Written by: Anna Cheang
Edited by: Celine Koh
Since the beginning of Semester 2, the Special Projects (SP) sub-committee within NTU-USP Club has been running #IWishUSPKnew and #DidUSPKnow, initiatives designed for NTU-USP students to get to know each other better and develop a sense of appreciation for the community. Comprising anonymous dedications and weekly Instagram stories of fun facts and quiz activities, the initiatives have been successful in encouraging inter-batch interaction and enabling students to learn little known facts about each other. These initiatives also provide opportunities for NTU-USP students to step up and organise activities which they are passionate about. Year 1 Sociology student, Adrian Foo, took on the role of Chief IC for these two initiatives this time around.
#IWishUSPKnew
The sub-committee felt it was important to bring back this initiative because it helps students to embrace a culture of gratitude even in their fast-paced lives. Such dedications provide opportunities for students to express their gratitude to each other and contribute to the creation of a strong social support system within NTU-USP.
After considering the convenience and accessibility for the students, a switch was made from an offline board at the Premier Scholars’ Programme Lounge (PSP) to an online platform (sayat.me/uspdedications) for students to write their appreciations.
Although the dedications page is not as active among students, it still met its objectives. Year 2 Linguistics and Multilingual Studies student Lim Jia Yi thought that the anonymity of the platform encouraged shyer people to express their appreciation for their peers.
Overall, it was a sweet and adorable initiative. In Jia Yi’s words, “It was really heartwarming to see how far we’ve come as a community!”
#DidUSPKnow
In comparison, #DidUSPKnow is more popular among students. Facts about four students across different batches and courses are revealed weekly on Instagram and students eagerly participate in Instagram polls and won attractive prizes.
For instance, just a few weeks ago, fun facts of Year 1 Sociology student Desiree Ng being an ex-school swimmer and Year 2 Public Policy and Global Affairs student Yuening finishing six seasons of Clone Wars in four days, were shared through Instagram story polls, and students voted what they thought were the correct answers. The fastest student to correctly guess all four fun facts received a prize from the project committee.
Year 4 Communication Studies student Elyse Yap, who was featured on the quiz, also agreed that these fun facts could be conversation starters, especially with her NTU-USP juniors.
One of the lucky winners was Brian Chng, a Year 1 Accountancy and Business student who enjoyed #DidUSPKnow. “I accidentally clicked 2 options on the poll and they turned out to be right, but it was definitely eye-opening.”
All in all, this initiative proves to be a fun and informal way of getting NTU-USP students to get to know each other better, achieving the goals which Adrian and his team had set.
These initiatives will continue throughout the rest of the semester, and may hopefully return in the following academic year. In the meantime, do keep sharing your appreciation for your peers on the dedication page (https://sayat.me/uspdedications) and participate in the weekly Instagram story quizzes (@ntuuspclub)!
