4 minute read
When Siying Li decided to travel from Jiangxi, China to Australia to pursue her finance studies at The Australian National University (ANU), she was hoping to mature personally and academically. Now at the end of her undergraduate journey, she believes she has accomplished both.
“Before I was 18, I had always lived in my hometown. I had never left my parents, so it was difficult for me to study and live overseas for the first time,” recalls Siying, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Finance (Honours), having majored in quantitative finance, from the ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE).
Despite the challenges that came with moving away, Siying was motivated to study at ANU because of the positive reviews she had heard of the University, and found that it lived up to its reputation.
“ANU is known as one of the top research universities, so I believed I would be able to achieve high-level results studying there. It cares about student experience and development, and the campus provides an ideal environment to study. I found the excellent teachers and abundant academic resources so valuable. Lecturers and tutors always patiently answered my questions, which helped me adapt to university life,” she shares.
It didn’t take long for Siying to realise her passion for research. She recalls a particular instance that had a great impact on her:
“In 2017, CBE provided me the opportunity to volunteer at the Asian and Australasian Society of Labour Economics Conference. It was the first time I participated in an academic conference, and saw scholars sharing and discussing their research findings with each other. The academic atmosphere inspired me and ignited my interest in academic research,” Siying explains.
I was very excited to receive the Plato Investment Management Scholarship for Women in Finance. It has provided me further encouragement to keep studying hard to achieve good results.
Siying has since gone on to excel in her studies and was a recipient of the 2021 Plato Investment Management Scholarship for Women in Finance. The firm pledged funding for a scholarship to support female students pursuing an ANU Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Statistics (RSFAS) Honours program.
"I was very excited to receive the Plato Investment Management Scholarship for Women in Finance. It has provided me further encouragement to keep studying hard to achieve good results. As a female finance-major student, I felt supported by this scholarship and very proud to be a recipient,” she says.
She now plans to continue her studies and credits CBE for all it has taught her.
“I want to put all of the knowledge I have gained into practice and apply for a higher research degree. I have no doubt that the variety of experiences CBE provided me has equipped me to contribute to the financial sector. The College has helped me clarify my goals and gain confidence in my abilities. Before studying at CBE, I did not quite know what I was good at and what I wanted. I’ve learned that persistence is the key to success and will keep working hard to chase my research dream,” Siying asserts.
The Director of RSFAS, Associate Professor Steve Sault, extends his congratulations Siying.
“It is fantastic to hear Siying’s journey from her hometown to studying with us at ANU. She was a very worthy recipient of the 2021 Plato Investment Scholarship for Women in Finance and I would like to congratulate her on her achievements throughout her degree, and in her Honours in Finance. On behalf of the School, I extend our best wishes for Siying’s future studies in higher degree research,” he shares.
The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.