Grace Yeoh Li Wen (Class of 2018)
Bachelor of Science in Economics & Philosophy at London School of Economics & Political Science – LSE
Hi Grace! Can you share with us your experiences at university so far?
Despite only being at LSE for a few days, I have found myself enjoying it immensely. Already I have met so many amazing and culturally different people during such a short span of time – many of whom I was able to click with immediately! The group of people I have encountered are so career-driven and ambitious, even though they are of such a young age. It is truly inspiring how passionate and determined they are about worldly events and their chosen courses. Despite being so driven, they all definitely know how to “play hard” as well as work hard…as I discovered during Freshers Week! Overall, I feel so fortunate to have met so many all-rounded individuals who I see myself being life long friends with.
How did GIS prepare you for university life?
GIS prepared me for university life in a countless number of ways – mainly by moulding me into a resilient individual by teaching me how to adapt to unfamiliar situations. This is extremely useful as I adjust to the British culture and meet people from around the globe.
In addition, GIS teachers often stretched us beyond our comfort zones by often encouraging us to participate in public speaking during lessons. This has definitely given me confidence! And despite the fact that I was quite academically-focused, GIS gave me so many opportunities to develop leadership qualities, build new skills and forge a wide range of friendships through a wide array of CCAs and sports teams – such as the International Award and Touch Rugby.
My teachers also emphasized the importance of self-discipline, which is a key factor to success in university. Without the guidance of my teachers and my parents, I need to be organised and balance my social life with work efficiently. As someone who focuses a lot on my social life, I have definitely learned the importance of completing all my assignments efficiently so that I have time to go out and have fun. With that being said, GIS also taught me the importance of “work hard, and play hard”! This is definitely an important motto to follow in university, as students often work too hard and forget that university is a time for enjoyment too.