乐萱，乐言。我们的爱情宣言！: February 2012

The full interview:

How were you introduced to UniSIM, and were there other alternatives you were considering (e.g. studying overseas)?

Getting a degree was almost like an impossible dream after I got married with kid as it wasn't easy to juggle with a demanding job and family commitment. I was introduced to UniSIM by a colleague, who is also a working mother. I have explored other alternatives such as UOL and RMIT, but these schools were not the ideal choice as the modules are too hectic for me to cope with.

It would be great to hear, for example, about how you have managed to gain such good grades as a student while expecting your child at the same time, and what are some things you do to juggle three very important roles of mother, student and employee.

Maintaining good grades wasn't an easy feat given UniSIM's academic standards. I managed to maintain my grades by putting in a lot of hours on self studying and would start on any school assignments soonest possible so that I can submit the most perfect work. In addition, I always start my exam preparation early. The golden rule is to never work at the very last minute, always start early.

I must give special thanks to the very strong family support that made me feel at ease that the little ones are taken care of when I am studying. I am also fortunate that my employer has been very supportive of my decision to pursue my degree and had compromise a flexible working schedule so that I can cope with assignments and exams.

You have two kids now, I believe. If it is not too intrusive, could you explain a bit about who takes care of your children when you need to attend classes in the evenings? Also, do you find it difficult doing your homework when your kids are calling for your attention?

Yap. I have two daughters. One aged 3.5, and the other one is a newborn. I made up my mind to return to school when my elder one was barely one. It was a difficult decision since I know my baby needs me a lot at this stage. Nonetheless, my mother assures me that baby will be well taken care of when I am attending night classes. She has been my greatest help and I am really grateful to her for everything. She makes sure my kids eat well and stays healthy all the time so that I can concentrate on my study and work. My supportive spouse also played a major role by helping out with the household chores and taking care of the little ones during my absence. I can't be more fortunate to have them in my life.

My daughter will definitely try to seek my attention, thus, I will take short breaks in between my study to play and interact with her. Despite so, I am still very guilty at times for not spending enough time with my kids. Therefore, I always start my assignments and exam preparations way in advance to prevent unforeseen circumstances such as having to attend to my kids when they are sick and etc.

Do you think the instructors teach you things you can apply in your work at TTSH?

I am strongly inspired by many of the UniSIM instructors. They are always there to give advices when we need help. I have learnt very practical skills such as interacting with people from all woks of life and being responsible at work through proper planning and adhering to project timeline. I realized that I am now better at organizing and planning my work and is more confident when meeting new people at work.