It’s great to have a cosy, convenient space on campus to call home, but that’s not the only reason to sign up for hall life
by Derek Rodriguez / Video by Vivian Lim and Hillary Tan
Explore hall activities with Hailey, an AI-generated persona of an NTU student
PROTOTYPE YOUR IDEAS IN A GARAGE
At Crescent and Pioneer (CresPion) Halls, students build prototypes in a garage. Some have seen their projects join the ranks of completed innovations such as an autonomous vehicle that parks itself and a Telegram chatbot that can identify the exact models of screws from pictures using computer vision.
“Start by introducing your project and letting us know what equipment you’ll need,” says Clarence Teo from the Class of 2021, who is now a researcher at NTU and a Residential Mentor at Pioneer Hall. Tinkerers can use equipment like woodworking and soldering tools, drills and a 3D printer in the garage.
Don’t have a Game Boy or a Switch? Why not join a soldering workshop and build your own gaming console.
ROLL OUT OF BED TO UNIQUE CLASSES
PLAY & LEARN IN VR
Ready, player one? Dive into the world of virtual reality (VR) with a class jointly organised by Halls 4 and 14. Donning VR headsets, you’ll learn about cell organelles, solve vector puzzles and put engines together inside the VR universe.
“After exploring VR’s potential in fields such as medicine, engineering and recreational gaming, you might be inspired to put VR to other creative uses,” says Dr Chen Kaijing, a Residential Mentor from Hall 14.
WHIP UP A FEAST
If you’ve never had the chance to make your own food, now’s the time. Sign up for cooking and baking classes that many halls organise. From pretzels and cupcakes to fried rice and dumplings, you’ll enter your chef era in no time.
Apple crumble, anyone? Hall 13 residents whipped up a sweet treat last semester.
RENEW YOURSELF WITH THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES
TEND A GARDEN OUTSIDE YOUR ROOM
Brain fried from yet another tough class? The beauty of hall-based programmes is that they can help you relax while you gain life skills.
In Halls 9, 10, 11 and 12, residents plant and harvest crops in gardens. Hall 12’s grounds boast a variety of herbs, fruits and vegetables, including basil, okra, aloe vera, kang kong, spearmint and azalea.
Business student Shelden Lee has been tending this garden of edibles since joining the hall as a freshman. He says: “I really like gardening, but my home is too small. In NTU, the garden is just outside my room, and I can plant what I want. It’s therapeutic and helps me to ground myself and take some time out from studying. I enjoy the social aspect of it too.”
Shelden now leads a group of student gardeners who spends about an hour each week planting seeds, weeding and harvesting crops. He adds: “Everyone has a say in what is planted, so all of us have a bit of ownership.”
FUR-GET YOUR WORRIES
In addition to joining planned activities, residents can organise their own too.
Over at Saraca Hall, “Paws and Unwind” draws on the therapeutic powers of man’s best friend. Clara Chew, a business student, stumbled upon the idea on Instagram and wanted to bring it to her hall.
She says: “As a passionate dog lover and mental wellness advocate, the idea really resonated with me. I proposed a pet therapy session to the hall president, who agreed enthusiastically. I then reached out to various pet therapy organisations and found one that shared our passion for helping our residents unwind after a demanding school day.”
One happy participant, psychology and linguistics & multilingual studies student Vineeta Priya, says: “Playing with the cute dogs was a great way to destress and brighten up my week. We even received balloon dogs to take back to our rooms as ‘pets’.”
START A BUSINESS IN YOUR ROOM
With friends and hallmates surrounding you, there’s a ready market for your wares, if you’re starting a business.
One such biz with roots in a hall room is stickmansdrip, a vintage clothes shop founded by Hall 11 resident Tavis Tay.
The mathematical sciences student, who sets up a stall at hall and pop-up events on campus, says: “I wanted to earn some money with something I love, which is vintage clothing. Most are second-hand, so I get to give them a new lease of life. In hall, my peers can see the clothes in person rather than through photos online.”
BE PART OF A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY
Ask any NTU alumnus what they miss most about uni and it’ll likely be their heart-to-heart talks in a friend’s dorm room and memorable hall events.
Environmental engineering student Raeann Tan, who is president of Hall 16, says: “Gathering in each other’s rooms and suppers in the pantries are cherished hall traditions. Even at 2am, the hall is full of life. We also host activities like Cultural Night and Halloween celebrations. The inter-hall games not only promote sportsmanship but help us meet new people.”
Hall 9’s “picnic under the stars”, where residents bond over food and live music.
Hall 16 residents at a night cycling session – a time-honoured tradition in NTU halls.
This story was published in the Jul-Aug 2024 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
