My journey in NTU-USP so far has been nothing short of eventful. In my freshman year, my time in the Business Managers subcommittee and the Freshman Orientation Programme (as a Chief Programmer) allowed me to work with others on my interests. As a sophomore, I have had the privilege in serving the club, initially as vice president and director of the Alumni, Career & Student Outreach subcommittee, followed by taking on the president’s role midway.

There have been many ups and downs, highs and lows, which I find a rollercoaster highly apt in its description. “Why a smooth sailing rollercoaster?” you may ask. Rollercoaster rides are known for their thrilling, suspenseful nature, zipping through loops and navigating sharp turns at death defying speeds. Accompanied with the ear-piercing screams of the thrill seekers around you, smooth sailing would be the last phrase you would associate it with.

However, I would like to present a different perspective of rollercoaster rides, how it relates to my experiences and what we can learn from it. From a macro perspective, rollercoasters let us experience “fear” emotionally and physically, without the possibility of dealing with any real consequences. This draws parallels with my leadership journey – where I experienced “fear” by being put in unfamiliar situations. For example, having to juggle a Top 4 and a Director role implied dealing with more stakeholders than usual, adding on to the workload.

Nevertheless, there were no hard expectations placed on my team and me since our time in service was meant to be a learning experience. Experiencing these scenarios allowed me to constantly reflect on my actions and emerge as a better person. In this respect, smooth sailing meant having a safe environment, to explore reasonably, knowing that I had room to make mistakes. From a micro perspective, smooth sailing could come in the form of the rollercoaster ride. Knowing that the well-oiled rollercoaster machinery is working in sync gives one the confidence to enjoy their ride. Similarly, serving the community in my capacity has taught me to be more appreciative of the people we work with, our subcommittee members. My experience has taught me a view – that we should and must work for them, different from the traditional hierarchy. For their tireless effort which gives forth to proposals and events, for their enthusiasm that injects the vibrancy and energy into the events. The next time you see your fellow USPham, give them a pat on their back and ask them how they are doing. These small acts foster a community spirit, serving as a source of motivation.

My rollercoaster ride has been nothing short of eventful, proving to be smooth sailing in the whole scheme of things. I am grateful for the adventures I have been through, and the people I have worked with. Here’s to an equally (or more) eventful latter half of my university journey, and for you, the reader, to create your own smooth sailing rollercoaster ride, too 😊.

Submission by:

Martin Kok, Year 2, ACBS