FACES OF RAFFLES UNIVERSITY

This week, we managed to have a little chat with a very friendly Raffles Student. Dylan Sih is currently studying for his Bachelor of Business Administration. He also has a very busy schedule outside of university. Let’s hear what he has to say.

Dylan, can you tell us a little more about your experiences outside of university?

I am currently a part of an NGO called Junior Chamber International (JCI). Their mission is to provide development opportunities to youngsters and therefore we are involved in carrying out a lot of community work. This year I am the Vice President of the Johor Bahru branch.

Also in 2013, I was involved in an event called the Global Startup Youth in Kuala Lumpur. It was a three day event that had about 500 young participants from many different countries. Each group of participants thought about a business idea to solve a particular social issue. We then created a business model and presented it to the investors. It was a good experience.

What do you like most about these experiences?

I love being able to meet new people and make new friends. You to get to learn from the experiences of all these different people and apply that to your studies and work. I believe that these things will help me when I graduate and start my career.

What do you think is the most important thing to have in order to be successful in your career?

I would say that attitude is very important.Your communication skills are also equally important, but it is a skill that you can learn. Attitude however, is an important element that you need to have within yourself. You must be humble. Don’t be afraid to meet and talk to new people. Some people might reject you or not want to talk to you. If you talk to ten people, seven people may ignore you, but at least three may want to hear what you have to say. It is important to be positive.

How do you balance your study and work?

The most difficult part for me is time management. Sometimes you have assignments to hand in, while other projects outside of university are still going on. But luckily all my lecturers are really understanding and flexible. I am able to consult them if I find that my assignment deadline clashes with another task. They provide me with solutions on how to handle that.

How do you think that students can add experience to their CV?

I would recommend that they take part in activities inside the university. We have clubs like SRC and Events club that are active and provide students with opportunities to gain experience which would look good on their CV. You are also able to gain a good level of exposure which you can then take into your future workplace.