In the continuance of our High Achieving Students initiative, let us introduce you to Sabrina Ng: a Masters of Philosophy student at the University of Adelaide. Here is her story:
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• What are a few of your proudest achievements?
S: Thank you MASCA for your nomination as a high achieving student. This is one tough question as I tend to celebrate little things in life (that’s just how I can always find excuses to eat more churros * evil laughter *) If I were to pick some of my proudest achievements, it would have to be a recipient of the University of Adelaide’s Master of Philosophy (MPhil) full scholarship and getting my first conference presentation at the Australasia Conference of Undergraduate Research (ACUR) on a bioinformatics project which I have worked on during my summer placement and further extended into my final semester of undergraduate.
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• Reflecting on those achievements, can you emphasise on them and explain what/how much they mean to you?
S: Master of Philosophy by research is similar to a PhD, with the difference of a shorter two-year timeline to work on a research topic. It is really exciting to be awarded this scholarship as it serves more than just an acknowledgement of my academic achievement- it allows me to fully indulge in the world of plant epigenetic research. I am thrilled to present my undergraduate research work at the Australasia Conference of Undergraduate Research (ACUR)! It has been great to work with experienced researchers on this project and I feel so honoured to be able to share my passion for science to such a broad audience!
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• Did you ever expect to attain these achievements before coming to Adelaide? What were the main struggles for you in your journey towards these achievements?
S: Never would I have thought of them! The journey to my science dream was never easy for me. As I came from a small town, this career path is rather uncommon and my dream to pursue science has been challenged for years. I think my greatest obstacle is to stay determined, motivated, persistent, and to be true to myself in pursuing my dream.
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• What is one piece of advice you would give to other Malaysian students who have their sights set on lofty goals and achieving big things? S: Believe in your vision, and work for it like your life depends on it. You need to have a lion’s heart to embrace the upcoming challenges; for the greatest reward often requires treacherous expedition, as they usually lie amidst the steepest cliffs.