Double the passion, double the advantage!

Investing time and effort to earn two degrees at once might seem daunting. Not to Year 4 student TAN Jian Jun, who is reading a double degree in Chemistry and Economics.

Jian Jun has a burning passion for organic chemistry and after “chancing” upon economics, which he found interesting, he decided to take a leap of faith into this different domain as well.

The two subjects may be perceived as contrasting fields, but Jian Jun begs to differ. “The skills I gained from one course are applicable to the other,” he says.

For instance, the logical thinking from economics is relevant in chemistry, while the quantitative knowledge gained from studying physical chemistry provided him a foundation to understand the mathematics behind economic principles.

Beyond the specialised knowledge gained from each course - such as laboratory and research skills  in chemistry and understanding of markets in economics - Jian Jun  discovered that interacting with diverse experts from various walks of life, all with different aspirations and ways of thinking, has led to a more well-rounded worldview.

Of course, a double degree demands commitment and self-discipline, and the workload can be heavy. But he says, tongue in cheek, “I get a break from economics when I study chemistry, and I get a break from chemistry when I study economics.”

Jian Jun had initially intended on becoming a teacher after an internship at the Ministry of Education (MOE). But with his dual degrees, his career options have expanded. “The world is my oyster,” he says. He now plans to explore the challenges and experience the “hectic pace” in the corporate sector before circling back to teaching later in life.