree. This once foreign language riddled with jargon, technical terms and calculations suddenly felt like second nature to me. I was able to converse with my peers and tutors alike, convey my ideas and reasonings at a level that was completely out of reach merely a few years ago. Through the many all-nighters, attending talks, going for internships, study trips to new places, hard work, and determination, architecture has pushed me to explore, connect with people, think and be insightful to the needs of people and the environment. I have learned that it is through good architecture that people’s lives can be impacted, the environment can be enhanced, and mindful change can be implemented.
Throughout everything, the tenacity that IB has instilled in me allowed me to bounce back up from every setback, to take the initiative and wholeheartedly go for whatever I want to do, and to always be open to learning and improving. I am proud to be an SJIIM alumni and I hope to be able to give back to its ever growing community.”
Angeline Ng