Gillian Chu
Gillian Chu currently works for the Civil Service in Hong Kong, and credits the extra-curricular activities she took part in at Edinburgh with widening the breadth of her life experience.
Name | Gillian Chu |
Degree Course | MA English Language |
Year of Graduation | 2006 |
Your time at the University
I chose to study in the University of Edinburgh because I knew I wanted to do English as a degree, and Edinburgh possesses a strong English Department.
Edinburgh is well located geographically, and lots of my friends from high school came for a visit during my stay. They came directly from their own respective universities, which was basically everywhere you can imagine, ranging from Oxford to Surrey to Vienna. It was definitely a great excuse for me to explore the city more often and plan excursions to the various parts of the Lowlands that I would have never visited otherwise.
I volunteered at the Advice Place in Potterrow from the beginning of my second year until my graduation. Our training sessions really brought the staff and the volunteers together, and our regular volunteering schedule allowed us to get to know students from other subjects that we would not have been acquainted with otherwise.
It was a rewarding experience, because not only did I get to help the students who came into the office, but I also got to meet people from all walks of life. The questions they came up with were super imaginative, but I think the one that topped it all would have to be “What is the date today?”
Make the most of your time in Edinburgh, both running wild with your friends and exploring the city on your own.
Tell us about your Experiences since leaving the University
I joined KPMG Hong Kong immediately after graduation, and left when I received an offer of an accountant’s position with the Civil Service, a role which I am still holding at present. It was definitely daunting to jump directly from studying English to working in accountancy, but this made it even more satisfying when attained my Certified Public Accountant qualification.
Edinburgh’s strong Divinity department has influenced my choice in continuing my education, as I am currently undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma in Theology with the Alliance Bible Seminary. In my spare time, I also volunteer as an Audio-Visual Technician and a Cell Group Leader with my home church, which is based in the Central Business District of Hong Kong, focusing on nurturing busy professionals like myself. Well, who knows where it might all lead to?
Alumni wisdom
Just really make the most of your time in Edinburgh, both running wild with your friends and exploring the city on your own, because your undergraduate years only come by once a life time. You will definitely reminisce the time you have had, and look back with fond memories.