Yang Hengxing

[MSc 2022]

The time spent at NUS over the past year has been very fulfilling and unforgettable. Upon my enrollment in the courses I was interested in, I had access to an excellent team of teaching staff in the Department of Physics who are passionate and professional. Although the presence of the pandemic had hindered face-to-face teaching, the teaching staff were still serious and maintained a very high level of enthusiasm. They completed each course perfectly, which made me deeply appreciative and cherish all that I have learned in every class.

As an international student, I was glad to have met a group of close and supportive lab mates upon my arrival in Singapore.

Currently, I am pursuing my PhD under the supervision of Prof Sow Chorng Haur in the Nanomaterials Research Lab. My experience with the Master’s program over the past year has undoubtedly played an important role in my making this decision. I was so fortunate to be supervised by Prof Sow in my Master’s research project. Not only did Prof Sow share with me the hard and soft skills needed to perform good research, most importantly, he also showed me that the physics we love is not just the definitions in the printed books but physics exists in all aspects of our lives in the form of basic natural rules. If we investigate these rules, we can see novel phenomena emerging through continuous trial and exploration. This motivates me to explore the world further.

As an international student, I was glad to have met a group of close and supportive lab mates upon my arrival in Singapore. Their support has enabled me to overcome many difficulties and kept me optimistic about the future. My family members far away in China have also unconditionally supported me in my decision making, which empowers me to take every step bravely. Although the pandemic is still affecting the world today and there will still be many obstacles ahead, I believe that as long as we continue to work hard with a brave heart and rigorous thinking, we will be able to overcome any challenges and do well in future no matter what! So happy graduation, Class of 2022!