Poh Xin Yi
Graduating Class of 2022 Majoring in Psychology and Marketing
Please tell us more about yourself.
Hello, I am Xin Yi, a School of Social Sciences (SOSS) sophomore majoring in Psychology and Marketing at Singapore Management University. Having previously graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Tourism and Resort Management, I am passionate about customer experience management.
Outside of my academic endeavours, I am also an active member of SMU Caderas Latinas, SMU’s premier tertiary salsa club where I am now serving as the club’s Honorary General Secretary. Additionally, I have been participating actively in the school’s pioneer retail club, SMU Re-X, as their Marketing Deputy.
Besides these, my hobbies include video production and embroidery (a weird combination, I know).
What made you choose to do a degree in Social Sciences and why choose to do it in SMU?
Unlike most of my peers, I did not graduate from Junior College, nor did I attain a diploma related to the field of Social Sciences. Thus, many of my family and friends were shocked when they learnt about my decision to do a degree in Social Sciences. However, I knew it was a leap of faith I was ready to take.
Coming from a business background in polytechnic, I wanted to round out my academic journey with a degree that would allow me to pursue my interest in human behaviour and passion for customer service. Since young, I have always been curious about how the human mind works. Thus, I knew a degree in the Social Sciences will help me develop the skills to tackle the questions I have about human behaviour and psychology. However, given my aspirations of having a career in customer experience management, I required a degree that would allow me to effectively explore all my interests, and SMU allows me to do just that.
Why SMU?
Firstly, SMU provides me with the flexibility to attain a holistic education, allowing me to explore 2 different domains of interest - Psychology and Marketing, in a single degree with ease.
I was also attracted to SMU’s interactive pedagogical framework which encourages seminar discussion and the expression of personal views through our small class size and supportive professors. This framework has not only helped me become a more confident and effective speaker, but it has also encouraged me to engage in collaborative learning. Often, I find myself benefitting from my peers’ sharing as they expose me to differing viewpoints.
The small class size also facilitates closer bonds with our professors, which I believe is highly unique to SMU. I will be eternally grateful for the care and help my professors have provided me with. For example, knowing that I was keen to learn more about psychological research, Professor Andree Hartanto provided me with the opportunity to be his Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant. This further exposed me to the intricacies of psychological research.
How has learning about Social Sciences changed/benefited you?
“Uhm, what do you learn as a Social Sciences student?”
I believe that many Social Sciences students are no stranger to the above question.
Unlike other disciplines, we might not seem like we are learning technical skills. However, learning about Social Sciences has benefited me both on a personal and professional level.
On a personal level, being an SOSS student has allowed me to forge a deeper connection with myself. For example, the study of Mindfulness in Positive Psychology helped me understand the importance of being retrospective, bringing clarity and the ability to perform self-care in my life.
On a professional level, my experience as a Social Sciences student allows me to understand my role as a global citizen and my impact on society. As the world shrinks, it is becoming more pertinent for us to develop such awareness and I am glad SOSS has been providing me with the resources and platform to do so.
Most importantly, I am confident that my academic journey in SOSS has prepared me well for the VUCA world. While we live in a world filled with unforeseeable challenges, one thing for sure is that I will be able to tackle the issues of a rapidly changing world with the analytical and critical thinking skills that SOSS has equipped me with.