August 3, 2020, by Mei Kee Lee
Experience Sharing: Teoh Jia Wei (Year 3)
I have joined PharmNotts (a pharmacy society in University of Nottingham, Malaysia, UNM) since my first year, and met an exciting group of committee members. Without them, my university life would have been very dull and boring. Organising events could be tough and challenging. However, I believe that the university is the place for us to learn and grow beyond our limits. My second year of studies at the UNM was very fruitful. I was elected as the vice organising chairperson of FIGHT CANCER – Cancer Awareness Campaign. We have gone through ups and downs and overcame all the challenges as a team. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the campaign has won the “Best Public Health Campaign” award in the Public Health Challenge by the Malaysian Pharmacy Students’ Association (MYPSA). The most important thing to me was that we, as seniors, got to bond well with our juniors through the event. Although I had mid-term assessments simultaneously with a variety of extracurricular activities, I found it was tough to balance work and play. Still, I love and enjoy this kind of events-study life. These experiences have enriched my life as a second-year student at the UNM.
Group picture with my committee members of Cancer Awareness Campaign
Studying in the UK was challenging and never easy for me. Semester 1 of my third year was the toughest semester for me, and I guess most would agree with me. Not only did I struggle with “winter depression” (the struggle was real! Can you imagine sunset was at 4pm?!), but also, I had to adjust myself to a new environment. Fortunately, I have a bunch of amazing friends who regularly gave me support, and my personal tutor who gave me great help to overcome all my hardships. I would say studying in the UK is a life-changing experience for me because I have to settle everything by myself. For example, I had to cook for myself because cooking your own meals is definitely cheaper than eating out. Some of my favourite moments in Nottingham were grocery shopping with my friends, and also the potlucks that we had during festivals and holidays.
Celebrating Chinese New Year with my friends in Nottingham.
Lastly, here is my piece of advice for your university life. Involve yourself in a variety of events and push yourself out of your comfort zone. You will meet a bunch of fabulous people that will definitely enrich your university’s experience. Together, you all can help each other to overcome challenges throughout these four years of studies. I wish you all the best! 😀
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