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Name: Jayla Kwok
Age: 18
College / University: Imperial College London
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Country origin: Hong Kong(moved to the UK at 13)
What did you do in high school to prepare you for this major? Tell us about your extracurricular activities and any honors/awards you received while preparing for university.
From an early age, I knew I loved neurotechnology. I participate in different MOOCs to fill any knowledge gaps I had. I also loved leadership activities and was one of the school monitors and house monitors at my previous school.
I participated in various clubs, including the Prep Science Club, where I taught kids science, and the Residence Home Club, where I helped patients with dementia. I was also part of the Young Enterprise program, where I served as the managing director of the company, which won the Best Company of the Year award. Additionally, I was part of the athletics team and helped organise culture connect events.
I took part in several science competitions, and my team won multiple awards for using chitin to create biodegradable plastic. In the Cambridge Engineering competition, my teammate and I earned the runners-up position.
I attended as many talks as I could, one of which was given by Brian Cox. I was really into physics at the time, and I even wanted to become a time traveler. I was passionate about the idea of time travel and was fascinated by an article that discussed time traveling with your consciousness. Over time, my focus shifted to neurotechnology.
I also tried to network as much as possible with industry professionals. I tried to get as much work experience as I could, but if not, that's okay too—there are many other ways to show passion.
Please tell us your daily life schedule as a student with this major in your university.
It's definitely not quiet at all! My days are usually packed from 9 to 6, filled with lectures, tutorials, labs, extra credit modules, and societies. I'm currently involved in both the Neurotech Society and the Entrepreneurs Society, where I serve as a committee member for both. My goal is to become an entrepreneur in neurotech. To relax, I like to go to spin classes or Pilates.
How do you manage your stress? What's the secret?
The key to managing stress is maintaining a balanced life. You can't drown yourself in work all the time—it will actually be worse for you in the long run. Whether it's going out for a walk or just talking to a friend, it's essential to take regular breaks.
What advice would you give high school students wanting to study this major?
Never give up. Don't let a bad grade bring you down. I've had many bad grades, and I don't mean like a 60%, I mean a 30%. You need to find the best study techniques for yourself, as every subject is different.
Have really good planning with what you want to do. Use an organising app like Notion to track your tasks. It's okay not to know exactly what you want to do, but you should always have a goal in life. It's also okay to fail—if you don't, you never learn. What matters is how you get back up.
Get involved as much as you can. Sometimes, if you want something like an internship or work experience, all you need to do is reach out and ask. You'd be surprised how far that can get you.
Most importantly, don't forget to take breaks, have fun, and enjoy it all. This is your one chance at living—don't waste it.
What was the most helpful when applying to college for this major?
The UK is different from the US—we focus more on academics. So, if you're applying to a UK university, it's crucial to take as many courses as possible, read extensively, and engage in academic-related work in your chosen field.
If there is an app/website/social media account that you love or follow related to your major, could you share the link?
Go follow @icl_neurotech
Thank you to Jayla Kwok!
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Instagram:@askstem
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