Jocelyn Tang started her studies in Psychology at IMU in 2012 and secured a job as a HR Generalist in Kimberly-Clark Malaysia soon after her graduation. Recently, she was awarded the UM High Potential Scholarship from Maastricht University to pursue the MA Psychology programme (specialising in Work & Organisational Psychology). She relates her journey towards getting this scholarship. “I was part of the January 2012 cohort of the Psychology programme in IMU. The decision to study Psychology did not come easily as it was from my collective experiences of undertaking leadership roles since high school and my exposure to people of different cultures during my six months exchange programme in the United States that I found the underpinnings of human minds and behaviours to be intriguing. Since I stepped into IMU, my learning curve has never ceased as lectures and tutorials often took form in insightful discussions and exciting role-plays. These classroom activities have instilled creativity in me and strengthened my thought processes in writing research papers. I particularly appreciate the fact that student presentations were an essential requirement in the curriculum, be it for research or tutorial purposes. These presentations have undoubtedly built my confidence in public speaking and it has proven to be fundamental to me in the employment world. 
It feels like it was only yesterday that I breathed a sigh of relief for having finally completed the last league of examination at the IMU. Little was I aware that time flew rather quickly and today, I stand tall as an alumnus of IMU. 
Less than a month after graduating from IMU, I secured a job as a HR Generalist in Kimberly-Clark Malaysia (a multinational company that produces personal care products). My role as a generalist revolves around talent acquisition, HR systems and analytics as well as driving the HR operations. The stint in Kimberly-Clark has paved way for me to learn about the best practices of HR under a strong mentorship. On a side note, my internship experience in the Sime Darby Leadership Centre during my second-year of undergraduate studies has tremendously helped me to adapt quickly to the corporate environment in Kimberly-Clark. As one who believes in education as a means of continuous learning, I have always harboured a dream to further my studies in the field of Industrial/Organisational (I/O) Psychology. Work did not stop me from chasing after my dream. All thanks to a friend who shared with me the prospects of studying in The Netherlands, I began setting my eyes on Maastricht University due to its strong international outlook and emphasis in collaborative and problem-based learning.
To my surprise, I was recently awarded the UM High Potential Scholarship from the university to pursue the MA Psychology programme (specialising in Work & Organisational Psychology), which runs for one academic year. This scholarship covers my tuition fee, living expenses, insurance, and visa application. With this scholarship, I am definitely a step closer to achieving my professional career goal that is to venture into HR consulting with a focus on organisational development.
As much as I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue a graduate education in The Netherlands, I am fortunate to have received an undergraduate education from IMU. Throughout my three years in IMU, I have certainly built long-lasting relationships with my peers and lecturers as well as a strong foundation of knowledge in Psychology. Further, the robust curriculum of the IMU Psychology programme offers an all-rounded exposure to all areas of Psychology, from human personality to group dynamics and statistical research. In addition, the strong support from lecturers of the IMU Psychology programme has allowed me to competently complete my final-year research. The one-year of constant revision and collaboration with my research supervisor, Dr Nicole Chen, has finally paid off when my research paper titled “Perceived Job Autonomy and Employee Engagement as Predictors of Organisational Commitment” was accepted for publication in the Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, published by the University of North Carolina in the United States.”
My advice to all aspiring psychologists based on my personal experience is to be open-minded in exploring the prospects available to Psychology graduates and to persevere towards their goals and dreams despite the challenges that come along. I have always believed that those who braved the storms will prevail as mentally stronger individuals.
