As convocation approaches, New College's Echo Jing looks back on four years of research, friends and harmony

May 26, 2020 by Chris Sasaki - A&S News

When Echo Jing spent 10 weeks in Singapore for the Research Abroad program offered by the Department of Cell & Systems Biology (CSB) in 2019, the experience gave her real insight into what life as a researcher would be like.

Working in a lab at the National University of Singapore — doing research into the parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness — helped convince her to pursue a career as a researcher.

Jing, a member of New College, double majored in physiology and cell & molecular biology — with a focus in stem cell & developmental biology — and minored in psychology.

Arts & Science News spoke to Jing about her undergraduate experience, New College and what comes next.

What were you studying and what did you find interesting about it?

I chose physiology as one of my majors because I was always fascinated by how the human body works and the function of each organ and system. It took me some time to decide on the second major since I wasn’t sure if I really liked biology at a cellular and molecular level. But now I know that I do and I don’t regret that decision at all.

As the building blocks to all living organisms, cells and molecules are the foundation to all the questions we want to ask in life sciences. Being in CSB for three years gave me the opportunity to look into the complexity of organisms and it triggered my passion to explore this complexity even further.

Studying psychology has been a high school dream come true. I have always been interested in psychology, how our minds work and how we interact with our outside world. PSY100 really opened the door to what psychology really means in academia..

What are your future plans?

That’s a very good question. For the past year, I’ve been trying to figure if I wanted to go directly to work or pursue another degree. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to jump into industry directly — much less which industry — so I’ve decided to continue my education, which I am still passionate about.

I was admitted to a direct-entry PhD program at U of T that starts this September. Of course, there’s uncertainty as to how things will proceed during the pandemic, but for now, I’m looking forward to immersing myself in research. It’s a new and exciting step and over the next several years I'm confident I’ll find the path I like.

What advice would you give your first-year self?

I would tell myself to make more friends. University can be overwhelming for a first-year, what with all the study and independence. It’s so easy to become isolated. I sometimes felt I was all by myself as I walked down St. George Street, even though there were dozens of people around me. I spent most of my time on my courses so I didn’t get to enjoy a social life. So my advice would be, get to know more people and you’ll likely be lucky enough to make long-lasting friendships.

What has been your most memorable experience at U of T?  

Student-run clubs! And for me, specifically, the a capella club New Resonance that I joined in first year. My New Resonance family was a big part of my social life. The amazing thing about joining a club is that you get to know a group of people with the same interests as you. Singing and passion for music brought us together and practicing four hours a week meant we spent a lot of time together. New Resonance has been my emotional home base and the time I spent with them has been unforgettable.

What was your New College experience like?  

New College has meant a lot to me. New Resonance is affiliated with New College. New College orientations were great experiences, too. Being an orientation leader for two years made me feel that orientation days were the most positive days of my life. Even if we didn’t get enough sleep, I felt like we were always filled with energy. It was such a positive atmosphere to see all the leaders give selflessly to the first-years and each other.

New College is really devoted to creating a community and establishing emotional bonds between all its students. I greatly enjoyed the events and resources they provided. These casual workshops always lifted my mood and I couldn’t have survived undergrad without the Writing Centre. I really appreciate everything the college does to bring this community closer and I want to give a shout out to all the staff for all their efforts!

Congratulations to U of T's Class of 2020!

Celebrate Convocation 2020 with us and on social media by using the hashtag #UofTGrad20 and tagging @UofTArtSci in your posts. 

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