Alumnus Profile: Lai Ming Yi
Qualifications IGCSE, IB Diploma, BA University of Cambridge (June 2017), MB BChir University of Cambridge (September 2020).
What are you currently doing? I'm a student at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge.
Tell us briefly about your current work. I am a third year (intercalating for a degree in Physiology, Development and Neuroscience) medical student.
What is your most memorable experience in school? The most memorable experiences I had in Uplands were the school trips. In particular, our trip to Kota Kinabalu in my final year was the most memorable. We planted trees as part of a reforestation project and hiked to the peak of Gunung Kinabalu. Both were very rewarding experiences, but what I treasure most are the friendships built during that week.
What were your favourite and least favourite subjects in school, and why? Chemistry was my favourite, largely because I felt it just made a lot of sense. Everything we learned could be explained simply by first principles. Choosing a least favourite is difficult because all the subjects I took were either enjoyable at the time or, I have come to realise, are useful in retrospect. Perhaps visual arts because I was just not very technically good at it.
What extracurricular activities did you do? Model UN, Basketball, Student Council, Environmental Society, Debate.
What was the best thing about your school? What important lessons did you learn in your school that have helped you in your life? Diversity was the best thing in my school. The diversity of students taught me to be able to find common ground with nearly anyone. Diversity of subjects meant I learned things I never thought I would, like an understanding of classical Japanese music.
Describe your experience in school using three words. Enjoyable, enlightening and global.
What advice would you give to current students of your alma mater? Uplands provides its students with an incredible number of curricular and extracurricular opportunities. Take advantage of as many of these as you can.