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The One-Minute Interview
1. What prompted you to embark on the ACCA Qualification?
The ACCA Qualification is an internationally recognised qualification. It offers me, as with many others who have pursued the programme, the flexibility to progress despite our commitments. In addition, ACCA offers career flexibility, with highly transferrable skill set that is highly valued. It is one of the primary routes to practice as a professional accountant in Singapore as it allows one to register with the local body.
The ACCA membership, coupled with the local recognition, will offer significant career advantages at both entry and a senior management level. It provides the opportunity for a stable career and the ability to perform required financial and managerial accounting for corporate decision making.
2. Can you share with other students some advice on how you study for your exams?
Time management is important in preparing for examinations and it would certainly help if students understand the essential learning points behind each chapter. A good way to prepare for examinations is to prepare a 1-page post chapter summary review at the end of each chapter and to attempt to integrate learning points across different chapters in reviewing the overview of the subject through mindmaps.
It is also important to remain calm and focused. While a certain degree of stress may help to improve performance, excessive stress may result in distress and inefficiencies in learning. Instead of worrying about how you will perform, spend the much needed time to review what you have learnt and you will perform better than you would have otherwise.
3. How do you spend your free time?
I believe in maintaining a healthy balance in various aspects of life. As such, in my free time, I meet up with friends for activities or perform some sporting activities such as jogging, swimming or cycling. To help maintain a relaxed state of mind, I will watch some movies or drama serials and read manga.
4. What’s your ambition once you finish your studies?
I will like to enter the banking sector upon completion of my studies, preferably in a Corporate Finance, Asset Management or Risk Management role.
5. Who do you admire and how has he/she inspired you?
One person I admire is Olivia Lam. Despite having been adopted and having been brought up in financial hardship, she was able to take a leap of faith to pursue her education in Singapore by supporting herself. She was employed as a chemist in Glaxo Pharmaceutical and had the courage to give that up in exchange for starting her own water filtration business. Her drive, enthusiasm, courage and foresight have enabled her to build Hyflux into what it is today.
6. What motto do you live by?
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.