Yunshen Lee (Class of 2019)
Reading Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath
Hi Yunshen! Can you share with us your experiences of settling into university life?
Despite being eager to move 10693km away from home for university, feelings of nervousness and anxiety crept in when I actually arrived at my flat – as the realisation that I was to be independent and proactive for the next 4 years finally dawned upon me….
However, I was relieved to find out that many of my 18 flatmates and I were enrolled in the same engineering course. Freshers’ week was great – it provided us with the opportunity to enjoy the last moments of our summer break, whilst getting to know others with a passion for the same subject.
What is university life like for you now?
I’m currently on a busy schedule consisting of lectures, lab sessions and tutorials. With a recommended 1200 hours of study in the academic year, I’ve also got lots of time to meet some of the 17,307 other students here, and take part in many new and exciting experiences!
I look forward to the weekly tutorial sessions that I share with 3 other students,during which we engage in questions from problem sheets and engineering-related discussions. These tutorial sessions help me appreciate the relationships I had with my teachers in GIS and the importance of high teacher to student ratios; my classes in GIS would generally have 12 students in total, and now I’m consistently in lecture halls with 300 other students.
How did GIS prepare you for university life?
The main skill I obtained from my time in GIS was adaptability. Being one of the top international schools in the world, GIS attracts many students from around the world and thus, I was exposed to a variety of cultures throughout my 12 years in Garden. This made interactions with students from all corners of the world at university seem a familiar process.
The University of Bath, like GIS, provides a multitude of opportunities in and out of the classroom and I’ve found that being a member of clubs and societies that you are passionate about is an extremely meaningful way to spend your time. I definitely would not have been so keen to join these clubs had I not taken part in CCAs at GIS, as these made me realise that so many memorable experiences are created from interactions outside of the classroom.
During my A-Levels, countless teachers recounted their experiences in university, consistently reiterating that “what you put in is what you get” and that maintaining a healthy work-life balance would always be beneficial. I was initially skeptical, but after learning about the penalties imposed for missing deadlines and listening to my seniors’ tips on how to succeed in university, that one piece of advice has guided me well so far and I now appreciate the teachers’ efforts to persistently ingrain that attitude into us!
Transitioning to university can be a pretty daunting process. Being far from home, friends, and family can lead to you feeling lonely and lost, and I’m already missing the vibrancy of Malaysia! However, I’m fortunate to be part of the diverse and far-reaching GIS alumni network, as this has allowed me to easily seek out fellow alumnus and mechanical engineer Cheng Jin Lee (class of 2017) for guidance. Without Cheng Jin’s assistance, I wouldn’t have known how to find my way around the campus as well as how to spend my free time in the city. Thanks so much, Cheng Jin!