Tell us more about your journey to SMU.
I was only accepted into SMU on my second try.
I was quite dejected when my first application to SMU was rejected and considered accepting another university offer instead. However, I decided to give SMU another shot the following year – and, lo and behold, received an offer! I have no regrets and am enjoying my time at SMU!
Tell us more about your experience as the Chairperson of the Freshmen Orientation 2019 where you had to oversee nine departments and liaise with both internal and external stakeholders.
Organising a large-scale event like FO19 turned out to be such an incredible learning experience. Our team was responsible for conceptualising and planning the entire event – a mock camp and coordinating 3 actual runs from Jun to Aug 2019. It was also a daunting task, with decisions impacting nine departments and 2,000 Freshmen. However, it turned out to be a thoroughly rewarding experience that taught me a lot about event planning and team management. What matters is to go with the flow – not everything will go according to plan but that is okay.
While there were some tough moments , I am very grateful for my Vice-Chairperson for her encouragement and her support. I am most proud of my team for working together across their departments, achieving our objectives and leaving a positive impact on the freshmen throughout this journey.
Imagine yourself in three years. What do you hope will be different about you then compared to now?
Instead of setting big goals, I prefer to set small but achievable goals towards my desired outcomes. As an introvert, I am working to be more confident when speaking to large audiences. I plan to major in communication management, as I believe that effective communication is essential in every organisation.
One quote that has always resonated with me: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” I believe that to grow and develop, one has to go through tough tides and learn through those experiences!
