Stephanie Shayne Ora

Discover SIM GE China, Cambridge and Nepal are unforgettable to Stephanie Shayne Ora who participated in SIM's Education Abroad programmes that let students go on overseas immersion study programmes, work as interns abroad and do community work. Stephanie who was enrolled with the University of London's BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance, attended the Global Corporate Training Learning Programme in Beijing and Tianjin. Debunking business myths on China “Before the trip, what I knew of China was rather shallow,” she says. “I only know it was a sleeping giant, the third largest country by land size and the largest by population, and that Beijing is its capital. “Beijing and Tianjin were the first major cities I got to visit in China. I saw an example of a real Chinese business and realised how much Chinese businesses and organisations care for the environment and their people. “I've under-estimated China, because what I knew of it was rather shallow, yet I never bothered to challenge the common perception. By experiencing China myself, I got to debunk myths that used to limit my understanding of the economy, and more so, I managed to gather valuable insights relevant for my career decisions.” Cambridge passion In 2012, after she graduated from her UOL studies, Stephanie enrolled in the SIM Global Immersion Programme at Cambridge University (picture above). She notes how the passion of the professors influenced her appreciation for studying. The method of teaching at Cambridge involved outdoor learning, corporate visits and regular class participation. She mentions Professor Charles Hampden-Turner, who throughout the course emphasised the idea of metaphors, paradoxes and ironies. Sometimes she felt confused but in a funny way, all the confusion somehow made sense. “I love the idea of how things co-exist that even the seemingly systematic world of business has to have differences and conflicts for companies to survive and grow,” she adds. Life-changer in Nepal Stephanie also participated in SIM’s Global Citizenship Initiative in 2010 because she enjoyed community work. She went to Nepal where she taught pre-primary school pupils for seven days. “Nepal was an opportunity for me to open up and simply live my life without any hesitation and limits,” says Stephanie. “Living a simple life in the mountains made me notice the things I have and I am capable of, which I have regarded as invisible for quite some time.” The genuine smiles of the village kids were inspiring since it would be quite impossible to see that kind of smile on the face of children in a developed urban society, Stephanie says. “Nepal was, is and always will be a life-changing activity because as the first programme I joined, I developed a trust in Education Abroad since then, that kept me coming back for more,” she adds. --- Posted, November 2012 Latest Updates: Stephanie is now an Associate in the Financial Advisory Services arm of Deloitte Philippines