Connected Conversations | Joash Tham

Joash Tham is a fourth-year dental student from Singapore. Ever since landing here in Adelaide back in 2019, Joash has carped every diem, seizing as many opportunities as possible to enhance his skills, life experience and world-view. Aside from being a talented singer songwriter, surfer, baker and hip-hop dancer, Joash believes his faith has put him on the path he’s travelling today. Also, he has a soft spot for Michiru’s Oyakodon.

Joash Tham

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

Hello! My name is Joash and I am a fourth-year dental student studying at the University of Adelaide. I wanted to pursue dentistry because I really enjoyed the prospect of a career that combines many of my passions— namely, arts and crafts, science, human interaction and being in a position to help others.

I am an international student from Singapore and arrived in Adelaide in 2019. Coming here was the beginning of a whole new chapter of independence. Aside from being in a new environment, there was a lot of differences in culture and lifestyle that I had to get used to upon coming here. In my first semester, I shared a room with an exchange student from the USA. With only six months in Adelaide, he seized every opportunity to explore South Australia, and I was privileged to be able to join him on some occasions. That mindset of making the most of my time here really rubbed off on me, and especially with COVID-19 and the uncertainty of returning home, I am determined to take every chance I got to embrace life here in Adelaide.

Aside from school, I really enjoy singing, song writing and watching films. Coming to Adelaide has also brought about many more interests such as catching crabs, surfing, as well as playing tennis and soccer. The hobby I am most proud to have picked up here is hip-hop dancing!

In an effort to step out of my comfort zone and do things outside of dental school, I took part in the 2021 Adelaide University’s Got Talent show, singing an original song I wrote about Adelaide, and won first place! You can watch my performance below.

Why did you choose the University of Adelaide for your studies?

When I was sending out applications to various universities around the world, the University of Adelaide was the first to respond to me. As I took time to consider spending five years abroad, and the opportunity to study the course of my choice, I knew this was a God-given door that had been opened, and so I took it!

What has been your journey to get where you are today? 

Growing up, there were many things I wanted to be. At one point, I was looking to study film in New York and, at another, I was considering becoming a teacher back home in Singapore. However, I am so glad I landed in dentistry. Something that I find really interesting is that the more I learn about dentistry, the more I look forward to a career as a practicing dentist.

What do you love most about studying at the University of Adelaide? 

I enjoy the vibrant club activities! I’ve joined the Adelaide Uni Hip-Hop Club, Singapore Association, Adelaide University Dental Students’ Society, Evangelical Students, GAMES Club and even started my own club – the University of Adelaide Baking Club!

The best part of my degree, specifically, would have to be the opportunity to treat real patients as undergraduates. With a gradual progression from treating fellow students, to examining friends and family, followed by real patients in the SA Dental Service, we have so much hands-on learning that I very much enjoy more than writing essays and solving equations!

How do you think the University of Adelaide has helped prepare you for your future career?

There are a lot of resources that the Adelaide Dental School gives us. Career Services organises so many sessions that seek to equip students with finding work, be it a LinkedIn profile tutorial, or professional photoshoots for profile pictures on a resume.

Specific to dentistry, I am really looking forward to our final-year placements. I think the exposure will be immensely beneficial to our careers as dentists.

Joash Tham

Have you ever had a life-changing experience?

For me, my faith in God has really shaped who I am and what I do. Because of my belief in God as a Christian, my self-worth is never in how well or poorly I do in school, nor is it in winning first place in a talent show.

In dental school, it is terribly easy to compare abilities and skills, especially when some people seem to have a natural gift in their manual dexterity or have minds that can contain endless wells of information. In addition, we are constantly being assessed every clinical session. If not for God, I would be crushed after every negative piece of feedback given by my tutors and would be suffocating in the need to prove myself to others every day.

Even if something terribly unfortunate were to happen and I could no longer pursue a career in dentistry, I know that there is more to my life than that. Because of God, I have the confidence to face tomorrow courageously.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Something that most people don’t know about me is that I really enjoy writing. I never did very well in English compositions, but I always enjoyed crafting stories and living in a transient fantasy for a few pages. I think this has translated into my song writing as well as occasional journaling.

What are your top café/restaurant recommendations around Adelaide?

I am huge fan of Michiru in the Regent Arcade. Their Oyakodon is simply incredible. My good friend and housemate introduced it to me, and it was the first thing I ate when dining in was allowed again back in 2020.

Joash Tham

What inspired you to pursue a career in health?

It’s so clichéd (and also so clichéd to say “It’s so clichéd but…“) BUT being able to make a positive impact in somebody’s life, sometimes even within the instant of one appointment, is incredibly rewarding. I’ve also considered myself to be quite a relational person and, in health care, that’s a big part of what is required.

What's your dream job?

My dream job is to work as a dentist while imparting knowledge to dental student or, as my favourite lecturer would call them — ‘future colleagues’.  I also hope to help the less fortunate by making dental treatments more affordable for them, although I understand this usually comes in at a much later stage in the career because of the high costs of dental materials and equipment that practices use.

Feel free to follow my journey in Adelaide at my blog.

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