Written by: 5th Exco
Edited by: Celine Koh, Justlyn Yeo
Photos by: Esther Rim
Dear NTU-USPians, thank you for taking the time to attend our Annual General Meeting last Thursday. By now, you would have received your allocated subcommittees for the new academic year. The 5th Exco looks forward to working with you and here’s to an eventful year ahead! Here are some personal thoughts and wishes from us to you:
Xinyu, President
Music is a huge part of my life, and I would like to introduce you to some songs to tune into when you are feeling certain emotions throughout AY1819.
For when you feel you can’t do it anymore:
Rise Up – Andra Day
When you just want to get into some emo-nemo mood:
Clown – Emili Sandé
When you feel like you need a power boost:
Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
Stargazing – Kygo, Justin Jesso
When you are in a hipster mood:
1950 – King Princess
During days of stress, I tune into my favourite songs to relax, find some friends for a good meal, or watch some makeup tutorials to relax.
I hope you find some ways to relax as well! As the semesters become more intense, and you increasingly try to keep your head above water, I hope you remember that you are not alone. Remember to give yourself some time to recuperate and recharge and surround yourself with positive energy! I’m always here should you need a listening ear!
Cheng, Vice-President
Open your eyes. I’ll say it again, open your eyes. Just as a baby born into wealth cannot at first appreciate the comfort and privilege it was born with, how foolish would it be for that child to grow up spoilt and pampered. But how wise and admirable it would be for the child to realize its privilege and prestige, and use it to help others.
Similarly, you have entered NTU-USP with great privilege and opportunities. You have been given the seeds of growth, foreknowledge of your predecessors’ failures and successes, and possibly the best environment to stretch and test your limits in a forgivable landscape. What are you going to do with this opportunity? I ask now that you take a minute to sit back in your chair, or lie back, and just ponder on what kind of person you wish to become.
I hope you think and choose wisely, and make mature decisions from a sound mind. Be a leader of your life, be an influence to others, be the change you want to be. That’s what I wish to see in NTU-USP. A community of changemakers.
Justin, Honorary General Secretary
Hi everyone! My hope is that NTU-USP can really be a community where everyone feels comfortable to be in and to learn. My experience in NTU-USP has been nothing less than great and it’s really gotten me out of many comfort zones, so I hope that this positive experience can be the same for everyone. I will put in my best efforts and hopefully, I can create a positive impact on your NTU-USP life. If you see me around, just say hi and talk to me, I always love having conversations with different people.
Jiang Xu, Honorary Financial Secretary
Welcome back to another year of studies! This year is a year marked by big ambitions and changes, and I hope this means as much to NTU-USP as it does to you.
Ponder the words of our central theme, “You Matter”. These words are not merely about catering to your needs. We recognise that what defines us most as NTU-USP is “You”: the scholars who participate, contribute, and enrich the entire community. You make the magic happen, whatever it is that you do best. Hold on to this idea, and I wish to see all of us boldly go where no one has gone before.
Let us all look forward to another exciting year ahead, and come together later to celebrate dreams, adventures, and another year well spent!
Jia Yi, Director of Arts, Culture, Social Affairs
To the freshmen, I hope university has been good to you so far! While you explore and immerse yourself in the plethora of activities university offers, don’t forget that there’s a supportive and warm community here in NTU-USP that you can always come back to.
Seniors, another exciting year of events and friendships beckons – I look forward to seeing all of you step up as mentors for our freshies this year, and to guide them like our seniors did for us.
Lastly, to all – NTU-USP has always been a safe and comfortable space to learn, experience and grow for me, and I hope it becomes yours too!
Queenie, Director of Social Service Projects
Hello everyone, and welcome to the new academic year! I sincerely hope that in NTU-USP, you will be able to find at least an activity that you truly enjoy; that best reflects your values and beliefs in life. With the new activities in place by the different subcomms, we hope you’ll be inspired to make full use of your time here with us!
For the freshies, everything may seem overwhelming at first but us seniors are always here to help. For the seniors, look forward to the two semesters filled with exciting opportunities. Nonetheless, always remember that your journey in NTU-USP Club will definitely be a fulfilling one, and most importantly, have fun!
Caleb, Director of Alumni, Career and Student Outreach
Dear NTU-USPians, our NTU-USP community is made up of unique and inspiring individuals (both faculty and students), and the club’s events are opportunities to mingle with others across the different faculties and years. It is truly a safe community that allows you to make friends, develop interests, explore careers options, and bounce off opinions on literally any topic under the sun.
As the new AY begins and the workload increases through the upcoming weeks, I hope that you will keep your eyes focused on what’s truly important, your minds open to exploring and your hearts humbled with every opportunity that NTU-USP offers.
Focus on pursuing your goals and being the change you want to see, yet open to exploring alternatives that you possibly wouldn’t conceptualise on your own. Lastly, be humbled by the privileges that enrich and equip us greatly to give back to our community and beyond.
Zachary, Director of Academics and General Affairs
In this Academic Year, my wish is for our NTU-USP community to grow together as a student body be it in your relationships with friends, faculty and staff, academics, skills, or personal development. I sincerely hope that everyone will actively participate in our club events because every event has been planned with you in mind. As we embark on an eventful year together, I hope that we will remember to treasure each moment with our peers because we are all on this journey together. Whether you are a freshman or senior, I urge you to make the most out of your time in school, as time flies really quickly – and soon enough we’ll be reminiscing the good old days at YEP 2019. With that, I wish you all the best in your studies, and may you have an enriching and fulfilling year ahead.
Teng Jie, Director of Special Projects
What is NTU-USP to me? The opportunity to learn from others and develop yourself. As part of the 5th Executive Committee, I look forward to working with NTU-USPians to create a community where we can learn from each other, share with each other, and ultimately become better people through our daily interactions and friendships.
I hope to work with the seniors to impart our skills, knowledge, and experiences to the juniors. I also hope to work with the juniors to help them develop their potential, to encourage them to step up to the plate and make full use of the plentiful resources that we are privileged to have. As NTU-USPians, let us help one another to develop as people, as changemakers.
Justlyn, Director of Publicity and Public Relations
My wish for NTU-USP in the upcoming Academic Year will be for all of us to recognise this place as our home. Home is where the heart is, where our friends are, and where we grow as individuals. One year in NTU-USP has allowed me to feel the warmth of NTU-USP as my second family, and I wish for all NTU-USPians to feel the same. On top of this, I wish for this community to grow: grow in skills, grow in new experiences, and grow in character. Being a community of changemakers might sound like a big dream, but I truly believe that no dream is unachievable as long as we see to it till the end. Unlimited Super Potential – that’s what we have.
Celine, Director of Publicity and Public Relations
Dear freshmen, I sincerely hope that you will make the best out of these years in NTU, and that you may grow holistically to be the best version of yourself even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. To all NTU-USPians, as we keep hustling in our daily lives, I hope that all of us will continue supporting one another in our little ways and that we’ll do our best to give back to society with our resources. May we always be an inclusive and bonded family, even after graduation.
