Shermaine
BEng Electronic and Information Engineering
Shermaine is an international student from Singapore. By applying to study at BEng Electronic and Information Engineering (EIE) at Imperial she overcame her imposter syndrome and chose to pursue her passions. She has a deep interest in what she studies and is a highly proactive member of the student community. Shermaine shares her experience of moving abroad, taking on new challenges and finding a sense of belonging.
I'm Shermaine and I'm studying Electronic and Information Engineering at Imperial. I’ve always had a deep interest in maths and the sciences, but I was a little apprehensive about studying a STEM subject at university as I was often the only girl in the class at school.
I spoke to other seniors who had done something similar, and they helped me find the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and pursue my passions. After looking into it further, I decided that the EIE course at Imperial was the best option for me as I could study both software and hardware.
I chose to study BEng Electronic and Information Engineering (EIE) as I enjoy doing hands-on engineering projects, but I also wanted to dive deeper into Machine Learning.
Finding where I belong
As an international student, it was difficult being away from home but joining many societies in my first year really helped me make new friends more easily. Getting involved in the student community has helped me settle into Imperial a lot quicker as I was able to make new friends from different backgrounds. I found it easier to settle in and adapt when I kept myself busy with both my studies and extra-curricular activities.
Interacting with such a diverse student body allowed me to learn about other cultures, which was a big reason why I decided to study overseas.
I wanted to get the full experience of being at Imperial, and not always be studying. So, I decided to start my own society, AIESEC In Imperial, to help develop leadership skills and support other students do the same through international exchanges.
In my second year at Imperial, I was on the committee of four societies where I helped plan multiple career fairs, large-scale social events, and even communicated with industry partners to organise more talks and opportunities for the students in my department.
This year, I also decided to apply to become the AWS Cloud Club Captain of Imperial, starting a new society. Even though I am working alone in the Imperial team, I have had the opportunity to work with captains from other London universities, and even hosted a large-scale event involving the London universities (Imperial, KCL, UCL, LSE).
Getting immersed in extra-curricular activities
In my first year, I became the President of AIESEC at Imperial which I’d formally set up as part of the Student Union. I decided to lead this society and work closely with the student-led organisation as they emphasise on international exchange, which inherently promotes exposure to diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences.
As the leader of this society, I wanted to create an inclusive and diverse environment by having members of different cultures come together and develop their leadership skills, while also encouraging others to join the international exchanges that AIESEC has to offer. I believe that I have contributed to AIESEC’s broader mission of developing global leaders who can appreciate the complexities of our interconnected world, as I now witness this newly founded society continue onto its third year and consistently improving.
I was also the Communications Chair of CGCU in AY 22/23, Industrial Liaison Officer of EESoc in AY 22/23, and am currently the IWD Officer of WSET, Publicity Officer of EESoc and Head of Operations (Secretary) of Imperial College Data Science Society (ICDSS). Moreover, I have been an active member of the Imperial College Dance Company since my first year, I have competed in various dance genres over the past two years and am still doing so this year.
Outside of university societies, I was an Ambassador on Google’s Women Techmakers Program. In this role, I organised numerous events dedicated to fostering inclusivity in the tech community through empowering women in tech. For example, in collaboration with Imperial’s Women in Computing Society, we organised an International Women’s Day event in 2023, where I invited female speakers from various tech companies to network with our students, share their experiences of being in the industry and address any questions the students might have.
Spending time with loved ones
Studying at Imperial can be challenging. I sometimes found myself feeling rather overwhelmed with work when deadlines were close and summer term exams were approaching. Some modules were taught in the first term, so by April it was hard to recall what I’d learned. However, I think that the support from my friends and family back home really helped me overcome these stressful periods.
Even though I was unable to be physically with them, having video calls with them really helped me feel like I was back at home. I also enjoyed the company I had from the friends I made in university. Living with my course mates was probably one of the best decisions I have made as we could study and socialise together.
Laying foundations for the future
I already had a job secured before starting university but wanted to explore opportunities in London. So, I approached the Careers Service to review and strengthen my CV. With their support, I applied and was selected for 5-6 spring weeks in my first and second year and have been lucky to receive summer return offers, to experience the working life in London.
After graduation, I will be going back to Singapore to work with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) as I am on a scholarship with them. So, although I will not be staying in London to work after graduating, I have massively enjoyed and appreciated these great opportunities where I could learn more about the world of work in a different country.
I wanted to study abroad to broaden my horizons and to interact and learn about other cultures, which I believe I have achieved in the past 2.5 years here in London. Even though I did miss home at times, I never once regretted leaving to experience the world!
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