Wellington International School is one of the Shanghai’s private schools.Our mission is to equip our pupils with the knowledge and skills to be well-rounded, globally-minded citizens. So our key metric of success is ultimately the success of our pupils. In our We Are Wellington | Alumni Voices series, we showcase such successes by catching up with Old Wellingtonians to learn about experiences and insights gained in life after Wellington. In this edition,Shirley Park, a graduate from Wellington College International Shanghai's class of 2017 explains how a degree in biochemistry from University College London (UCL) ultimately landed her a career at JP Morgan.
In what ways has your Wellington education prepared you for success at university?
Completing the IB Diploma Programme helped me a lot. It helped me with my time management skills. Having taken on such a high workload at once allowed me to get used to university studies more easily.
Why did you choose to enrol at UCL?
After conducting some initial research, I quickly realised that most top universities have great professors and similar courses, so I considered other factors when deciding where to study. I wanted a global setting where international students are not a minority. I also wanted to study in a big city. I knew the English university system would suit me better as I knew exactly what I wanted to study. I wanted to start my career in London after I graduated. Considering all of these factors, UCL was the obvious choice. It satisfied all of my needs, and it had a great biochemistry course as well.
What attracted you to biochemistry as a major?
My interest in science started in Senior School. Biology and chemistry were my stronger subjects during IB as well, so I was confident that I would perform well if I focused on those subjects. This is important at university because you study your chosen subject in great depth. So I combined the two subjects I liked the most and chose biochemistry in the end. Not only was I interested in the purely academic side of the subject, but I knew that obtaining a challenging STEM degree would open a wide range of opportunities for me.
You currently work for an investment bank. What made you want to transition from biochemistry to finance?
I enjoyed biochemistry, but I did not want to pursue an academic career. I knew I would be better suited to a corporate environment where I could interact with people and solve real-life problems. I decided that joining a multinational firm like JP Morgan would allow me to gain the skills essential for starting a career because they usually offer excellent employee training and support. I also wanted to utilise my international background and work in a global setting where I can do business with different teams around the world and serve international clients. Finance firms seemed to suit all of my preferences. Most importantly, they were able to sponsor my visa to work in London. That's why I transitioned into finance. It is very common to pursue a career other than your major, though, so it was an easy decision for me.
What do you like most about UCL and why?
UCL is great for a real city university experience. Located in the heart of Bloomsbury, it is just minutes away from all the tourist attractions and London's city centre. You can enjoy the city to its fullest, going to see musicals at the West End, eating at nice restaurants in Soho, visiting all the free galleries and museums. A university experience is not just limited to what you do on campus; you can experience so much more outside as well. However, this also means that UCL has less of a campus feel because the university is dispersed around the city.
In what ways does the UCL experience differ from the Wellington experience?
It is completely different. In Shanghai, we had 13 people in our cohort. Everyone was really close in Senior School. UCL, on the other hand, has an enormous student body, so you only end up spending time with a few people. At Wellington, we were also very close to our teachers. At UCL, it is more difficult to maintain close relationships with your professors because there are so many students. Also, you get so much guidance and pastoral care at Wellington. Studies are much more self-guided at university. You are expected to take your education into your own hands.
As the first cohort to graduate from Wellington in 2017, what three pieces of advice would you like to offer current Wellingtonians?
1. Take advantage of the great facilities and support you have at Wellington. All the different CCAs and sports facilities will be hard to find at university. Try as many different activities as possible. I remember doing all sorts of things like musicals, football, special effects makeup, art painting, swimming… After you graduate there will not be the same resources or opportunities to try new things and develop new skills.
2. Work hard, but do not worry so much. Things seem so extreme when you are at school. The many life choices you have to make will seem daunting. But if you just do your best and put in the hard work, everything will be fine in the future.
3. Maintain good relationships with your cohort and teachers. They will become lifelong friends. Although you meet many great people at university, it is difficult to find friends who understand your childhood experiences and share the same culture! I still keep in contact with my friends and teachers, and we talk about the times in Shanghai that we all miss.
Share your fondest Wellington memory.
It would have to be all the breaks and lunchtimes spent in Wellington's very first IB common room. I spent two years there, working, having fun conversations, occasionally napping, laughing a lot and sharing ideas with my cohort. I miss it very much!