Local Girl Chooses On-Campus Residence For Independent Living

Meet Jasmine Tan Shi Qing, a vivacious 20-year-old whose family resides a mere 25km from Sunway College Johor Bahru yet made the unexpected request to live on-campus!

The on-campus residence houses up to 400 residents and mainly caters to international students and those from out of town. Located within the campus grounds, it is literally a stone’s throw away from the main academic blocks and college facilities. When asked why she opted to live apart from family since home was just a 30-minute car ride away, “I can avoid traffic jams every morning on the way to college and catch more sleep! This is VERY important, especially during exams period,” replied Jasmine, grinning widely.

A former student of Foon Yew High School Kulai, this bubbly young lady is taking the path of professional accountancy, choosing to enroll in the ACCA programme at Sunway College JB in 2021 after her UEC examinations and was awarded the Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Entrance Scholarship. “The decision to stay in the Sunway College Residence was a natural choice for me as I am very active and sociable by nature. Living on-campus allows me to join extra-curricular activities and make friends with students from other programmes,” Jasmine explained.

She has certainly capitalised on these opportunities and actively served as Treasurer of the Student Council for 2021, committee member of the Accounting Club and is currently the resident representative for her floor. With so much on her plate, one wonders how she balances her time between family, friends, responsibilities and studies but the cheerful young lady quickly reassures that everything is ‘under control’ with proper planning and strict adherence to a personal schedule.

“Living away from home, I need to plan everything for myself for example what to eat, how to manage my budget and spend wisely, and of course keep my room clean too! This made me learn to be independent.”

After a year of ‘independent living’ Jasmine is now our unofficial residence ambassador, often helping out with hostel tours during Open Day and sharing her experiences with ‘new arrivals’ to help them settle in.

Here are her top tips for newbies to hostel living: -
Always remember, to pack these three “must-haves” when moving into the Sunway College Residence,

1. Foldable umbrella – you will need to walk out for food and supplies at the neighbourhood shops. Always have it handy just in case it rains!
2. Earphones - as most residents will opt for twin-sharing rooms, always use earphones to avoid disturbing others. Be a considerate room-mate.
3. Microwave-safe food container – Sunway advocates sustainability and eco-friendly living. So always bring a reusable food container to pack your food and say NO to single-use packaging.

Story and photographs by
Gennie Ching, shching@sunway.edu.my
Tel : 07-3596880 ext 381

Jasmine Tan in her room at Sunway College Residence

Jasmine Tan shows us her personal schedule and study desk