Berita Kampus

TAR College Student Makes the Most of Every Opportunity

Graduation Day: Jamie (center) with her friends (from left to right) Alicia Jones (USA), Baillie Locke (Canada), Tatiana Tarbacea (Moldova) and Meredith Brunson (USA).

Campus life opens up a whole new world of exciting opportunities. These words certainly ring true for Jamie Chong Kar Lai, a TARCian who is currently furthering her studies at Campbell University in the United States.

A graduate of Diploma in Mass Communication (Public Relations) and also the Book Prize winner of her course, Jamie emerged as the first and sole recipient of the Campbell University International Student Scholarship in 2007.

In May this year, she made her alma mater proud as she graduated from the Bachelor Degree in Mass Communication majoring in Public Relations and was ranked 1st out of 387 others in the programme. Achieving great things did not just stop there for Jamie as she has also been granted full scholarship to pursue her Masters Degree in Christian Education, a two-year course which commenced in August this year.

“Being able to study in the States and experience the life here is such a rare opportunity and I have TAR College and its wonderful staff to thank for! I am indebted to my lecturers for preparing me well to adjust to the mass communication scene in the United States. Their advice in public relations ethics and practices helped me tremendously to understand the different culture here,” says the 21-year-old gratefully in an email interview.

Given Jamie’s admirable academic achievements, one could be deluded into thinking that she is someone who always buries herself in her books. Yet, that is far from the truth. During her diploma study in TAR College, Jamie was an active participant in various extra-curricular activities and the Vice Chairperson of the Orientation Odyssey Nite. During her first year of study at Campbell University, Jamie and two of her American friends Meredith and Alicia started an international student ministry called Encounter

that runs a weekly beginner’s Bible study and a study house to help some international students, mostly freshmen, who are struggling with English. In the summer that has just passed, Jamie was also working through the Baptist Campus Ministries to help out at the children’s home.

The coming year would be a year filled with even more challenges for Jamie as she will be taking up her first major leadership position as the Residence Director of the university’s residence hall while juggling her master’s study.

Little doubt that the active lass is enjoying every moment of her time in US as there are abounding opportunities to serve and reach out to new people. As Jamie braces herself for the new challenges ahead, she also looks forward to another eventful and fruitful year.

Spring Fling Week: Jamie (center) with fellow university mates Chioma Emejuru-Okpe from Nigeria (left) and Meng Xu from China at the International Student Club’s booth during at the Campbell University Academic Circle.

Eye-Opening Encounter: Jamie at the North Carolina State Fair with a record-breaking 2594kg pumpkin and other larger-than-life food produce on display.

Berita Kampus is a publication of the Department of Development and External Relations of TAR College (the Publisher). No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means - electronic or mechanical including but not limited to recording, taping, or information storage or retrieval systems - without prior permission of the Publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information published, the Publisher shall not be held responsible for any errors and or omission therein.