Reported by:
Kuan Vei Zhi 15261 Sr3ScC
A series of education talks was rolled out by our school Counselling Department each year. Purpose of the activity is to help students, especially the graduating ones, with a better plan for their future studies ahead. The sharing sessions conducted by Kuen Cheng Alumni, during the recess or after school hours, have placed importance on their pathways leading towards the tertiary education.
On Friday, 7 February 2020, three Kuen Cheng alumni, namely Chan Zhi Ying, Seow Hui Po and Lim Xue Yee from the Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine, China had been invited to speak on the topic. The first thing that one of the seniors said to immediately catch everyone’s attention was about the latest outbreak of coronavirus. She revealed that a doctor who graduated from their current university was one of the doctors to have helped in the healing of a young child infected with the disease. According to her, if you were there, you would see the admiration they had for their seniors was just like the one we had for them. They proceeded with sharing some interesting facts about their time studying there such as students going out to buy their own ingredients to make dumplings and tang yuan (sweet glutinous balls) for the annual Dongzhi (Winter Solstice Festival). They did that so that students who were not able to make it home to celebrate with their family could still bask in the homely feeling of this traditional celebration.
Besides, we were told that the canteen there has a different menu with varying food stalls so students would not get bored of the food while still being able to save money by eating on campus grounds. Another cool fact, students from the university were required to practise a special exercise, Tai Chi in every morning. Alright, more interesting facts coming up, now let us move on to the theme of the day – higher education! From two of the speakers, we begin to understand that the studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine cover Western Medicine as well. Their professors mentioned how important it was to get the best of both worlds and not neglecting either side’s advancements. The medical field between Chinese and Western is not competition but collaboration to build a healthier world.
After that, the senior from the Chinese Pharmaceutical major also shared much useful information such as the researches and uses of Ginseng and traditional ingredients for developing Chinese medicine and also the study of other modern pharmaceutical products. A very cool addition was that every student is required to choose their very own mentor throughout the entire four years of studying there. Students were given ample time to learn about the strengths and specialties of each mentor before making their decision as this would help them to find a suitable one that soon will offer support and guidance in the program and more related fields.
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The speakers also emphasised on practical carried out at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As soon as lessons in theory and procedures are learned, in two or three years, students in the final year of the program are sent to be trainees at different hospitals. This was to ensure students understand the actual working conditions and adapt to the immense stress while working with patients.
It was rather short for duration in second recess but time was well spent in understanding the different courses and fields of the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I would love to thank the three visiting amazing alumni for taking time out of their busy schedule to share useful information and their personal lifestyles studying there that we could find nowhere else! Look forward to more of these sharing sessions to learn more about the universities that pique your interest!
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