I know what you’re thinking after reading my brief description: a banker? Really? Yes, life brings us to unexpected places, and I never thought I would end up in a financial institution when I first started studying MALCS. But hear me out, MALCS has benefitted me beyond my career, and to a large extent, helped me get a different perspective in the industry.
How It Started
While I was still studying my final year of my Bachelor of Arts degree, I already applied for MALCS. I majored in Comparative Literature and Sociology, both of which are complementary to each other. Literary and Cultural Studies was already a huge part of my life in the sense that its ways of thinking and critical thinking helped me to dissect my own thinking and those of others. I was eager to learn more — to delve deeper into local and international texts, to unpack visual and written signifiers — and MALCS had an intriguing mix of films and approaches with a local touch.
The texts in MALCS touched upon all kinds of human experience, and the professors always had profound insight to share. I made like-minded friends there, and had many thought-stimulating discussions, both in the classroom, and beyond. Also, I must express my thanks to Dr. Winnie Yee, and my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Jason Ho. Both had known me in my undergraduate days, but became a mentor to me when I studied MALCS. They were open-minded despite my rather unconventional choice of dissertation/essay topics, and always inspired me and guided me through the (often occurring) students’ essay-writing block.
The things you learn (at MALCS) go well beyond the classroom, and may very well be applied in places you least think of.
Wong Man San Joyce: Posted on Facebook and IG on Jul 2, 2024
My post-MALCS Life
Without the depth of financial knowledge that many of my peers with a business degree had, I was hesitant to begin a career in Banking. But I always held the belief that the knowledge MALCS provided me about the human experience and society was universal. I was very lucky to have encountered my current employer, who once told me that he found liberal arts students’ different perspectives on the economy and business strategy, and tendency to look at the big picture refreshing. He gave a chance to work in Finance, specializing in strategy, and job tasks that allowed me to use my language skills. I may not be able to cite the theories I’ve learnt, but they are always at the back of my mind, and helped me to better understand the societal trends which we are all affected by. So to those who are still considering whether or not to apply for MALCS, and wondering if they will end up using it in their careers, I say: go for it! The things you learn go well beyond the classroom, and may very well be applied in places you least think of.