Kar Wei, who is from Selangor, Malaysia, has always wanted to help people and make an impact in their lives. She started her lifelong mission by joining St John uniform group during high school, and continued to do various volunteering works over the years.

When studying for her A-levels in KDU College in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, she developed an interest in Chemistry. She decided to further her studies by pursuing Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Pharmaceutical Science) degree with PSB Academy in Singapore.

She chose to study here after learning that PSB Academy is one of the best private educational institutes in Singapore, and that its awarding partner, La Trobe University, is well-known for its high quality of teaching and facilities, and is recognised locally in Singapore and Australia.

During the two-year degree programme, the in-depth learning of chemistry and biology has helped to build her analytical and problem-solving skills. She has also become more resilient after adapting to the rather fast-paced study environment and receiving help from friends, lecturers and faculty staff. “Before the start of the programme, I didn’t have a goal for myself,” Kar Wei recalled. “I tried to do well and not fail any module, as it would otherwise cost me another year and additional tuition fees.”

Along the way, she encountered some obstacles, such as having food poisoning during study breaks for at least two consecutive semesters. “I was stressed out during that time because I was unable to finish my revision and finalise everything before the exams,” she said. “Luckily, I would always recover one or two days before the exam weeks.”

Kar Wei gave credit to her family for being her pillar of strength during the course of her studies, who were supportive and encouraging, especially her mother. “There’s one time I called my mum, and I cried because that module was so difficult and I was afraid that I might fail and let them down,” she recounted. “She comforted me by saying ‘sometimes it is okay to fail; just make sure that you learn from it’.”

In addition, she found the lecturers and tutors in PSB Academy very approachable and helpful, as they were available for consultation most of the time and were quick to respond to emails. What she appreciates the most were the extra classes and consultation sessions given by them, including Dr Chon, Dr Seah, Dr Han, Dr Lee and Ms Winnie.

She also found the jokes told by the lecturers during lectures both amusing and unforgettable. “They were trying to keep us awake during morning sessions and afternoon classes,” she reminisced fondly.

“My favourite part of the programme is the laboratory session and clinical analysis module,” she added. “I will never forget rushing assignments and projects with my course mates. I like the feeling of working together on achieving the same goal, which is to graduate.” Other than that, the most memorable moments of her time in PSB Academy include having lunch together with her course mates and making new friends with people from all walks of life.

In terms of career building, Kar Wei found that the services provided by PSB Academy, such as job fair and workshops on writing resumes and so on, have helped her with job hunting and resume writing. Upon graduation in 2019, she was proud to be granted a scholarship from Monash University Malaysia to study for her Honours.

While waiting for the commencement of her Honours programme, she took two months off to give herself a break and spend valuable time with her family. She has also volunteered in two different research laboratories, spending a month for each laboratory to acquire some new skills and stay updated with the latest techniques they are using.

Kar Wei was the Valedictorian at her Graduaton Ceremony in 2019.

Looking ahead into the future, Kar Wei would like to gain some experience in a research laboratory or a life science company. She hopes to see herself contributing to the growth of drug discovery for neurodegenerative disease or cancer.

With regard to the opportunities available in her home country for new graduates in her field of study, she said, “Malaysia is a developing country, so there are plenty of opportunities for fresh graduates to serve the nation and the government. We need talents in R&D for our nation’s long-term development.”

As for those looking to take the same path as her, she has this advice to share: “Always do your best. Learn from failure and keep going. Focus on doing one thing at a time. Opportunities are always there; you have to step out and grab them.”

I have benefited a lot from studying at PSB Academy in Singapore. The business and finance degree program I am studying is in partnership with well-known Coventry University in the UK. I have learned a wider range of professional knowledge. It was a right decision for me to enrol in the business and finance majors of this university, which gave me a clearer direction for the field which I want to continue to develop in the future. In comparison to when I was studying for a diploma course, PSB Academy degree programs are more ‘practical’ as lecturers also made sure what we learn can be applied in real life.