teens annual 2009
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Teens Annual 2009TRANSCRIPT
Pucca Choco, Pucca Strawberry and Pucca Double Choco are available at leading supermarkets and convenience stores.
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4teens
Education
Plan Your Dream Route Find your niche through new Polytechnic Course offerings in 2009
Stepping OutHow to ease the transition from Secondary to tertiary education
Seniors Shoot: For The Love of My SchoolWhy they picked their current schools
The Route Less TravelledAlternative educational routes for your career future
Hospitality and TourismTwo students from Shatec Institutes share their study experience
Gearing Up For The Tourism BoomPrepare for a career in the hospitalityand tourism industry with MDIS
Going PrivateExplore private educational options with Diplomaand degree offerings from Kaplan
The Art of ManagementMaster the business aspects while you hone your creative skills with NAFA’s Arts Management programme
The Grass is Greener On The Other Side?How an overseas study or internshipprogramme can take you places
Street Talk: Study DreamsThe schools at the top of their lists
contents
CareerWork Hard, Play Hard!How you can work and travel and see the world, all at the same time
Street Talk: All I Wanna BeTeens share their dream careers
Yes, Boss!Industry top dogs share career wits and interview tips
The OfficeThe different interesting characters you might meet at the workplace
Getting a Kick Out Of It!Professional kicker Abbas Farid talks abouthow his passion became a career
Tin CupHenry Epstein tees you off for a career in professional golf
Full ThrottleLocal professional GP racer Hafiz Koh talks about the challenges in Motorsports
48Cover Story: Leona LewisDiva Dreams
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Rolling CreditsTop movies
Gaming Rock City!Top video games to watch out for in 2009
Toy StoryIt’s time to play
Gotcha!Photography tips and event highlights
Fitness Freak!Tips on how to work out right
Plaqued!Dental tips for a whiter and wider smile
contentsLights, Camera Action!Local TV producer-filmmaker-director Emida Natalaray shares her experience in the filmmaking industry
Music ManLocal music and recording veteran Joe Ng tells all
CrescendoThai musician ToR+ shares his unique experience as a professional pianist-musician
UTT-erly Famous!MTV VJ Utt gives his take on how to becomea successful Veejay
Touched by An AngelBeing a social worker can be rewarding
Sword of Honor
Career
Army: Green Beret
SCDF: Backdraft
Navy: Everyday Is A Different Day
RSAF: Less Talk, More Hands-on Action
Walk It, Wear It Strut that style with these shoes and slings for all seasons
Fashion Spread: Fashion WeekTimeless ensembles to last you throughevery single day of the year
Hair Flair Four different looks to flaunt that crowning glory
Shine Tips to achieve greater skin and that natural shine
Powder Me Pretty! It's all "cake"
Lifestyle
Beauty and Fashion
EXECUTIVE BOARDchairman
stephen tay group executive director
kenneth tanfinancial controller
robbin lim
Head officeEASTERN HOLDINGS LTD
(Co. Reg. No.: 198105390C)epl building lower delta road
#04-01 singapore 169206tel: (65) 6379-2888 fax:(65) 6379-2803
hong kong office: 28/f soundwill plaza 38 russell street
causeway bay hong kong tel: (852) 2575-8488 fax: (65) 2836-5829
managing directorkaren quek
assistant editorjack ng
senior editorial assistant sharina shariff
editorial assistant ng seow ling
senior art director/studio managerlawrence lee
graphic designers zarina joharijef pimentel
contributing graphic designers ahmad halik, allan sison,
katherine ching, libby goh, phyllis ng, tristan de los trinos,
winnie lee, zhan tao
fashion director mei-z
photographer eric chun
sales executive nyan lin
circulation managerfoo boon how
circulation executivesemily wang
may tan
contributors andrew chia, brett lee,
bryan goh, casandra wong,
denise chen, dez, jonathan tan, miss c,
phoenyx fong, ruby wong, su fengkun,
tenshin du lac
MEMBERS Of ADVISORy PANELsally sim senior social worker/counsellor,
care community services society, dr henry cheng, the
women’s specialist centre, planned parenthood association
published byEastern Publishing Pte Ltd
(Co. Registration No: 200413351W)a fully-owned subsidiary of EastERN HoldiNgs ltd
teens is published by Eastern Publishing Pte Ltd. 1100 lower delta Road, #04-01, singapore 169206. tel: 63792888 Fax: 63792803. MiCa(P) 269/07/2008 issN: 0129 –1335 Printed by: dMi Registration No: 200511925C, DMI Productions Pte Ltd, 18 Boon lay Way, #10-147, tradehub 21 singapore 609966. distributed by: Singapore Press Holdings Colour separation by: Ability Graphics Pte Ltd. all rights reserved. No portion of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced in any form or means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, taping, etc – without the written consent of the publisher. opinions expressed by Contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.
suBsCRiPtioN HElPliNE:6379 2864
EASTERN HOLDINGS LTD
Teens Annual 09 copy 2/16/09 5:56 PM Page 1
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08teens
Jack Ng, Assistant Editor
Being that new kid on the block is always a harrowing experience. Will my new workspace be the last room at the end of that damp, dark and musty corridor? How will my new colleagues be? Will I have to deal with that chain-smoking boss with his table-rattling, booming voice? Or that clique of gossip girls who will greet me with whispers and giggles amongst themselves whenever I passed them by? How about that never-ending monster pile of paperwork on that small table, or that annoying desktop with the habit of shutting itself off before I’ve managed to save my work?
My first day as the new assistant editor in teens was to my relief and pleasant surprise, a much less hair-raising experience. There was none of that reader hate mail or death threat letter waiting for me at my desk. My chief editor was really sweet, and I’d have thought we would have lunched together every day if not for her hectic schedules. My designers had none of that arty, talk-to-the-hand attitude but instead, they were really helpful with filling me on “how it’s like around here”. The sales people did not carry knives behind their backs waiting to plunge one while my back was turned. Instead, their morning office chatter and banter lifted Monday morning spirits and their loud, genuine “good mornings” have always
brought more than a smile. Our IT manager was no elusive shadow and he seemed more like the friendly neighbourhood computer superhero ever ready to bust that niggling virus or perform his “retrieved-your-lost-document” magic trick.
My station is a one-stop entertainment centre with the music CDs of your favourite stars, movies and drama DVDs, books, as well as the latest games for every console. I would be the subject of envy
for many ladies too, with the latest colours for that popular nail polish, the latest clinically-proven acne-busters fresh out of the labs or that coveted hair moisturiser that will promise the last of any bad hair days. However, there was also that inbox which was always filled with news of the latest famous celebrities in town for interviews, the pile of reader letters to be responded to, not to mention the office speculation going around about my sexual propensity. (I had to make an official announcement that those were really eyebags due to late nights and not mascara.)
Apart from the usual digs about my awful ringtone or my whole personal wardrobe being black, “work” is far from being that four-letter nightmare. I look forward to every new working day, as there is nothing else as breathtaking in this world that beats the look of my favourite Japanese celebrity Ayumi Hamasaki poster staring right back at me as I take in the smells while sipping away on my favourite coffee take-away to kick-start a brand new morning, and get on my way to the beginning of yet another countdown to the weekends.
job
our say
on the
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NP
Diploma in
Advertising & Public Relations (APR)Have you been always fascinated by
the glam and glitter of the advertising
world? Or imagined yourself playing spin
doctor in the exciting world of public
relations? Now you can have the best
of both worlds at NP, with the first ever
diploma of its kind launched in any poly.
APR brings together the two fundamental
marketing communications disciplines,
and with this course, you’ll be well
equipped in the practical aspects of brand
management, creative conceptualisation,
media planning, corporate relations and
media relations. And through a unique
agency-based learning model, NP will
even hook you up with experts from
leading advertising and PR agencies!
Graduates can explore the media-
related industries of advertising &
promotions, brand management,
marketing, marketing communications,
media buying & planning, public relations
and corporate communications.
Diploma in
Child Psychology & Early Education (CPEE)Have you always wanted to help children
with special needs or always yearned to pen
books just for kids? Now you can answer and
fulfil that true calling with CPEE – a course
which will equip you with a firm foundation
in developmental psychology and early
education. You’ll be sent on internships
with specialist centres such as KKH Child
Development Unit, and upon graduation, you
may enjoy entry into a customised degree
programme, offered by Boston’s Wheelock
College, right here on NP’s campus!
Graduates can carve out a niche career
as an early childhood educator with enhanced
skills in early intervention or become a
celebrated author of children’s literature.
REACh foR thE stARs
Diploma in
Chinese Media & Communication (CMC)Realise your media dream with this one-
of-its-kind diploma specially designed
for students who wish to join the
growing Chinese media industry. CMC
provides a strong grounding in Chinese
communication skills and media studies.
Now you can lay the groundwork for
your media career in writing for Chinese
media, visual communication and radio
production as well as sharpen your
translation and interpretation skills! In your
final year, you’ll go on a once-in-a-lifetime
Overseas Immersion Programme at a
Chinese media university!
Graduates can join print, broadcast
& online journalism, production,
translation & interpretation, copywriting,
advertising, public relations and marketing
communications industries.
education new @
NP
12teens
Diploma in
Clean Energy Management (CEM)With global climate change and rising oil
prices, there’s an integral need to find
innovative methods of energy use and
conservation – and you could be that
professional to address these concerns!
With a main focus on solar technology,
this diploma offers hands-on and on-site
training at NP’s new Solar Technology
Centre as well as local and overseas
internships with leading industry players.
Change the world as an energy
specialist or technologist in the clean
energy sector or in the commercial and
industrial sectors dealing with energy
audit, management and conservation.
Diploma in
International Business (IBZ)Fancy living, working and learning a whole
new interesting culture in an exciting, new
foreign country for a whole six months? With
NP’s new course in IBZ, you can expect an
overseas stint every year! You’ll pick up a firm
foundation in business, first-hand international
experiences, a multi-lingual vocabulary
and management skills for an international
landscape. Most of all, you’ll emerge a
go-getter with a global and entrepreneurial
mindset – one who can function effectively
in cross-cultural environments.Graduates will
specialise in global entrepreneurship, business
development, sales & marketing, human
resource management, and the operations &
logistics departments.
Diploma in
Optometry (OPT)With an aging population and the prevalence
of rising myopia cases, the future looks
bright for budding optometrists! With OPT,
you’ll learn to perform eye diagnosis and
recommend the necessary treatment through
rigorous real-life practice-oriented training. In
addition to unique modules such as Paediatric
Vision and Low Vision, you’ll also pick up
psychology so that you can better understand
and communicate in your line of work.
Graduates can expect to fill a specialised
niche positions in optometry retail outlets,
ophthalmological clinics and eye-care related
companies or hospitals.
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Diploma in
Creative Writing for TV & New MediaHave you always wanted to script a career
in television or new media? Or always
wanted to write stories that express to
impress with your lyrical genius? This
diploma will equip you with skills on how
to write creatively for the exciting world
of TV and new media. Imagine being the
scriptwriter for the most talked about TV
programmes or the celebrated editor of
the most visited websites! Bet on SP to
train you with the “write” stuff!
Diploma in
Engineering with BusinessYou want to engineer your business
success and demonstrate that surgical
precision while displaying that impeccable
business acumen. You want to be an
engineer but you are also keen to learn
how to close a business deal. Now
you can, with the experts from SP’s
engineering and business schools showing
you how! In this diploma, you will learn
engineering principles and business
fundamentals simultaneously. Engineers
can be businessmen too. After all, many
of our government leaders come from an
engineering background!
fiNd your fuTurE
Diploma in
Nutrition, Health and WellnessNow you can have your career cake and
eat it! You want to feed your passion
for nutrition, health and wellness. You
want a good life for all the loved ones
around you. With this diploma, you will
be equipped with all the essentials for
healthy living. SP will prepare you on
handling issues that contribute to health
and wellness by promoting and enhancing
better quality lifestyle through sound
nutrition, active physical, mental and social
living to reduce disease risk. This dream
course is but the icing, the ideal industries
that you can explore for the future, now
that’s really the cake.
14teens
Diploma in
Aerospace ElectronicsThe Aerospace industry is booming!
Its continuing growth will create a
strong demand for skilled avionics
professionals for the next few decades.
With the close proximity between the
campus and Changi Airport and Seletar
Aerospace Park, TP the first in Singapore
to collaborate with world renowned
Lufthansa Technical Training (LTT) to
provide Civil Aviation Authority of
Singapore (CAAS)-approved aerospace
training! In this diploma, you will learn
about aircraft electronics (avionics)
systems, aircraft navigation and flight
control systems, and join LTT’s practical
and computer-based training. You will
also be prepared for the 12 modules in
the CAAS SAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance
License (AML) examinations, thereby
significantly shortening your path towards
attaining a full AML. Upon completion
of your LTT component, you will also be
certified by the European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA).
Graduates can expect to become
Aircraft maintenance engineers, Avionics
System Specialists, Aircraft Electrical
System Specialists, Avionics Design &
Development Engineers and Avionics
System Test Specialists.
Diploma in
Aerospace EngineeringLet your dream career take flight with
this new diploma, where you will learn all
about aircraft design, airframe structure,
engine systems, and manufacturing of
aircraft systems, and join LTT’s practical
and computer-based training. You will
also be prepared for the 12 modules in
the CAAS SAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance
License (AML) examinations, thereby
significantly shortening your path towards
attaining a full AML. Upon completion
of your LTT component, you will also be
certified by the European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA).
Graduates from this diploma can aspire
to become aircraft technicians, assistant
engineers, engineering specialist, technical
sales engineers in aerospace sectors such as
Aerospace research and development.
Diploma in
Clean EnergyHow green are you? Are you concerned
about global warming and the depletion
of fossil fuels? If you think the pursuit
of alternative clean and green energy
sources has become extremely urgent
and vital today and want to do something
TAkE ThE nExT sTEp
about it, then this is the course for you!
Graduates can become a renewable
energy technologist, energy auditor,
electronics or electrical associate engineer
or research associate.
Diploma in
Gerontological Management studies
What do Madonna, Steve Jobs and Sim
Wong Hoo have in common? They are
trendsetters, innovators and leaders! As
the population ages and people living
longer, there will be a dramatic growth
in the opportunities that cater to the
silver industry. A new group of service
providers with an in-depth understanding
of this market will be needed to support
the demands and aspirations of this
increasingly significant sector of the
population.
Graduates can explore into jobs
relating to sports and wellness, finance,
travel and tourism, human resource
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TP
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Follow your dreams
Diploma in
aeronautical and aerospace TechnologySee your career take flight in the high-
flying, dynamic aerospace industry!
With this new diploma, you will be
given a firm foundation in engineering
fundamentals, cutting-edge aeronautical
design and research, as well as
aerospace technology and processes.
Together with opportunities for a fully-
sponsored overseas internship with
leading aerospace companies in Europe,
Singapore is aiming to become a regional
aviation hub, and with large multinational
aerospace companies setting up base
here, the skies will be the limit!
Diploma in
aerospace systems & managementWith Singapore’s vision to develop into
a global aviation hub, the Singapore
Aerospace industry has been growing
strongly over the years and is set to grow
even further. Nanyang Polytechnic’s Diploma
in Aerospace Systems & Management will
prepare graduates for exciting careers
in Aerospace system development &
integration, and Aviation support services
& management. This course is designed
to groom a new breed of aerospace
professionals with highly valued expertise
in aviation management and system
development as well as maintenance of
Aerospace Avionics systems.
Diploma in
Biologics and Process TechnologyThe Diploma in Biologics & Process
Technology is the first and only course
in Singapore that combines Biological
and Chemical Sciences with engineering
concepts, with a strong focus on
biopharmaceutical technologies. In this
diploma, you will learn how to make high-
value medicinal drugs from living cells using
the latest biotechnology methods. Biologics
or biopharmaceuticals are medicinal products
made from living cells like proteins and
hormones, used to treat cancers, arthritis
and other serious diseases. Across the world,
there is a growing trend of pharmaceutical
companies focusing on biologics to produce
new medicines. Be a part of a leading
technology that is fast shaping the future of
the life sciences industry!
and training, marketing, programme
management and business management.
They can become wellness consultants,
human resource and training executives,
investment and financial planning officers
or any other people-oriented positions
that focus on providing products and
services for the mature generation.
Diploma in
Pharmaceutical scienceGet novel with new drugs with even
more advanced technologies! Be that
critical catalyst for the discovery and
development of new drugs and therapies.
You can make that difference by mastering
the knowledge and skills to design,
analyse, manufacture and market new
cancer therapies and infectious diseases.
With pharmaceutical sales and marketing,
regulatory as well as pharmacy practice
industries expected to grow, this industry
promises exponential potential for a
bright future!
Graduates can serve as pharmacy
technicians, QA/QC analysts or process
technologists in pharmaceutical and bio-
pharmaceutical manufacturing industries.
Become a research technologist who
discovers and develops new drugs, or
an executive for regulatory legislative
departments or in the technical
sales and marketing departments for
pharmaceutical/health products.
education new @
NYP
16teens
balance of artistic sense, technical expertise
and problem-solving skills. You will learn
the fundamentals of art, basic visual design,
computer-generated effects animation,
and valuable programming and scripting
techniques required to produce breathtaking
digital effects for movies and video games
Diploma in
Financial InformaticsThis course offers you a well-balanced
cross-disciplinary curriculum encompassing
IT and financial services. It prepares
you for employment opportunities in
the vibrant and fast-growing banking
and finance industry. Through hands-
on projects and case studies, you will
learn and understand how banks and
financial institutions function, and how
the innovative use of IT can be harnessed
to create new services that enhance
competitiveness in the finance sector. With
over 600 local and multinational financial
institutions based in Singapore, including
American Express, Standard Chartered,
Deutsche Bank, ManuLife and OCBC,
you will find ample career opportunities
upon graduation.
Diploma in
Fund Management and AdministrationWith Singapore positioning itself to capture
the growth of the funds market in Asia,
with NYP’s Diploma in Fund Management
& Administration, you can be part of a new
generation of experts, well-equipped to
drive developments in the funds industry,
and be well-placed to help cement
Singapore’s position as the funds hub of
Asia. This course was jointly developed by
NYP and major financial institutions in the
fund management industry which include
HSBC, Citibank, State Street Bank and
Trust Company and RBC Dexia, all with
close support from the Monetary Authority
of Singapore. In this course, you will learn
how to invest and manage a portfolio of
funds such as fund accounting, hedge funds
and alternative investments (real estate,
commodities, private equity), performing
backroom operations in funds management
as well as asset valuation models for
investment portfolio.
Diploma in
Information SecurityInformation Security is a fascinating
field in IT, given today’s globally-linked
world and the increasing level of IT
security threats. Reports suggest that
every five seconds, a website is infected
with malicious software. Crimes such
as financial scams, computer hacking,
virus attacks and identity theft hurt both
companies and people. This diploma
will equip you with strong IT expertise
and specialised knowledge to strategise,
research and develop security solutions
that safeguard critical information assets
Diploma in
Chemical and Green TechnologyKeen to ride on the next wave of the up-
and-coming water technology and clean
energy industries? Eager to make an effort
to save and protect the environment?
Then this diploma is for you! Developed to
produce competent scientists and engineers
to tackle the challenging issues brought
on by our changing environment, this
course taps on two engineering disciplines
– Chemical Engineering and Environment
Engineering. You will learn technologies like
water treatment, waste management and
clean energy sources – to create a better
world. This course is packed with activities
and projects offering technical expertise,
environmental awareness and life skills training
that puts you at the forefront in both the
chemical and environmental industries.
Diploma in
Digital Visual EffectsDo you have a knack for taking good
photos? Are you interested in movie and
games effects? With a strong demand
for highly-skilled visual effects specialists
in an industry with an increasing demand
for more spectacular visual effects, now
you can become that key player in the
digital entertainment industry! Visual effects
specialists are as much artists as they are
technicians. Using sophisticated computer
tools and cutting-edge techniques, they
create computer-generated imagery so
realistic that even when mixed with live action,
no one can tell the difference. This course
trains the next generation of visual effects
specialists – professionals who have a good
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realise your future
Diploma in
aerospace engineering (Quality systems)The Diploma in Aerospace Engineering
(Quality Systems) or DAE at Republic
Polytechnic’s (RP) School of Engineering
(SEG) aims to train students to
be knowledgeable in the fields of
maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO),
and inspection of aircraft turbine engines
and structures. The diploma will equip
our students with the skills to work in
the aerospace industry as aircraft engine
inspectors and aircraft structural inspectors.
As graduates progress in their career,
they can move ahead as quality engineers/
auditors or approved signatories in
aerospace MROs. Our graduates support
the foundation for Singapore’s growing
aerospace industry with their supervisory
skills in work processes and project
handling abilities.
Diploma in
Business information systemsThe Diploma in Business Information
Systems (DBIS) at Republic Polytechnic’s
(RP) School of Information and
Communications Technology (SIT) has
modules in HR Information Systems using
PeopleSoft, and Finance and Accounting
Information Systems using SAP – a first in
Singapore. Our students will understand
both key business functions and
appreciate the use of leading business
software solutions.
of enterprises and individuals. Terms
like malware, phishing, cryptography,
steganography, digital forensics,
zero-day attack, system hardening and
enterprise security will become part
of your language.
Diploma in
Nanotechnology and Materials scienceImagine working on objects so small
you cannot see with the naked eye. This
is what Nanotechnology & Materials
Science is all about, studying science
and engineering right down to the scale
of an atom! This diploma will give you
a strong foundation in the sciences, the
study of materials, engineering principles,
and the fundamentals of nanotechnology
applications. You will also learn about the
properties and behaviours of materials,
and get that chance to handle advanced
materials like polymers and ceramics.
You will apply this knowledge to improve
products in a multitude of industries
like the electronics, consumer, chemical,
medical, pharmaceutical and the renewable
clean energy sectors. This exciting diploma
has been designed to combine strong
science and engineering knowledge with
unique experiences.
Diploma in
telematics and Media technologyThe convergence of media and telematics
is creating exciting new applications
across diverse industry sectors. In an
exciting partnership with Microsoft,
NYP’s Centre for Integrated Media
and Telematics strives to empower
young technologists with the necessary
capabilities to develop innovative
solutions. In this diploma, you will gain
expertise in advanced technologies
including artificial intelligence, digital
media, next-generation user interfaces,
location and navigation, sensors and
system management.
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UNIVERSITYPOLYTECHNIC
Making that transition froM secondary school to a Poly-tertiary environMent requires getting used to and can even turn into a nightMare for soMe. Jack Ng shows how you can handle these
acadeMic-culture changes.
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“I’m not a ‘people person’ as I’m not exactly Mr. Popularity nor
Ms. Congeniality.”
This can be a real problem in any campus
environment simply because we all need
friends, especially for a freshman in the
school. It’s always useful to have someone
who already knows his way around – he
who can tell you where that elusive lecture
theatre was or which stall in which canteen
sells the best food. Or that tech-whiz
buddy who can give all the answers to any
technological hiccups you might face – from
getting around the set-a-new-password-hell
in a jiffy right down to finding the solution
to a new virus that threatened to burn your
new laptop.
For Edmond Lim, a second-year
Aerospace Electronics student, realised the
need for a change in his personality during
the beginning of his tertiary life. “It was
kind of lonely during the first few days, but
soon I was able to click with my classmates
and many others around the school. In
secondary school, I was very much the
introvert who would never take the initiative
to mingle with others. However, once I
joined tertiary school, I became more self-
conscious and discovered the importance of
expressing myself. I became more cheerful
and confident after joining the dance club
and met lots of fun-loving people there. My
classmates also helped me whenever I was
feeling down. Now, I have lots of awesome
friends around me in school. It’s really nice
to make many friends, we can all share our
experiences and learn from them.”
“I don’t know how to dress cool, I don’t follow fashion
trends. I’m just that nerd who sits right in the front row
and raise both hands at every question asked.”
Being “hip” and “cool” is always the “in-
thing”. Especially more so since there are
no uniform requirements in Polys. Suddenly,
you had to find your own fashion identity
under the countless watchful eyes noticing
what you wear and how you talk, following
your every move and groove. Become
the subject of whispers and bursting-
out laughters as you walk past the “cool
bunch”. Utter something “lame” and be
labeled under the “gay” category for life
before get told off – “Sorry, you don’t
belong at the same table as us, we don’t
speak in the same voice as you do, Shatner.
The geeks are over at the other end.”
For Amelia Natasha, albeit her first
year in the Creative Media Design Diploma
course, she took to her new environment
quickly, “It was awkward initially but as time
went by, campus became my second home.
It feels really so comfortable chilling out at
the studios and hanging out with friends
at the student cafes. Nobody can ever feel
lonely or left out because everyone is so
friendly!”
And for Year Three Chemical
Engineering student Shahril, he welcomed
the change. “I no longer have to fear being
caught by disciplinary masters for improper
wear of attires because I don’t need to
wear uniforms anymore! I can finally dress
up more confidently and comfortably in
whatever I like!”
“I come from an all-girls or all-boys school. I’ve never mixed with anyone from the opposite
sex before.”
This will be quite an experience for those
who’re used to their girl cliques or hanging
out with the boys doing ‘guy stuff’. For the
first time in your life, you will be thrown
into the deep end of the social sea, where
you get to work together in project groups
with other members picked by the lecturers.
Stepping out of one’s own comfort zone
is never easy, as Fairli Poh, a Clean Energy
Diploma student, first discovered, “I was
from an all-girl school before tertiary
education. Initially, I was quite nervous
about this change as I did not know what
exactly to expect. Gradually, I got used to
having male presence around and only later
did I realise that my initial thoughts about
boys being boisterous was wrong. I realised
that when I saw my friends crossing their
legs while mine was folded on the chair!
Apparently, being in a girl’s school has
made me feel a tad too comfortable with
myself!”
“I’m worried about the change in learning system. I was never
a genius, not to mention I was definitely never a fan of
assignments.”
This aspect would be what most freshmen
sweat over. In the secondary schools,
everyone found comfort collectively as a
class. But in the Polys, the lecture-tutorial
system might seem like a huge change
from the traditional one-subject, one-
teacher lessons and would usually take
some time to get used to.
As Amelia recalled, “The most obvious
change was in my timetable. Unlike
secondary school where most subjects were
cramped within the day, there is flexibility
in tertiary institutes. It was rather tough at
first because I was still trying to get used
to the new environment; getting to know
my classmates and learning new things
everyday. But I adapt pretty fast. It helps
that the lecturers are really helpful and they
sure know how to make lessons fun!”
Fairli encountered similar academic
difficulties at the beginning, “The next
big change was the syllabus. I only had
knowledge in biology and joining the
engineering school was a big change for
me. Thankfully, I my lecturers were very
helpful who offered to tutor me after
lessons and also give us their numbers so
that we can easily contact them when we
face any problems while studying.”
Amelia advised, “Good time
management is always important. With
the lessons and activities, we certainly
need some time for breaks and leisure. So
I always plan my weeks ahead. Also, as a
design student, I make it a habit to have a
mini-sketchbook wherever I go, just in case I
have an idea so I can jot it down or doodle
in my sketchbook. This certainly helps with
my design thinking and stay focus on my
assignments.”
“Is this all really worth it at the end?”
In any new place or environment, there will
always be a transition period where you get
to adapt to your new surroundings. There
will always be problems as we grow up; it’s
all a learning phase and a matter of how
we choose to handle them. As Edmond
quipped, “Being in Poly is definitely
worthwhile! I’d like to think that I’m now
a different person, more confident and
expressive. I’ve learnt a lot and discovered
the real ME.” And for this student, he’s not
looking back, and already, he’s planning
for the future, “I’m still in my second year,
there’s still one more year to go before my
graduation ceremony. It will definitely be a
memorable day and will be the beginning
of chasing another dream. An aerospace
degree perhaps?”
Gee, I wished I were back in school
already.
“The SMU law school strikes a good balance between liberal and vocational education. Students are encouraged to participate actively in discussions and this interactive learning environment spurs critical thinking which will not be possible in a traditional lecture setting.” Wilbur Lim, 21Singapore Management University
“It’s a great school, and half my high school went there!” Malcolm Yeo, 22Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
“I decided to come to Nanyang Junior College because of the school environment as well as the close proximity from my home.” Lim Yong Le, 17Nanyang Junior College
“I chose NUS because it is the place where I can get the best education in Singapore, without being too far away from home. At the same time, I want to pursue a social work degree, and hopefully carve out a career in the social work sector later on.” Atiqah, 20National University of Singapore
“The reason why I chose Nanyang JC would be because of its very new and spacious buildings, as well as its conducive environment for learning.
NYJC also takes care of students’ needs. For example, last year, in order to facilitate the
students in their project work, the school changed all the computers in the computer lab to better ones. Lastly, NYJC is very accessible, especially with the new Circle Line coming up.”
Zhang KeJin, 17Nanyang Junior College
For The LoveGood facilities? conducive study environment? students from various local educational institutions tell BrYAn Goh why their current school was their top pick.
The main reason
why I chose to study
in RP was that it is
the only institution
in Singapore that
dedicates a school
entirely for sports
related courses.
Ang Jin Long Eugene, 25Republic Polytechnic
20teens
street talk SeniorS Shoot:
