BY AMRUTA
Homecoming – a yearly event that allows alumni to return, reminisce and recollect – is truly one that resonates with its literal name. This year, the Outreach portfolio of CNYSC organised Homecoming 2017 on 3rd February at the Function hall of CresPion, spanning throughout the evening from 6pm onwards.
The event started off on a slightly solemn note, with Prof Tan and the newly appointed Head of Research, Dr Goh Aik Ling sharing on the paramount importance of making the apt decisions for our Final Year Projects, and advising us to seek guidance from them when needed. They shared with us about new garage modules as well as recent achievements by our current CN Yang scholars in the field of research. Meanwhile, several alumni had already commenced to stream in to the venue. A handful of them remained in the hall while the rest were seen hanging around in the local vicinity of CresPion, musing over their younger days in the same compound and keeping pace with one another’s lives. As the first segment of the event neared a close, some of the seniors who had graciously volunteered to conduct mini sharing sessions with the current CNYSP scholars regarding their lives after graduation and career guidance, began to assemble at one of the 2 rooms that had been allocated to them. With a 20-minute sharing per individual, there were 3 speakers for each room that night, and it was definitely an understatement to mention that for each session, the rooms were brimming with scholars pining for advice and insight.
Of the 6 seniors who conducted the sharing sessions, almost all shared about their job interview experiences and current work environment, going into the intricacies of life after NTU. A couple of them also spoke about being current PhD students and the vast deviation from the methodical structure of a typical undergraduate programme. Wong Kin Keong, one of the prevailing residential mentors at CresPion, who is concurrently pursuing a PhD programme at NTU, gave a very succinct yet insightful 20-minute session encompassing the nuances of his programme, how it is not as intimidating as it might come across, and the lifestyle changes upon transition from being an undergraduate to a PhD student. He kept it light-hearted, sharing his raw viewpoints about the programme, giving students absolute transparency to his opinions regarding the pursuit of a PhD, its requirements, be it tangible, in terms of results and career or intangible in the form of passion and tenacity. Indisputably, this was definitely one of the most relatable talks I had heard that night, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I decided to sneak into the room impulsively to join the session.
Following up on the sharing sessions, which ended roughly at around 8pm, the alumni as well as current scholars gathered back at the function hall for dinner. This served as an apt opportunity for the different batches to bond over the delectable array of food, as well as an extended clarification period for students who were unable to raise their questions during the official sessions prior to dinner. As the event drew to an official end at 9.30pm, the alumni took things free and easy, as they sat around with their groups of friends, played games like Heads Up and caught up with one another over drinks.
It was more than gratifying to witness this, to observe the everlasting bonds between these individuals, who do not let the never-ending crunch of work get in the way of their comradery. The way they conducted themselves around one another, it was though they had only graduated yesterday, and undoubtedly reflected the beautiful opportunity that CNYSP had presented the alumni with to form a tight-knitted family, a tradition I hope will take form in the following batches as well.
