Joylynn Tan

Please tell us more about where you are currently working at and what you are doing.

I graduated in 2015 from the school of social sciences, majored in psychology. Upon my graduation, I commenced my job at IMH as a vocational specialist. My role is to clinical assess and assist patients to secure and sustain a job in an open market.

What made you choose to do a degree in Social Sciences and why did you choose to do it in SMU?

I wanted to pursue a degree in Social Sciences because of my interest in studying about behaviour and mental processes. I choose SMU because of several reasons. For one, the Bidding Online System allowed me to choose and bid for the modules I wanted in every academic term. I started my Year 1 dabbling into different disciplinary of social sciences. This was when I started being very interested in Psychology. The flexibility of SMU’s curriculum has enabled me to hand pick various sub-disciplines of psychology such as social, developmental, cognitive, abnormal psychology, and many more. I then grew a keen interest in studying about mental disorders and how I could help others in the society with what I learnt in school.

How has the SOSS experience been for you, and how has it benefitted you?

During my 4 years in SMU, I was also a research assistant for several professors. This allowed me to have a better grasp and application of psychology topics beyond mere textbook knowledge.

Looking back, I realised how much I have benefitted from SMU’s style of classroom learning. Because of the deliberate crafting of small seminar-style classes, I was in an environment where I was encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and exchange ideas with my professors and classmates. These skills proved to be useful when I stepped into the working world, where I was given many opportunities for presenting in front of a group and pitching an idea in meetings. The bulk of our assessment stemmed from class participation and project work, which prepared me to be more outspoken and articulate. This skill set is relevant for my job and helps me gain a competitive edge over my peers.

The internship requirement by SMU has also propelled me to explore the job market and gain hands-on experience from the ground before my graduation. The finishing touch programme such as resume writing, interview skills and professional etiquette classes have equipped me adequately for the working world. I am still referring to some of the course materials till today!

I also joined Peer Helpers as my CCA and it further honed my skills and fuelled my interest towards people with mental health issues. I was also trained to be sensitive to the emotional needs of others and knowing how to provide support during times of need. There were also various external vendors that came for us to undergo certified courses regarding mental health.

SMU’s curriculum has enabled me to stay relevant to what employers need. When I went for interviews prior to graduation, many employers were impressed by my resume because of the exposure that SMU has given me.