Student Stories

Open your mind to possibilities and be confident in your abilities.

Please tell us about yourself.

Hello everyone, my name is Jacky Ji Zijin, and I am from Shanghai, China. Having completed my Diploma in Electrical Engineering, I’m now embarking on my journey towards a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Coventry University. Engineering has always captivated my interest from a young age, driving my decision to pursue this course of study.

Having completed a Certificate, and a Diploma and currently in your Bachelor, can you share any academic challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

The most difficult challenge I encountered was navigating through complex coursework and presentations that demanded teamwork. There was a lot of discussion required and in the first few months that I came to Singapore, my limited English proficiency was an obstacle.

To overcome this challenge, I dedicated myself to honing my English skills through relentless practice and actively seizing every opportunity to participate in presentations. I realised that practising daily was the only way to improve myself and overcome this challenge.

What inspired you to get involved in school events and student clubs? How did you manage your time between studies and extracurricular activities, especially in a leadership position?

As an international student, I always believe that school events are one of the most important parts of student life as they foster meaningful connections. I noticed PSB Academy has a lot of interesting events organised by staff and student clubs. I soon found myself participating in these events. Motivated by my positive experiences in these events, I decided to take my involvement a step further by joining a student club – Global Student Club, where I was later appointed as the Vice President.

Personally, when it comes to work, I like to focus 100% on high efficiency, allowing me to complete tasks promptly and allocate saved time towards participating in school activities.

What are some of the clubs you have been a part of and what roles have you taken on within these groups?

In my role as the Vice President of the Global Student Club (GSC), I assist the President and other student club committees in organising student events. This encompassed budget estimation, venue planning, and formulating event proposals.

Additionally, during term breaks, I actively participated in a collaborative event called Journey to the East (JTTE), which involved various student clubs. In this event, I served as the Finance Head, overseeing responsibilities such as managing the event budget, consolidating event registration fee, and liaising with off-campus sponsors.

Can you describe a particularly memorable event or project you contributed to?

One of the most unforgettable experiences during my time was spearheading the collaborative event JTTE, which involved 4 student clubs: namely Indonesian Student Club (MAPIA), Global Student Club (GSC), South Asian Student Club (SASA), Chinese Student Club (CSC) and we spent 5 months planning this event. The meticulous planning took over five months, during which I assumed the pivotal role of Finance Head.

Have you received any awards or recognitions for your academic or extracurricular achievements?

I am honoured to have received the Outstanding Student Leader Award (OSLA) in 2023, recognising my contributions to organising two GSC student events and the JTTE collaborative event. Additionally, I volunteered my services to the Student Success Office (SSO) by organising a basketball competition in July 2023. Moreover, I actively support the International Student Recruitment team by assisting Chinese students during campus tours and addressing inquiries from new and potential Chinese students.

With your current Bachelor’s degree, what are your plans following graduation?

I plan to continue pursuing a Master’s degree in engineering management at PSB Academy. This idea is based on two reasons: firstly, while my undergraduate studies have provided a solid foundation, I recognise the ongoing need for continuous learning to further hone my skills and expertise. Second, there exists a gap between my current age and my ideal employment age, hence I decided to utilise this time to further my studies.

My career goal is to work in a car company’s studio, where I can engage in discussions on product mechanical design with team partners and collaborate to enhance product performance and user experience.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your education journey at PSB Academy?

I really like the idea of self-study since it gives me more time to focus on myself and understand the lecture carefully.

However, I believe that as students, we should not hesitate to ask questions in class. It is always best to ask at the first opportunity. If you wait until later, you may forget some details from the question. Additionally, asking questions in class allows your classmates to learn together with you.