Freshmen, need some help easing into university life? Here’s some advice from four fresh graduates of the Class of 2023 who have written heartfelt letters to their past selves
by Leow Wen Xuan
Be who you are
Sarah Shahbal Tan Chin
School of Social Sciences
Dear Sarah,
First of all, I want to reassure you: you will flourish in ways that you will never anticipate. I know that at this moment as a freshman, everything feels uncertain.
You have just entered university and don’t know where you fit in this new environment. You feel pressured to act in ways that are not true to yourself, so you can show a “refreshed” version of yourself.
Take time to figure out who you want to be. It will be a while before you realise that there’s nothing wrong with being the quieter one, the one who takes a little more time before she responds. Once you’ve figured out how to be truly you, the rest will fall into place.
You will discover this after joining the NTU Muslim Society (NTUMS) and becoming the club’s community outreach officer. The community’s tender loving care will give you a reason to be present. Sharing memories with NTUMS –whether through intimate late-night conversations or large-scale events – will remind you to cherish the friends who appreciate you for who you are.
Your time in university is really what you make of it. I want you to be eager to discover what works, what you like, and what you need. Immerse yourself in your interests. Know that you can always ask for help. Reaching for it doesn’t make you a failure.
You will be fine. Trust the process.
Yours sincerely,
Sarah
Sarah bonding with other NTU Muslim Society committee members at a retreat.
Make a difference
Amulya’s NTU highlights include organising a hackathon for the SCBE Club and chilling with her mates.
Amulya Mathur
School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology (formerly School of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering)
Hey there!
I hope you are filled with curiosity and excitement for the journey ahead. Your university life will be full of ups and downs, but know that you will learn a lot, and those experiences will shape your path.
There will be times when your grades may not reflect the effort you have put in, or times when challenging assignments make you want to tear your hair out. Don’t give up. See it through and turn each obstacle into a learning point.
Remember, your time at NTU encompasses so much more than academics. You will end up joining different clubs and interacting with culturally diverse people. This will form some of your best memories at NTU.
Along the way, your talents will shine, and so your leadership skills will blossom. You are building up experiences that will come in handy when you become the academic welfare director of the 16th SCBE Club.
You may doubt yourself initially. Turn that fear into confidence. That’s how you will end up initiating several events for your peers, from industrial career talks to hackathons.
With these experiences, you are ready for the outside world, where there are bigger and more complex problems to solve.
So never give up trying new things. Take the initiative to learn and grow, because that’s what university is meant for! Ultimately the world needs you out there, to become a part of the change.
I believe you will do your best.
I can’t wait to see your milestones in the next four years!
Best,
Amulya
Try it all
Jia Yi’s vibrant campus life in Hall 7.
Chen Jia Yi
School of Humanities
Dear Jia Yi,
If I were to sum up how your four years at NTU will pan out, it will be something like this: you will spend your first year trying out new things, before committing to some of them in your second year.
By the third year, you would have found that sweet spot: enjoying what you do before gearing up for adulthood as a final-year student. After all, university may be the last stage of your formal education before you step into the working world.
Because you are so open to new experiences, your life in NTU will be vibrant and jam-packed with responsibilities, from being Hall 7 Council President to joining the hall cheerleading team.
You will find yourself learning how to resolve conflict with your peers, and what it means to be in each other’s shoes – both essential life skills in the real world. That’s what makes university life meaningful, isn’t it?
I’m not going to lie – wearing many hats will be quite a struggle. It is never easy to balance school work, internships and leadership commitments (especially during submission week). So learn to prioritise and plan your 24 hours well! Practice makes perfect. You will slide into the rhythm of things and end up enjoying the process.
Thanks to your resilience and determination to make your time at NTU count, I am able to look back at my university days fondly.
So don’t be afraid to try, because who knows? You might end up loving it. You are the only one who can make your university experience unique.
Yours sincerely,
Jia Yi
Bye, comfort zone
Calvin Tan Jun Hao
School of Computer Science & Engineering
Dear Calvin,
You are about to learn one of the most important lessons in life: to not fear stepping out of your comfort zone.
I know it may be hard to imagine right now that you will be embracing new experiences, joining clubs and activities, and making friends from diverse backgrounds. You have always been an introvert. But trust me on this.
There will be many moments that gradually take you there. Your leadership role in the NTU Welfare Services Club will teach you how to rally a big group of volunteers and interact with them.
Challenging group projects will teach you the value of teamwork and effective communication. Budding friendships will help you become more sociable.
Amid all that business, I want to remind you of the importance of self-care. Take breaks when necessary so you can continue to do the things you enjoy for a long time. These moments of self-care will motivate you to succeed academically and holistically.
University will be a voyage of self-discovery for you. Treasure the experiences and your moments of triumph.
Embrace challenges that make you a better person. Believe in your potential. Remember, it’s not just about the degree, but also the person you become.
Regards,
Calvin
Calvin and hall mates at a volleyball training session.
Bringing Christmas cheer to residents of Bukit Batok Care Home with other members of the NTU Welfare Services Club.
HEY! STUDENT WRITER
