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Tasha, recent BSc Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Social Data Science graduate and finalist for the 2024 Faculty Medal in Social and Historical Sciences, tells us about her time at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Hi there! I am Tasha, a recent graduate of the BSc Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Social Data Science. I was an international student from Singapore on a government scholarship to study at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳. My hobbies change with the seasons of life, but for now, I am quite enjoying learning Bahasa Indonesia and doing yoga after work. 

Why did you decide to study at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳?

I decided to read PPE in ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ because of the Q-step stream. The stream presented me with an opportunity to learn Social Data Science whilst retaining Political Science as the focal point of my degree. Having now graduated from the programme, I am grateful for the cross-disciplinary exposure to both Political Science and Social Data Science.

This is because the two fields, though seemingly disparate, are in fact very complementary. I was able to use the quantitative methods I learned in Q step to further my study of political science questions. For instance, for my dissertation, I studied the effect of death anxiety due to COVID-19 on anti-immigration sentiment in the US, by mobilising a fixed effects model. It was a pleasant surprise when my thesis was then awarded the Best Dissertation in PPE Award. 

How has studying in ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ and London changed your life for the better?

It was at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ that I read Philosophy for the first time, and it ended up leaving an indelible mark on me and my ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ experience. Studying Philosophy was so tough, it really pushed me to my limits. But, as they say, the tougher the journey, the more rewarding the outcome! And rewarding it certainly was. There was that distinctive mix of pride and excitement in me whenever I knew a Philosophy work was complete. It was such a cathartic feeling to have, to the point that I chased it for the three years at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳. In my best effort not to sound too much like a nerd right now, I guess what I mean is that ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ changed my life for the better by introducing to me Philosophy and developing in me a deep appreciation for critical philosophical discourse. 

On another note, studying in an international city like London has made me more independent. I have (I think!) matured into a mindset that will serve me well in the challenges that come my way. Oh, I also met my best friends and my forever life partner in ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ – so, at the very least, I have that to thank ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ for.

How did you find it coming to ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ as an international student?

Going to ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ was a huge step outside of my Singapore bubble, because for the first time, I had to live by myself and fend for my own. But the Singaporean community in ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ is huge, so I never really felt like it was me against the world. Also, I made good friends who made me feel just like home, so I was well adjusted in a matter of months.  

What is your best memory from your time at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳?

My best memory from ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ is that one consult I had with my Philosophy professor – I think the topic was on the moral imperatives of being vegetarian. This time, both the professor and I were both stuck with how to proceed with my essay. Then, suddenly, I had an idea, my professor quickly jumped on it, and we developed it together. This was memorable not only because eureka moments are hard to come by, but also because I was/ am sincerely grateful to my Philosophy professor for being so approachable and inspiring. This professor is none other than Dr Ben Sorgiovanni, who led my classes on Metaethics and Effective Altruism. I’d like to thank him for never failing to answer my questions, and for teaching brilliantly on such complex topics. That I am leaving ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ with such a deep interest in Philosophy is thanks to him.  

What is an achievement that you are most proud of from your time at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳?

The achievement I am most proud of from my time at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ is my dissertation. My dissertation was the result of months of work, and many moments of doubt. It often felt like swimming through murky waters. 

But it is with the guidance of my dissertation supervisor, Dr Tom O'Grady, and the support of my family and close friends, that I was able to submit a satisfactory dissertation as part of my graduation requirements. Other than providing invaluable advice on my dissertation, Dr Tom must also be thanked for his superbly delivered lectures on data analysis, especially on the causal analysis models available to political scientists. In fact, it was during his lessons that I gathered the inspiration for my dissertation. 

What are your plans after graduation and how do you think that being a ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ student helped get you there?

After graduation, I began my one-year secondment to the Office of the Special Representative of INTERPOL to the United Nations (SRIUN) that is based in New York. At this post, that I am very grateful for, I advance INTERPOL’s interests in the UN. 

Rather than helping me get here, I think being a ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ student is helping me perform on the job. Having done three years of intense reading and writing at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳, I feel capable to meet the heavy demands of the job. 

Describe your time at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ in three words.

An academic challenge.