Studying in another country is challenging, but challenges can be good. It’s taken me out of my comfort zone and taught me what it’s like to work and study at the same time.
MSc Nursing
Jason Sanchez, moved from Singapore to London to pursue his dream of becoming a nurse. During his time here, he discovered a new passion for education and rising through the ranks of his industry.
Studying in another country is challenging, but challenges can be good. It’s taken me out of my comfort zone and taught me what it’s like to work and study at the same time.
"Being an international student is definitely not within my comfort zone, but that has only made it more worthwhile.
When I was younger, back home in Singapore, I wanted to be a military medic. I achieved that aim after spending two years in the military during my National Service. That’s when I realised what I wanted more. I wanted to become a nurse.
After completing my nursing diploma in Singapore in 2017, I joined the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit (NICU) straight after graduation. It’s a busy and complex department in any hospital because it requires a lot of dedication and know-how.
Since I was eager to learn more, I decided to take a leap of faith by applying to the University of Sunderland in London to study my BSc (Hons) Nursing (Top-Up) and move to London in January 2020.
Unfortunately, the pandemic hit that year and I returned home to take part in online lectures.
By the time I graduated in January 2021, I was well prepared to take on a lot more. My experience as an undergraduate awakened a love of education and a passion to see how far my interest could take me.
I needed to see how far I could go. That’s why I joined the NHS, to grasp the opportunities coming my way and apply what I’d learned.
It sounds like a lot, but when I discovered my passion for healthcare, my whole perspective on life and work changed.
As I aspired to be a nurse manager, you really need the qualifications that mean you can do the job as well as it should be done, which is why I started my MSc Nursing programme last April 2021 with the University of Sunderland in London.
Working and studying in the last two years has been eye-opening, to say the least, as a large amount of my academic and professional career has taken place during the worst pandemic in 100 years. While that challenge is truly huge, it’s also been a great test of just how much I want this.
I think it is more important than ever that we have passionate, dedicated, and well-educated professionals in this industry to meet the demands of our patients. People like my peers in the University. That’s why I chose to write my dissertation on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of students in higher education.
Despite the high word count, it has been my favourite module so far on the course because it’s allowed me to showcase my capabilities and express myself in new and interesting ways.
As I say, I’m not the most natural international student. I really love my country and the people I get to spend time with while I’m there.
But it’s been so good for me to join the University of Sunderland in London community. For one thing, it is so diverse that you get to meet people from all over the world. In that way, it reminds me quite a lot of Singapore, which is home to lots of people from different races and cultural backgrounds.
Studying in another country is challenging, but challenges can be good. It’s taken me out of my comfort zone and taught me what it’s like to work and study at the same time.
Wherever I decide to go next, I know that the skills, education, and passion I found at the University of Sunderland in London will do me well."
Want to follow in Jason’s footsteps? Visit our Nursing and Health courses now.
You can also register your interest or book a personal consultation to find out more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #WeAreSunLon10.
Close