Lee Jingyi Sabrina

Why did you choose to come to SMU?

The strongest pull factor for me was the College of Integrative Studies itself. Since young, I had always enjoyed studying many different subjects spanning from the sciences to the arts. While most people had a natural inclination towards one or the other, I found it challenging to narrow down my interests. As such, even after shortlisting courses from multiple universities, I could not picture myself specialising in, and being confined to just one discipline. That was until I came across the College of Integrative Studies, which would allow me to combine multiple disciplines to explore an issue of my interest. With the flexibility to design my own curriculum, this also meant that I would only have to take modules which were highly relevant to my unique interests and academic pursuits. However, I was slightly apprehensive about joining such a new school, out of fear that employers would not recognise my degree, and also, because the concept of CIS was simply too good to be true. Thus, I came down for a CIS Outreach session, where I met with other prospective students, current CIS students, and even the Professors and Dean of CIS. It was truly eye-opening to see the amount of excitement and hope that everyone had for CIS. From listening to their sharings, I could sense that I was surrounded by many like-minded individuals, all passionate about what the future held for interdisciplinary studies, yet all unique in their interests and pursuits. Despite having vastly different areas of studies, people would contribute their ideas stemming from their different perspectives, making for much more interesting and diverse conversations.  

Another factor would be SMU’s seminar-style teaching which emphasises class participation, a skill I find to be extremely useful in the workforce. Despite dreading public speaking, I have come to recognise the importance of being able to clearly and confidently communicate my ideas to others. While I could be extremely competent in my work, it would be of no use if I was unable to articulate those ideas and convince others.  

Please share with us your most recent or your favourite global experience

My most memorable global experience so far has been participating in the ASEAN University Games 2024 for Badminton. Representing Singapore, I had the chance to team up with student-athletes from universities across the country, each bringing unique backgrounds and experiences. The Games were held in Malang, Indonesia, a place I only came to know of through this trip. During our free time, my teammates and I explored the area around our accommodation, discovering many hidden gems and immersing ourselves in the local culture. Having visited Jakarta and Surabaya before, I found the atmosphere at Malang more relaxed and laid-back, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It was truly an honour to compete on the international stage, facing players of a whole different calibre. As a team, we gave everything on the court, fighting hard for every point and cheering each other on. After the matches, we exchanged pins and competition shirts with our opponents, a gesture of friendship and respect. One of my favourite moments was when we had an impromptu gathering with players from other countries. With the matches ending early one day, we were allowed to use the court to practice or play casual games. Initially, players from different countries stayed in their groups, but soon enough, we began mingling and bonding over our shared love for badminton, despite the language barrier. With all the players out of competition mode, we saw the once intimidating and stern faces turn into happy smiles and laughing. Afterward, we even visited a cafe we had discovered earlier with our new Thai friends. 

What is your favourite spot on campus?

I have two! One would be the CIS lounge, because it is always swarming with my CIS friends. If I happen to be waiting in school without company, I can always find  someone I know at the CIS lounge to hang out with. The spot I cannot leave out is the MPSH, because that’s probably where I spend most of my time! As a member of both the competitive badminton and tchoukball team, that is where I spend about 12 hours of my week, and as such, it is where I’ve made many of my SMU friends.