The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 22 Issue 09

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

THINK TWEET BEFORE YOU

Students surprised by social media monitoring| Page 3

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ISSN NO. 0218-7310

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news bites NTU TO HOST VIDEO GAME COMPETITION FOR ELDERLY EIGHTEEN elderly citizens will battle to emerge tops at the inaugural Singapore Inter-Generational National Games (SING), which will take place on 6 May at NTU. The event is based on a study on “exergames,” or video games that are a form of exercise.

“We were using games as a means to look at changes in attitudes towards exercise,” said Professor Theng Yin Leng, who led the research at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI).

“Our study found that playing these exergames improved the el-

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derly players’ psychosocial wellbeing," she added.

At least 156 elderly citizens have trained for the Games, guided by youth volunteers at senior care centres in Singapore.

Prof Theng hopes the event will gain traction in the community and eventually become a longterm initiative.

“The Games are not sustainable as a research project over a long period of time," Prof Theng said.

"We hope that its introduction to elderly care centres will motivate senior citizens to exercise more,” she added.

NTU LEADS INSURANCE ALLIANCE FOR ASIA

NTU TOPS RANKING FOR RESEARCH IN S'PORE

NTU is leading an alliance of multinational and regional companies in the insurance industry to help Asian countries cope with the economic impact of natural disasters.

Called the Natural Catastrophe Data and Analytics Exchange Alliance, the network will create a detailed database on catastrophe data and analytics, which will help in risk management and help governments lower costs incurred from natural disasters.

“With NTU’s strengths in engineering and earth sciences, we are very keen to work with industry partners on research and develop applications to benefit society and to better cope with natural disasters," NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson said in a press release last month.

FOR the second consecutive year, NTU has been ranked the top institution in Singapore in research, according to the 2016 Nature Index.

NTU is ranked 32nd among universities and 37th among global research institutions.

In the field of Chemistry, NTU was placed a reputable fifth ahead of Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and Oxford University.

NTU also placed 27th in the field of Physical Sciences.

The Nature Index is published by the Nature Publishing Group.

The rankings are based on the number of high-quality science papers published in 68 reputable science journals between 1 Jan and 31 Dec last year.

What's happening on campus?

CRIB WOMEN FOR WOMEN - IGNITING DREAMS This exhibition is curated by CRIB, a social enterprise based in Singapore that supports and provides resources for women seeking to become entrepreneurs and start their own business ventures. In conjunction with SG50, this exhibition showcases the women who have made their mark on various Singapore industries with the work that they do, and how they have made their dreams a reality.

When: 12 April - 6 May Where: Lee Wee Nam Library

18TH ASEAN UNIVERSITY GAMES Singapore will be hosting the 18th ASEAN University Games (AUG) this summer. There are a total of 11 countries competing in 16 sports. The volunteers will be provided with t-shirts, meals, transport allowance, and a goodie bag with attractive items. NTU will also house the Youth Village for AUG 2016.

When: 7 July - 21 July Where: Register online

THE 15TH CHINESE BRIDGE CHINESE PROFICIENCY COMPETITION SINGAPORE 2016 This competition is targeted at "Chinese bridge" enthusiasts who are non-native Chinese students enrolled at a local Polytechnic or University and are passionate about Chinese language and culture. The winner will represent Singapore to compete internationally in the Grand Final between July and August in China.

When: 30 March - 28 May Where: Confucius Institute, NTU

FROM MOLECULAR DESIGN TO ADVANCED MATERIALS

RECYCLING DRIVE BY EARTHLINK NTU The only landfill in Singapore, Semakau Landfill, could be completely filled by 2045 if Singaporeans do not recycle more diligently. From now until 10 May, Earthlink NTU is having a Recycling Drive to collect papers, plastic, glass, metal cans, clothes, electronic waste and food.

When: 11 April - 10 May Where: Campus wide

CHINESE EDUCATION MODELS IN A GLOBAL AGE

Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), the dialogue aims to facilitate breakthroughs in material design for energy conversion.

Participants can meet, network and exchange information with others in the field.

Professor Chuing Prudence Chou from the National Chengchi University, Taiwan, will be sharing on Chinese education models, over geographies and demographics that shape the social and institutional norms in China.

The change in behaviour and beliefs with regards to the "Chinese Education Model" will also be discussed in detail.

When: 23 May - 24 May Where: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

When: 12 May, 3.30pm - 5 pm Where: NIE2-02-01

THARMAN SPEAKS AT SINGAPORE FORUM DEPUTY Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam addressed some 250 business leaders and politicians on the first day of the annual Singapore Forum.

The second edition of the forum, held from 1-2 Apr, was organised by the S Rajaratnam Endowment. Its theme was "Asia and the World — Shared Opportunity, Shared Prosperity".

In his speech, DPM Tharman pointed out four issues that result in the retrenchment of middle-income earners and increasing societal segregation in certain countries.

They are: the slowing progress of the economy, the country’s obsession with monetary policy, increasing competition from China, and conflict between different sectors in society.

Firms, he said, are not sharing their innovations with the rest of the industry, resulting in slow economic growth.

Therefore, Singapore needs to create a "culture where firms realise that by sharing technology and innovations, everyone can benefit," he added. — DAWN PUAH PHOTO: JAMES NG

News Watch what you’re tweeting

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: NICHOLAS YEO

MIRANDA YEO DAWN PUAH IT WAS already the fifth day of course registration and while most of her peers had secured their desired modules, first-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) student Jane Emmanuella was still six academic units short.

Frustrated, the 20-year-old took to social media platform Twitter earlier this year to vent her irritation at NTU. To her surprise, she received an email the next day, 12 Jan, from her school’s undergraduate office with a screenshot of her tweet, asking if she needed assistance.

Copied in the email were the school’s associate chair and assistant chair of undergraduate studies.

It read: “We noted that you are distressed over course registration as you had tweeted your frustration and we were alerted to this.”

Emmanuella said: “I was so

scared that, because my professors were copied in the email, they would have bad impressions of me, so I’ve since locked my account.

“I wasn’t aware that the school monitored tweets and did not expect my tweets to be seen by my lecturers,” she added.

Monitoring social media feedback is standard practice for many organisations, said Associate Professor Kwok Kian Woon, Associate Provost (Student Life).

“When students tag or mention NTU in their public tweets about specific concerns, the relevant university departments will make it a point to try and assist these students,” he added.

The university did not respond to queries about when this practice started, but Emmanuella is not the only student whose tweets had been picked up by NTU. Another 21-year-old student, who declined to be named, had a similar experience.

A series of her tweets — one of which described NTU as a “lousy

“If students know the school is watching, they’ll be more responsible with what they say.”

Low Hui Lee, 20 First-year student School of Humanities and Social Sciences

ass school” — was captured in a screenshot and sent back to her in an email, which asked how the school could render her assistance.

Her professors were also copied in the email.

“The screenshot they sent in the email showed a part of my timeline with tweets other than the ones with ‘NTU’ in it. I thought that was unnecessary,” the student said.

Like Emmanuella, the student was worried the email would portray her in a negative light.

The illusion of privacy

While Emmanuella said she appreciated the school’s good intentions, she was concerned that her personal social media account was being watched.

“The school did not have to copy my professors in the email if they had just wanted to assist me in course registration,” she added.

“It honestly was a little invasive because it feels like I can’t rant about the university without feeling watched.”

Dr Mark Cenite, who teaches a course in media law, said that as long as the default setting for tweets is public, there are no privacy issues in monitoring and responding to them.

The Associate Chair (Academic) of WKWSCI added: “In the field of corporate communication, that’s considered best practice, and has been for a decade.”

WKWSCI Associate Professor Benjamin Detenber also said

students should be aware that anything posted on social media, whether public or private, has the potential to be seen by others.

“Any notion of privacy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etcetera, is illusory,” he added.

Students weigh in

Most students the Chronicle spoke to were unaware that the school had such a practice and were divided on how they felt about it.

Chloe Neo, 19, a first-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), said students with public accounts should be aware that strangers might be reading their tweets.

“It’s their own fault their professors were alerted to their tweets,” she added.

Others, however, felt that while the school had every right to monitor students’ tweets, contacting them about the tweets was crossing the line.

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FOPs to be free for freshies Changes aimed at making freshmen orientation programmes across NTU more inclusive, but some organizers say the adjustments are too sudden DAWN PUAH STARTING next academic year, incoming freshmen will not have to pay orientation programme fees as the university introduces changes to make the orientation process more inclusive.

Incoming students will also be allowed to participate in orientation events without having to undergo a selection process.

The call for greater inclusiveness comes after the university found that many students were missing out on orientation activities.

“Based on past surveys conducted by NTU, less than half of all freshmen had the opportunity to participate in freshmen orientation activities carried out weeks before the start of the academic year,” said a statement on the university’s freshman orientation FAQ page.

The University Orientation Coordination Committee has also renamed freshmen orientation camps to "freshmen orientation programmes (FOP)". The new guidelines are listed in an official document, dated 1 Dec 2015, that was sent to FOP organizers for the upcoming academic year.

The changes will affect all FOPs, such as those organised by schools, clubs and Halls of Residence, to be held from 23 Jul to 5 Aug. In the guidelines, organisers were instructed not to group participants together or design activities based on gender, nationality, race or “any other characteristic”.

It added that all activities must be conducted in English, and the use of other languages “should not make any student feel excluded”.

Organisers will also have to accept all students who may not have registered but wish to attend. In the past, incoming freshmen were typically required to submit their camp application online.

In some cases, registration was

Significant changes will take place in freshmen orientation programmes across the university this year in order to promote inclusiveness amongst undergraduates.

PHOTO: AUDREY KWOK

made on a first-come-first-served basis until the camp reached its intake quota. Participants were also required to pay camp fees.

With the new guidelines, orientation programmes will now be fully funded by NTU, so that participants can join for free. Organisers are also prohibited from asking for donations or canvassing for funds.

Mixed feelings

But reactions from organisers of upcoming orientation programmes have been varied.

While full funding from the university would encourage more freshmen to participate and save organisers the trouble of sourcing for sponsorships, some of the new

“If we cannot anticipate the number of participants and this number fluctuates from activity to activity, the planning and organisation of an orientation camp would be chaotic.”

Gran Ooi, 24 Third-year student School of Humanities and Social Sciences

guidelines have made planning orientation activities difficult, said first-year student Harish Sree, 20, FOP chairperson for the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.

These sentiments were shared by Gran Ooi, 24, FOP chairperson for Hall of Residence 12.

Ooi, a third-year School of Humanities and Social Sciences student, said allowing freshmen to participate in activities without having to register beforehand means that his committee will have to plan a programme for up to three times the usual Hall 12 camp intake of about 100 freshmen.

“If we cannot anticipate the number of participants, and this number fluctuates from activity to activity, the planning and organisation of an orientation camp would be chaotic.”

Some organisers also felt the changes were too sudden.

“There is a very big difference between last year and this year," said Valerie Leo, 22, FOP chairperson for the School of Computer Science and Engineering. “We didn’t have the opportunity to slowly adapt to the changes.”

“There is a very big difference between last year and this year. We didn't have the opportunity to slowly adapt to the changes.”

Valerie Leo, 22 Second-year student School of Computer Science and Engineering

Su Yu Ping, 22, FOP co-chairperson for the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, also said: “It would be better if changes can be made gradually over a few years, instead of drastic changes.”

Modifications for the better

But these changes have been a work in progress since 2013, and “student leaders have been consulted over the changes to Freshmen Orientation as far back as three years ago," the university stated on the freshmen orientation website.

Faith Chan, 20, who failed to sign up for her school’s camp last year before the registration closed, welcomed the changes.

She said the new guidelines would allow freshmen to make friends before the semester began.

"It felt quite demoralising going into the first lecture with no one to sit with," said the first-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Nicholas Ang, 21, who will enrol in NTU this August, was relieved at the news.

He said: "I'm glad that I won't be missing out on any of the camps that I want to go for."

NTU orientation camps previously made the headlines when four students suffered seizures and were hospitalised during Nanyang Business School’s camp in 2014.

Last year, Union Orientation Camp, one of the school’s largest camps, was cancelled after safety measures were found to be “lacking”, the NTU Students’ Union said in a statement then.

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Taking a break works for some Though some graduates are choosing to take time off before kickstarting their careers, a gap break may not be for everyone

'SOME GRADS TAKE TIME OFF FOR THEIR PASSIONS': CAO

QUAH JIA LING WHEN Ng Yuin Yi graduates this semester, she will head straight to California to work as a ride operator at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a seaside amusement park.

Instead of diving headfirst into searching for a permanent job like her peers, the 23-year-old does not intend to start working full-time anytime soon.

Ng has further plans to travel for another three months after her four-month stint in the United States ends in August.

She said: “I am going to be working for the rest of my life so this is just going to be seven months off, relaxing and doing what I want before I start being a desk warrior.”

May marks the end of NTU’s second academic semester and the start of a new phase of life for final-year students as they embark on job searches.

While majority of graduates head straight into the workforce, some like Ng choose to postpone their careers to pursue personal interests.

Ng got the amusement park job through the Work and Travel USA programme organised by workcum-travel agency Speedwing. Her sister had signed up for a similar programme six years ago when she also graduated from NTU. “Ever since then, it has always been something I wanted,” said Ng, who hails from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI).

Ng intends to begin her job hunt only in October and believes in taking her time before deciding on her first full-time job.

“Don’t settle for something you weren’t intending to do in the first place. You’re not going to be happy,” she said.

Jumping straight into work

But other final-year students, like Tan Jian Rui from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, have already secured a job even before the semester has ended.

Tan, 24, started actively looking for a job after a summer internship with renowned accounting firm Ernst & Young.

There, he realised his interest and potential in the business consulting sector. He scored a job in that field from his dream company Accenture, one of the largest consulting firms in the world, where he will start work this month.

Similarly, Melvin Chow, 24, a

Although School of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Tan Jian Rui, 24, has yet to graduate, he has already secured a position at consulting firm Accenture. He will start work immediately after he completes his studies this semester.

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS YEO

final-year student from Nanyang Business School, received a job offer as a territory manager at ExxonMobil just this January.

This came a year after he took a Leave of Absence from school in order to spend six months interning at Standard Chartered.

The experience, he said, taught him how to deal with expectations from employers and manage working in a high-stress environment.

Both students recommended internships as a good way for students to dip their toes into their prospective industries.

“It is best to try out for internships as they will tell you whether that’s something you want to do or not,” Chow said.

Tan feels the process of scoring internships is valuable in itself.

He said: “By going for (internship) interviews, you can not only network, but extract more knowledge about the industry.”

Graduates say yes to trend

Even graduates can consider taking up internships after leaving school to ascertain their career interests, said Ms Amanda See, who graduated from WKWSCI last year.

Although the 24-year-old specialised in journalism, Ms See joined fashion retailer Zalora as a public relations intern three months after graduation to pursue her passion in fashion.

She only began searching for a full-time job midway through the three-month stint.

Eventually, she joined insurance conglomerate Great Eastern Life and has been working as a life planner for five months.

Ms Ivyna Tan, 24, was comfortable with taking a gap break post-graduation, but she heeded her father's advice and took up a position related to her degree.

“Having this break allowed me to think of what would truly make me happy in a job,” she said.

“The time does help you think through what you want to do.”

Other graduates said financial independence and parental advice also played pivotal roles in their decisions.

Mr Jeremy Keck, who graduated from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2014, wanted to start work early in order to clear his existing study loans as soon as possible.

He started his job search in January that year and scored a position in construction project management with the Housing and Development Board three months later.

He relishes the financial stability that a full-time job provides.

“I can also start clocking working experience," he said.

Mr Keck added that being fresh

out of school made for an easier transition into the workforce.

Parental advice is key

Although Ms Ivyna Tan, 24, was not in a rush to find full-time work after her graduation last year, her father felt otherwise.

Then, the Sport Science and Management graduate had been content with working part-time jobs at food and beverage outlets as she took her time to decide on a career path.

Her father, however, advised her to take up a job quickly, so she decided to apply for a position related to what she had studied.

Ms Tan returned to NTU to work as a sports administration executive last September.

"I ended up taking the conventional route of starting full-time work, although it was not the plan I originally had in mind, ” she said.

IF A graduate is not employed within months after graduating, they might just be taking time off to pursue their interests, said NTU Career & Attachment Office director Loh Pui Wah. Last year, more than nine in 10 graduates from the National Institute of Education and College of Business were in full-time employment within five months of graduation.

This number was the highest among the five colleges in NTU. In comparison, the proportion was the lowest from the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

Less than seven in 10 graduates were employed full-time within the same time frame.

Among the reasons for this include students taking a “gap year” or break before embarking on full-time employment, said Mr Loh. “Graduates take gap years to do something they want to do knowing if they get into the thick of work, they may not have the chance,” he added.

“So instead of waiting until they grow old or retire, they do it now and seize the chance while they are still young.”

But taking too much time off before being employed full-time could have drawbacks, said Professor Liu Hong, chair of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

He pointed out that while gap breaks that involve travelling can help expose students to new experiences and perspectives, they should also bear in mind the existing circumstances in Singapore.

“Singapore has a small workforce and a high employment rate,” he said.

He added: “We need to consider whether (graduating students) who take gap breaks on a big scale will have an impact on our nation's skilled workforce job market." — QUAH JIA LING

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Students cool with SG heat Many find ways to cope with the heat amid rising temperatures NICOLE LIM RY-ANNE LIM TAKING more frequent showers, swapping jeans for shorts, vying for air-conditioned study areas — these are just some of the ways NTU students are dealing with soaring temperatures amid the region’s hottest-ever spell.

Temperatures hit 36.7 deg C — the highest recorded temperature here — on 13 Apr at Seletar, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported in a press release published that week.

While the NEA said temperatures here are unlikely to break the 40-degree barrier, as experienced in north Peninsular Malaysia, the heat has forced many students to change their daily routines.

Second-year School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) student Lee Xian Ying, 21, takes showers more frequently on days when the weather gets too hot.

“Instead of showering once in the morning and once at night, I sometimes bathe twice more in the middle of the day,” she said.

Singapore recorded its hottest-ever temperature of 36.7 deg C just three weeks ago. The rise in temperatures have led students to pack air-conditioned study areas, especially during the study break.

PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

Other students are putting on a different kind of armour to combat the heat — by changing their wardrobe choices.

Not only does Chiam Xin Hui, 20, a first-year student from the School

of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, buy drinks more frequently to stay cool, but she has also turned in her jeans for shorts.

“Squeezing into skinny jeans in the heat and humidity is a night-

mare," she said. "Now that I’m wearing more shorts, I can let my legs breathe and I won’t sweat my face off."

Melissa Oh, 24, a second-year EEE student, also chooses to wear

thinner and loosely-fit clothing.

“I also try my best to walk under any sheltered areas when I’m outdoors,” she added.

With the rise in temperatures, air-conditioned study areas have become the hottest spots in school as students ditch open-air tables and benches for libraries and cooler tutorial rooms.

Ms Stella Devavaram, a senior library executive at the Lee Wee Nam Library, noted that many students pack the library after class hours.

“Not only is the library fully occupied during this period of time, but the reading rooms outside are packed as well,” she said.

She has even received numerous requests to lower library temperatures, as students find it hotter when the venue becomes crowded.

Still, not all students are feeling the heat over the temperatures.

Even though third-year EEE student, Tan Xin Yi, 23, uses the aircondition more frequently, he feels that it is not much of a change.

Heeran Kumaresan, 22, a secondyear student from the School of Material Science and Engineering, added that while he often complains about the weather, he is actually not that bothered by it.

“Singapore is hot all year round,” he said.

“A slight increase in temperature is nothing we can’t get used to.”

Practice of monitoring tweets ruffles students' feathers Continued from page 3 Final-year student Natalie Huam, 22, felt that while it is the school’s prerogative to monitor online comments related to NTU, contacting students about them is an intrusion of privacy.

“These comments are personal opinions which rightfully belong to the students. Singling the students out for that reason seems unfair and might be humiliating,” the WKWSCI student said.

“A face-to-face meeting between the school dean and the student would be a more sincere and fruitful way of understanding the situation,” Huam added.

Other students also said professors should be kept out of the loop.

“It’s okay to contact the student directly but sending the tweets to the professors is like public shaming, which I think is unacceptable,” said Chan Wan Ting, 23, a finalyear linguistics student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS).

Low Hui Lee, 20, said that the school should make their practice of monitoring social media known to students.

“If students know the school is watching, they’ll be more responsible with what they say,” added the first-year HSS student.

Assoc Prof Kwok encouraged students to go beyond rants by approaching relevant departments with questions and solutions and exercising personal responsibility on social media.

He raised several examples where supposedly private online posts became public, causing problems for their respective authors.

“Instead of airing dissatisfaction on social media, try looking for a win-win situation by speaking to your professor or school counselor about your concerns," he said.

“Part of university education is learning to articulate issues and find solutions, and employers would also prefer hiring someone like that over a frequent complainant with no workable solutions,” Prof Kwok added.

NOTABLE SOCIAL MEDIA FAUX PAS IN THE PAST YEAR 1. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Madam Ho Ching, posted a photo of a monkey displaying a rude hand gesture on her Facebook account on 10 Apr. The post was widely assumed to be directed at Mr Lee’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, who had taken issue with how their father Lee Kuan Yew’s first death anniversary was commemorated. Madam Ho made a public apology for the post and said she was a “Twitter newbie” who accidentally reposted the photo on Facebook.

2. Assistant sports editor of The Straits Times, Mr Chia Han Keong, called Dr Lee Wei Ling an “unfunny, un-fun sourpuss” in a Facebook post on 25 Mar, in reference to her response to commemorations of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s first death anniversary. He later removed the post, and said it was “intemperate”. He added that his views had nothing to do with his role as an editor.

3. Television actress Rebecca Lim became the subject of backlash from netizens after she said in an Instagram post on 13 Feb that she was “retiring”. The post turned out to be a publicity stunt for insurance company NTUC Income to encourage young professionals to plan for retirement. A video of her clarifying the situation garnered over 400 comments, which mostly criticised her for using a “bad marketing gimmick” and accusing her of being untrustworthy.

4. A photograph of the body of one of the two workers killed in an SMRT accident on 22 Mar was circulated on social media, after a full-time police national serviceman leaked the image. The photograph, which showed a close up of the deceased’s body lying on the train tracks, was also circulated on forums and messaging app WhatsApp. The national serviceman in question is being investigated under the Official Secrets Act.

Lifestyle A SUPER COLLECTION

For NTU undergraduate Theodora Soh, comic books and limited edition figurines have always been her superheroes.

Lifestyle writer Sherlyn Goh pays her a visit to get to know more about her pricey obsession.

Final-year student Theodora Soh has spent more than $4,000 amassing more than 500 limited edition superhero figurines, most of which are shipped from the United States.

A

s a reward for doing well in the ‘O’ level examinations, Theodora Soh’s mother gave her $4,000 to spend, however she wanted. Instead of splurging on a new phone or a holiday, Soh spent the money on growing her superhero figurine collection.

With that tidy sum, the comic book aficionado grew her collection to more 500 limited edition figurines and collectibles of superheroes, such as Catwoman, the Flash, and Green Lantern.

The 23-year-old’s fascination with figurines began in primary school when her aunt — a fan of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings — gave her a small collection of figurines from both series.

“It’s just nice to have them around,” said Soh. “It’s also a way of expressing what I like.”

Passion at a price

Soh’s hobby comes with a hefty price tag. Figurines can cost between $15 to $200, depending on the company that makes them, the popularity of the characters and the material they are made of.

To cut costs, the final-year undergraduate at the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences tries to look for second-hand figurines, which are $50 to $100 below the usual market price.

She ships most of her figurines over from sellers in the United States through a month-long process that first begins with looking for the right sellers on forums or ecommerce site eBay. Soh also used to spend her free time scouring the Sunday flea market at China Square Central for smaller figurines at a steal.

Tender loving care

She counts a bust of Psylocke, from Marvel’s X-Men series, as one of her prized possessions.

“It was the first bust I bought, my first ever collectible,” she said, cradling the figurine in her palm.

The seven-year-old figurine looks as good as new — testament to the pains that Soh takes to care for her collectibles.

“Some of them are plastic but most are made of porcelain or polystone,” said Soh.

While they do not require special maintenance, the figurines have to be kept out of sunlight.

She houses half of the figurines in three floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets in her living room, which have been completely filled.

The other half of her collection is in her room at Hall of Residence 6, where she stays during the semester with her father, who is a resident hall fellow.

Despite the hassle of caring for the figurines and cost of collecting them, Soh’s mother, Madam Chen Sean Jern, 54, is supportive of her unusual hobby.

Madam Chen used to accompany her daughter on trips to the Sunday

flea markets and still helps to collect her figurines when they arrive in the mail.

“She knows a lot about figurines, and does her research before buying anything,” said Madam Chen.

“She also takes very good care of her collection, and I know she will not buy anything that is not value for money.

“She only buys rare collectibles or those she really likes.”

A form of self-expression

To Soh, her collection is not just a bunch of cool toys — it is a form of self-expression.

“I love geek culture because it is a community of passionate people

“I love geek culture because it is a community of passionate people celebrating what we love.”

Theodora Soh, 23 Final-year undergraduate at School of Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences

PHOTOS: JAMES NG

celebrating what we love,” said Soh, who picked up cosplay after entering university, with her mother helping her make the costumes.

Soh cosplays at comic conventions and has dressed as Lara Croft, Black Widow, X-23 and most recently, Catwoman.

She added that there are many misconceptions about comic book enthusiasts.

“Some people think it is some strange subculture but really, we’re just people who like this stuff — the characters, stories and films.

“Each figurine is hand-painted, made from a mould of the original model by the artist. Every statue is numbered, and each series is limited,” said Soh. “This makes every figurine unique and special.”

While she has stopped actively adding to her collection because of space constraints, she has no plans to get rid of the ones she has amassed any time soon.

“I might sell the ones I don’t like, but I’ll probably try to keep most,” she said.

08-09 LIFESTYLE foodsnoop

SUPPER HEROES Singapore’s first DC-themed cafe is a holy pilgrimage for fans of the comic universe, but Lifestyle writer Goh Pei Xuan susses out the food to see if it fares just as well.

DC COMICS SUPER HEROES CAFE The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 2 Bayfront Avenue Bay Level, L1-03 Singapore 018972 Sunday to Thursday: 10.30am - 11pm Friday to Saturday: 10.30am - 11.30pm Open on Public Holidays Superhero Factor: 4/5 Taste Factor: 2.5/5 WITH colourful artwork adorning its storefront and life-sized superhero displays greeting passers-by, DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe, Singapore’s first DCthemed cafe, is simply impossible to miss from the outside.

Inside, the 7-month-old cafe has even more surprises in store. Customers dine under the watchful gaze of a lifelike Superman figurine protruding out of a brick wall, while an elaborate ceiling mural of DC superheroes provides a stunning visual spectacle to go along with the cafe’s western cuisine.

The superhero theme extends beyond just the decor — servers are decked out in quirky aprons printed with superhero motifs like Wonder Woman.

Additionally, the adjacent merchandise store, which sells a wide range of superhero apparel and figurines, makes it an all-round immersive experience for patrons from start to finish.

The food prices at DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe are slightly steep but with a wide range of superhero paraphernalia and picture perfect dishes, the cafe is a must-go for any avid fan of the DC Comics universe.

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS YEO

1 BATMAN’S DARK KNIGHT $28.90

THE cafe’s menu offered an extensive range of western mains such as fish and chips, steaks and burgers to choose from but the staff recommended that I gave the chef’s special, Batman’s Dark Knight, a try.

Sandwiched between two soft, airy and slightly sweet charcoal buns were a juicy well-done wagyu beef patty, a grilled portobello mushroom, sweet onion and tomatoes.

A Batman logo made of dough sat atop the palm-sized burger, making the dish almost too pretty to eat.

Despite the generous ingredients, the overall taste of the burger was slightly bland, perhaps due to the patty which lacked seasoning.

Served with a side of nachos, the cafe’s colourful star dish, while falling slightly short in the taste department, is still Instagram-worthy in every way.

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3

SUPERMAN’S PASTA CREVETTES CARBONARA 2 BVS 3 BATSY OREO MILKSHAKE $9.90

$28.90

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TOPPED with a poached egg, the creambased pasta also came with fresh red prawns and fish roe, and a side of Superman logo cut from cheese.

Unfortunately, the dish looked better than it tasted. The pasta was dry and the sauce lacked richness. Thankfully, the sweet prawns and juicy fish roe added a welcome burst of flavour and along with a perfectly poached egg, managed to elevate the otherwise ordinary pasta.

THE oreo milkshake came in a decorative grande-sized Batman mug, attached with an adorable plastic cape.

To top off the Batman theme, the drink was served with a Batman logo made out of cocoa powder sprinkled on its surface.

The drink was thick and rich with bits of oreo cookies in every sip.

Layers of cookie crumble sat at the bottom of the drink, which made for a crunchy surprise.

THE NANYANG

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CHRONICLE 09

A FANTASTIC FEAST Lifestyle writer Muhammad Syafiq checks out Hungry Heroes, Singapore’s first superhero-themed cafe, to see if it has more substance or gimmick.

HUNGRY HEROES 33 Tessensohn Road Singapore 217656 Tuesday to Friday: 4pm - 11pm Saturday to Sunday: 12pm - 11pm Open on Public Holidays Superhero Factor: 3.5/5 Taste Factor: 3.5/5 JUST a short 10-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT, Hungry Heroes immediately stood out from other cafes in the vicinity with its visually arresting signage.

Its brightly-lit white and brown signboard was the centre of attention along the dimly-lit street and inside, the cafe didn’t disappoint.

Stepping into the two-storey shophouse transported me to a bygone era as the interior decor harks back to the swingers era of the 1930s.

The first floor felt like a classy watering hole with plush dark brown leather sofa seats juxtaposed with polished metal tables.

The walls were lined with superhero figurines featuring the likes of Storm, Jean Grey and Wonder Woman encased in display cases, as if in a museum.

The second floor was a lot more eclectic, with unique ornaments such as a bright pink Buddha head and twin rhino head busts mounted on the wall.

Even among these oddities, two life-sized Superman and Batman statues stole the spotlight.

Apart from Marvel and DC characters, other heroes like Bruce Lee and Hitman were also prominently featured, making Hungry Heroes the ideal place to take snapshots of your favourite heroes.

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PHOTOS: NICHOLAS YEO

1 SIRLOIN STEAK

2 THE ROOST

3 HEROES FRIES

SERVED on a wooden board, the steak came with a side of mesclun salad — capsicum, romaine lettuce, rocket and spinach in a vinaigrette dressing — and fries.

I had a choice of coriander honey or brown sauce as my choice of dip and opted for the latter.

The medium rare steak was seared on the outside but still red and juicy in the middle.

The slightly tart and peppery brown sauce was the perfect partner to the tender steak but the same cannot be said for the sides, which were forgettable.

A SPECIALTY item on the Hungry Heroes menu, the fried chicken leg burger lived up to its billing.

Sweet, salty and tangy all at once, the burger was a delightful combination of flavours.

The soft and fluffy buns were grilled to perfection while the fried chicken was moist and crispy — a blissful marriage of textures.

The pineapple cilantro slaw and cajun mayo provided a nice balance to the savoury chicken.

The only reservation I had was the hefty $23 price tag, which almost equalled that of the steak.

THE thick-cut fries were swimming in chilli con carne — a hearty stew of chilli, tomatoes and minced beef.

The fries retained its crisp exterior despite being slathered with sauce, nacho cheese and mayonnaise. It looked like a mess but tasted sinfully addictive.

The mayonnaise, however, was a tad too sour and the chilli con carne could have done with a bit more heat.

Still, the generous portion, ideal for a group of four, justified the price tag and made Heroes Fries a dish worth ordering.

$25

$23

$10

3

10-11 LIFESTYLE

ALLIES DIVIDED Expect epic battle scenes in Captain America: Civil War, the 13th film of the expanding Marvel cinematic universe, that was released last month. Infighting plagues the Avengers, as a rift forms in the face of government regulations for superheroes.

Graphic artist Low Zhang Quan and Lifestyle writer Muhammad Syafiq spotlight the members of the two factions.

“Captain America’s pretty lame, he’s just some gymrat with a frisbee.”

“Captain America will distract narcissistic Iron Man with a full-length mirror.”

The Nanyang Chronicle polled 100 NTU students to find out which team they think will win the fight.

“Iron Man is so wealthy that he can drown Captain America in all his money.”

“Captain America will distract Iron Man with pretty women and surprise attack.”

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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CHRONICLE 09 Team Captain America

Team Iron Man

CAPTAIN AMERICA

IRON MAN

The leader of the faction against government regulation of superheroes made Marvel his debut in 2011 with Captain America: The First Avenger. The superhero is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, who transformed from a scrawny young man to muscular supersoldier in an experiment. Later, as the Avengers began to assemble, Captain America’s incessant squabbles with Iron Man lent humour to the action-packed films.

As the founding member of the Avengers, genius, billionaire and playboy Tony Stark played key roles in the Avengers films. In the first, he saved Earth and was almost killed in the process. In Age of Ultron, however, Stark was responsible for the creation of Ultron. In the Civil War comics, Stark’s guilt from the Ultron episode leads him to support government regulation of superheroes, pitting himself against Captain America.

BUCKY BARNES

SPIDER-MAN

Bucky Barnes was part of the Howling Commandos, an elite combat unit led by Captain America, and was Rogers’ childhood friend.

The character first appeared in The First Avenger, where he and the Commandos fought against criminal organisation Hydra until he fell to his assumed death while on an assault mission. He later reappears in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as an assassin, brainwashed

by Hydra. In a post-credit scene in Ant-Man, Bucky Barnes was discovered by Captain America and Falcon, hinting at the possibility that the two supersoldiers could reignite their friendship in Civil War.

While Peter Parker’s alter ego Spider-Man, previously played by Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield, has been featured in five solo superhero movies, this is the web slinger’s first appearance in the Marvel cinematic universe. Very few details have been released about Spider-Man’s role in Civil War, although in the trailer, he is seen snatching Captain America’s shield with his web. As SpiderMan’s appearance in the film was only recently confirmed, fans are speculating that the character might only play a supporting role.

HAWKEYE

BLACK WIDOW

Always seen with his bow and trick arrows, master archer Hawkeye (alter ego of Clint Barton) was introduced in The Avengers as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, whose mind was controlled by Loki using the Chitauri Scepter. Barton only snapped out of his enslaved state after he slammed onto a railing during a fight with Black Widow. Later, in Age of Ultron, Barton’s backstory unfolded when the Avengers team went into hiding at his family home.

The expert martial artist, also known as Natasha Romanoff, often uses hand-to-hand combat to subdue her opponents and is an expert tactician. In Age of Ultron, Romanoff was responsible for calming down Bruce Banner from turning into the Hulk, and the two developed a romantic relationship. While fans have speculated that Romanoff is unlikely to pick a side in Civil War, actress Scarlett Johansson has said that the Black Widow will play the role of the mediator despite publicly siding with Iron Man.

FALCON

BLACK PANTHER

The former United States Air Force pararescueman Sam Wilson was enlisted by Rogers to help expose Hydra in The Winter Soldier.

Wilson grew close to Captain America and eventually became his confidant. An expert in aerial combat, he is able to utilise his wingpack with great efficacy, as witnessed in the final battle scene in The Winter Soldier. Falcon is the first African-American superhero in mainstream superhero movies, and also made appearances in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man.

From his mystical connection with the Wakandan Panther God, Black Panther boasts acute senses, speed, agility, stamina and healing.

Hailing from Wakanda, a fictional nation known for its vibranium, Black Panther is the ceremonial title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe. His attire is made out of vibranium, a rare metal capable of absorbing vibrations and kinetic energy — the same material used to make Captain America’s shield. Civil War will be Black Panther’s first appearance in the Marvel cinematic universe.

ANT-MAN

THE VISION

The latest superhero with his own movie within the Marvel cinematic universe, Scott Lang is a criminal-turned-superhero by accident. After struggling to get a decent job, the ex-convict resorted to breaking the law to provide his divorced wife with child support and was accidentally tricked into wearing a shrinking suit. While he landed in jail once again, by the end of the movie, Lang manages to turn his life around. The film’s post-credits scene also hints at Ant-Man’s role in aiding Captain America and Falcon in Civil War.

The Vision was created by Stark in Age of Ultron, when he uploaded J.A.R.V.I.S.-based codes into the synthetic body that Ultron had made.

The Vision was activated by the Mind Stone, one of six Infinity Stones, on his forehead, which grants him the ability to discharge optic beams. The Vision proved himself as a worthy ally to the Avengers by being able to effortlessly lift Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. He is also able to manipulate his mass for flight.

SCARLET WITCH

WAR MACHINE

Actor: Chris Evans

Actor: Sebastian Stan

Actor: Jeremy Renner

Actor: Anthony Mackie

Actor: Paul Rudd

Actor: Elizabeth Olsen

Arguably the most powerful member on Team Captain America, the Scarlet Witch (also known as Wanda Maximoff) gained her telekinetic powers after she was experimented on with the Chitauri Scepter. In Age of Ultron, she and her twin brother Pietro (or Quicksilver) was recruited by Ultron but eventually joined forces with the Avengers after discovering Ultron’s plan to annihilate mankind.

Actor: Robert Downey Jr.

Actor: Tom Holland

Actor: Scarlett Johansson

Actor: Chadwick Boseman

Actor: Paul Bettany

Actor: Terrence Howard (Iron Man, 2008), Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2, 2010, onwards) James Rhodes only became War Machine in Iron Man 2 after he was forced to don the armour when a drunken Stark endangered civilian lives. A supporting character in Iron Man 3 and Age of Ultron, War Machine’s fighting style features more hand-to-hand combat as compared with Iron Man, due to Rhodes’ experience as a soldier and an aircraft pilot. While Rhodes frequently tries to keep Stark’s recklessness and ego in check, his efforts are often in vain.

12-13 DAPPER

KIDD ARO

DING OUND

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

22

CHRONICLE 09 Embrace your inner child and have some playtime with our quirky pieces that will brighten up your wardrobe!

The sleepy estate of Dakota Crescent has a quiet allure of its own.

Potted plants, clusters of laundry, and the pastel hues of the 17-block low-rise flats give it an old school charm, unperturbed from the bustle of busy modern life.

This urban oasis is only disturbed by an occasional laughter reverberating from one of its last heritage playgrounds, the Dove.

But it won’t stay this way for long. Built in 1958, Dakota Crescent, one of Singapore’s oldest

1 2 3

public housing estates, will be redeveloped at the end of this year.

In this issue, the Dapper team pays homage to this iconic neighbourhood with a spread full of playful pieces that reflect the colourful character of this estate.

14 DAPPER

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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CHRONICLE 09

LOOK 1 ON HER: Top, $119, Lazy Oaf from Actually Bottom, $129, Outstanding Ordinary from Actually Shoes, $79, Vans Hair Tie, Stylist’s Own ON HIM: Top, $159, Lazy Oaf from Actually Bottom, $89, Vans Shoes, $79, Vans

LOOK 2 (ABOVE) ON HER: Dress, $145, Lazy Oaf from Actually Shoes, $89, Vans ON HIM: Top, $45, Prito Projects from Actually Bottom, $89, Cave Man from Actually Shoes, $79, Vans

LOOK 3 ON HER: Top, $65, Rocket Launch from Actually Bottom, $149, Mae Pang from Actually Shoes, $89, Vans. Bag, $20, Vans Earrings and Necklace, Stylist’s Own ON HIM: Top, $155, Lazy Oaf from Actually Bottom, $89, Cave Man from Actually Shoes, $79, Vans. Hat, $39, Vans

STOCKISTS Vans: 2 Orchard Turn #B3-61 ION Orchard

CREDITS Actually: 277 Orchard Road, #03-18 Orchard Gateway

Photographer: Gary Khoo Stylists: Kimberly Ong, Gracia Ow Models: Belinda Goh Si Qian, Keith Lin

Makeup by: Deborah Wong Text by: Kimberly Ong Special Thanks to: Tian Kee & Co

Opinion frankly, my dear

EDITORIAL

A column by Chronicle Editors on issues close to their hearts

Social media monitoring should not come as a surprise

A (GRADE) VALEDICTORIAN

INSTANCES of the university contacting students over their online criticisms of NTU should not come as a surprise to anyone.

While it is unclear when the university began monitoring social media mentions by undergraduates, as NTU declined to provide details, it is industry practice for corporations to keep an eye on public sentiments of their company in the media, including social platforms.

Even though students are understandably concerned over a potential invasion of privacy, fears that a certain Big Brother might be watching their every move are most likely unfounded. It is unlikely that their Twitter or Facebook accounts that are being monitored per se, as a simple web search is all it takes to sieve out mentions of NTU – regardless of the tone or nature of the content.

But it is not just NTU’s image that is at stake when students take to social media to vent their frustrations about the institution. While these posts are sometimes sources of honest, unbridled feedback, a misinformed post might backfire in its intentions and come across as insensitive or irresponsible.

Just within the first quarter of this year alone, several social media faux pas were committed by prominent Singaporeans, proving that even a celebrity or high-profile newspaper columnist is not immune to the pitfalls of the online sphere.

As more employers use social media accounts to gain a better understanding of their potential employees, it might be safest for students to be prudent about what they post online. After all, what goes on the Internet might be forgotten over time but can rarely be completely erased.

GRAPHIC: WONG SU JUN ANDREW

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR

Charmaine Ng

MANAGING EDITOR Kenji Kwok

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Godwin Ng

NEWS EDITOR

Karl Elliott Lim Peng Lim Ching Ying

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Constance Yeo

SPORTS EDITOR Nicole Chia

OPINIONS EDITOR Dipshikha Ghosh

DAPPER EDITOR Gary Khoo Gracia Ow Kimberly Ong

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PHOTO EDITOR Kenji Kwok

Lim Pei Yi Low Zhang Quan

COMMUNITY EDITOR

REPORTERS

Miranda Yeo

BUSINESS MANAGER Sheena Wong

PRODUCTION SUPPORT Joe Tok Kenny Wong

FACULTY ADVISORS

Edson Tandoc Zakaria Zainal

A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Facebook: The Nanyang Chronicle Website: www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg General Enquiries: chronicle@ntu.edu.sg

James Ng Nicholas Yeo

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Dawn Puah Goh Pei Xuan Ignatius Koh Loy Kheng Wee Muhammad Syafiq Nicole Lim Quah Jia Ling Ry-Anne Lim Sherlyn Goh Sean Loo Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

Signed opinion columns, letters and editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the writer or artist and are not necessarily those of The Chronicle.

Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd, 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968

KENJI KWOK MANAGING EDITOR

C

hecking my email is part of my daily morning routine. I respond to the urgent ones, delete the spam I never signed up for, and give the mass emails from my school nothing more than a cursory glance.

But more than a month ago, one of those mass emails caught my attention. “Convocation 2016 Vote for your Valedictorian”, read the subject title.

As a graduating student, my curiosity was naturally piqued and I opened the email. In the body, three students were named as nominees for the honour.

“The valedictorian has the honour of representing your class in a speech he or she will make at the ceremony,” the email read.

“Three students with top GPAs have been shortlisted for this honour.”

As I browsed through the names and the accompanying write-ups

on their accomplishments, I was left thinking: Why weren’t some of my other classmates nominated?

The NTU convocation website describes a valedictorian as a person who displays leadership qualities, actively participates in extracurricular activities including community service, and possesses good public speaking skills.

Granted, the three nominees boasted outstanding GPAs and were the cream of the academic crop. But as someone embodying the cohort’s spirit and achievements through a speech at convocation, I believe the valedictorian should also demonstrate excellence in other fields.

It was baffling to me then that my school did not consult its students when deciding the shortlist of nominees. If the valedictorian is to be someone who can represent his batch, it seems only logical for us to have a say in who these nominees should be.

Prefacing the email by mentioning how the prospective valedictorians hold the highest GPAs will only breed a stubborn obsession with grades. This shortchanges other important displays of

character, such as helping others through community service, which can play a key role in moulding one into a better person.

Earlier this year, Acting Education Ministers Ng Chee Meng (Schools) and Ong Ye Kung (Higher Education and Skills) said that reducing the excessive emphasis on grades will help bring out the best in every child.

This begs the question of whether valedictorians should be measured against the academic yardstick and why such processes are not keeping up with the direction of Singapore’s holistic education system.

The valedictorian should be someone whom peers can heartily endorse and stand by.

Ideally, if the voting system is to stay, students should be able to nominate their classmates and be involved in an election process similar to that of student executive committees.

Critics of this proposed model will probably argue that choosing a valedictorian may inevitably end up becoming a popularity contest and that grades are the fairest way to decide. But let’s leave that to the Dean’s List.

VOL. NO.

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OPINIONS 17

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

My grades don't define me

GRAPHIC: LOW ZHANG QUAN

After years of education, I've learnt to define my own success, says Opinion Writer Dawn Puah

DAWN PUAH

O

ne of the biggest lessons that changed the way I deal with disappointments in life happened when I was 17. My whole Project Work group had scored an A except for me — I scored a B. My lack of confidence then led me to wonder what went wrong during the oral presentation which was individually assessed.

As my group mates rushed to comfort me, I held back tears and put on a strong facade as I didn’t want my friends to see me cry.

As we made our way to the canteen for a break, a classmate began to sing a song in consolation: “My

hope is built on nothing less; than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

For the rest of the day, that line resonated in my mind.

Religion might not play a role in everyone’s life but it shaped my beliefs as I grew up attending church.

I had a revelation as that line repeated in my mind over and over again — I should not let grades define me as there is so much more to life.

Back then, grades were very important to me as I was convinced that turning in a stellar report card was synonymous with being a good student.

So when I fell short of my own standards of what a good student should be, I was crushed.

I have since learnt to let go of my obsession with grades and more

importantly, opened my eyes to seeing things in a different perspective. I realised that what matters is the process, and not the result.

Now in university, I no longer study just to prove my worth based on my grades.

My focus has shifted to learning and even if I do badly, I am still satisfied as long as I learn something new.

Things in life come and go and if we build our identity on them, our worlds come crashing down when we lose them.

Sometimes, it feels like all hope is lost when we don’t do well for an examination or when we don’t get the internship we wanted.

In university, such disappointments happen a lot more than I had previously anticipated.

Back then, grades were very important to me as I was convinced that turning in a stellar report card was synonymous with being a good student.

It's only natural to react to disappointment with sadness or anger.

But at the end of the day, do you let it go or do you let yourself go?

But instead of beating myself up, I view such moments as life-defining and a privilege.

They remind me that if I choose to base my worth on things that I cannot lose, then I will never lose my worth.

Things like good grades or an exchange opportunity are still important, of course.

I am aware that I’m here to study and do my very best, but grades and achievements are not the beall and end-all of life.

With this attitude, I feel at ease to define my own success.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s only natural to react to disappointment with sadness or anger.

But at the end of the day, do you let it go or do you let yourself go?

The experience with my PW grade might seem trivial now, but it has prepared me to receive my

A Level results a year later with a level mind.

The change in perspective on my grades, self-worth and identity has taught me to let my competitive self rest and sure enough, on the day of the release of 'A' level results, I was significantly less anxious than a year before.

My friends ask me why I always look so happy. It’s because I am no longer afraid of losing these immaterial things in life.

While I don’t hope for more disappointments, I believe such times are necessary because although they discourage us for a while, they lift us up in the long run and strengthen us to face greater disappointments to come.

More importantly, they give us the opportunity to reconsider what we base our worth on. Looking back, I’m thankful I got that B.

18

OPINIONS

canteen talk How long are you willing to wait before you start panicking about your job application results?

“

It is very difficult for fresh graduates in China to find work immediately, especially something that they want to do, even if they are graduates from the good universities. It is very competitive and the salary is low. In China, I would wait up to three months. I am excited to see what Singapore has in store.

“

“

Halfway through three months. If no one gets back to me, I’ll try again.

As an MAE student, I am keen to work in the clean energy field, I feel I have something different to offer and I am going to leverage on that. It is competitive but I am confident that I have what it takes.

Nur Thaqifah, 22 MAE, Year 3

When your friends start getting interview calls, that is when you start panicking. If it’s a company that I really want to work for, I am willing to wait as long as it takes until I get it. I am about to graduate so I would want companies to call me back before the end of my final exams.

Khin Nyein Kyaw Lin, 26 EEE, Year 4

22

by invitation

My first job taught me never to settle VRINDA MADAN

Liu Qinyu, 22 Math and Economics, Year 3

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 09

Tony Di, 18 Computer Science,Year 1

I am a strong believer of moving on and based on experience, I would wait for about three weeks to a month. Companies get back to me only 50 per cent of the time and I like to keep my options open.

“

THE NANYANG

I WAS at a Christmas party with my former colleagues in December 2014 and we were enjoying a wonderful evening by the pool, having barbecue and lots to drink.

It was then that I gathered the courage to have a heart-to-heart conversation with my then-manager and some other senior associates in the company.

I asked them all a question that had been bothering me for a long time: After working at the same organisation for decades, why do they still stick around?

Not knowing much about banking, I was interested purely because it was a big brand name.

It paid well and offered a 6-week training stint in London.

I took it up and worked at a fancy office at the Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) for four years.

But a certain point came when these extrinsic factors just did not feel enough. Yes it was a cushy job, but I honestly felt like I was better than that.

Currently, I am working at an Indian non-profit organization called Teach For India (TFI), which is part of a global movement known as Teach For All. Our vision is that one day, every child in India will attain an excellent education. So basically, I am now a teacher in a government school in India.

So what happened at my first job that compelled me into making this drastic career move from MBFC

When I look back, I realise that knowing what you don't want is the first step towards realising what you do want.

I was told that the hours were comfortable, the money was good and they had become complacent.

It all sounded extremely depressing to me.

I realised there and then that I wasn’t as motivated or inspired as I thought I would be back when I was a starry-eyed graduate in the industry. This conversation was the turning point of my career.

To give you a little bit of context, my career has been full of twists and turns thus far.

I must admit that this seems to be a common trait in the 1980’s generation. We are always seeking to learn something new, never settling down with one thing.

I was an engineering student at NTU from 2007 to 2011. After my undergraduate studies, I was offered a position in a large multinational bank.

straight to Munirka, an urban village in New Delhi?

I may have left my first job but there is no doubt that it had a significant impact on my life.

At first, I loved working at the bank, not only for all the reasons I have mentioned above, but also because I was performing better than my peers.

I was elated when my boss offered me a promotion and a chance to move to London after about three years of working there. I was all set to move.

However, things did not materialise for almost a year. This gave me time to think and reflect.

I started thinking about the experiences I had genuinely enjoyed in the last few years and recalled a corporate social responsibility initiative the bank had started, with the intent to inspire Singapore’s

underprivileged youths to pursue a career in banking.

This was done through workshops and work-shadowing opportunities. I discovered how driven I was when I could see the impact of the work I was doing.

The other missing ingredient was challenge. I realised that in my job, the challenge was never whether I could do something or not, it was simply how quickly I could do it.

And that just wasn’t enough for me, personally.

So I set out to look for something that could offer me a greater challenge and where I could see the impact of my hard work.

TFI seemed to fit the bill perfectly but it wasn’t an easy decision to move to India last year.

Today, I am glad I gave it a shot because last year has been the most satisfying and challenging year of my life.

When I look back, I realise that knowing what you don’t want is the first step towards realising what you do want.

Working at a large corporate organisation, certainly gave me clarity over what I did not want and that has had a huge part to play in my life journey so far.

The experiences I’ve created at my first job and that one fateful conversation, gave me the affirmation I needed to change paths.

So today, if I were to be asked whether my first career has impacted my path, then the answer would be a resounding yes.

It defined what I liked and where I wanted to see myself, so I could sit up and make those changes.

Vrinda is an NTU alumna who took Electrical and Electronic Engineering in her four years of univeristy. After graduation, she embarked on a four year stint at a prestigious bank. She then decided this wasn't enough, so she went on to become a fellow with the Teach for India Foundation in Munirka, New Delhi.

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OPINIONS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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CHRONICLE 09

frankly, my dear

A column by Chronicle editors on issues close to their hearts

How to eat humble pie CONSTANCE YEO LIFESTYLE EDITOR

W

hen I entered NTU as a bright-eyed freshman in 2012, I knew I had a lot of challenges ahead of me.

As I desperately tried to juggle part-time work with my studies, the importance of finding good group members for school projects became clear to me.

Coming from a junior college where work was mostly independent and teachers were always there to lend a helping hand, I wasn’t attuned to the challenges that group projects posed.

University was an entirely different ball game and I learnt this the hard way in my first two years in the school.

All too often, I took offense at my group mates' criticism towards me during group projects and misconstrued it as personal attacks.

For a compulsory film module I took in my first year, I worked with a good friend who was easygoing and spontaneous.

While this made her a fun and exciting person to hang out with, these same qualities made her a terrible group mate.

She consistently turned in shoddy work, missed deadlines and skipped group meetings.

But instead of highlighting my unhappiness with her work ethic, I immediately cut her off as a friend.

In my second year, I grouped with another friend for a marketing project and it also turned out to be a disaster.

Our working styles clashed as I preferred to complete my work at least half a day before the deadline while she liked to fine-tune details till the very last minute.

To her, I was too rigid and my failure to empathise with her point of view resulted in a lot of tensions which unfortunately spilled over to our personal friendship. Once again, I lost yet another friend.

On hindsight, I realised it takes two hands to clap.

In both cases, we were too immature to put down our pride and sort out our professional differences.

Instead, we unanimously chose to sacrifice our friendships.

It took a six-month internship programme for me to finally learn to eat humble pie and accept con-

GRAPHIC: LIM PEI YI

structive criticism without taking it to heart.

At the start of my writing stint at a luxury lifestyle magazine last year, I was tasked with interviewing one of the most prominent investors in the world.

I made the rookie mistake of sending my very important newsmaker a long list of questions for an email interview.

What I should have done was request a short phone interview instead of burdening my timestrapped interviewee with a list of endless questions.

When my editor realised the mistake I had made, she gave me a lengthy tongue-lashing and berated me in full view of my colleagues for being sloppy and careless.

The experience was brutal and I felt she was unjustly harsh.

But by the end of my internship, I found that I was able to improve

The precarious balance between personal relationships and work is a tough skill to learn, but the payoff is immense. my writing tremendously once I put aside my pride and worked relentlessly on the flaws my editor pointed out.

While compliments are easy to receive and honest feedback, a bitter pill to swallow, I was ultimately grateful that she had bothered to correct all my mistakes, which helped to improve my work ethic.

It was only then that I realised the importance of constructive criticism on one’s work. My personal sentiments towards someone should not interfere with our working relationship and vice versa.

When it came to my final-year

project, my group had differing views but we never once quarrelled.

Although we were not the closest of friends, we respected one another enough to understand that criticism from our group mates was not personal.

Instead, we took time out to listen to opposing viewpoints and this helped move our project forward.

I may have disagreed with my group mates over certain details but after four years in university, I was finally mature enough to make sure none of our disagreements affected our friendships.

While some final-year project

groups had shouting matches and others subtly complained about their group mates on social media, my group celebrated the end of our 9-month-long project with a hearty Japanese buffet lunch.

The precarious balance between personal relationships and work is a tough skill to learn, but the payoff is immense.

There is nothing quite as satisfying as maintaining a friendship while producing quality work.

But more importantly, although it may be tough to swallow humble pie and admit I am not the special snowflake I think I am, it is imperative that I keep an open mind regarding my shortcomings and accept constructive criticism to improve myself.

And that, in retrospect, is my greatest takeaway from my four years in Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Sports Moving ‘Wan’ step closer NTU’s Ikhwan Risydah is gunning for a spot in the local AUG football team IGNATIUS KOH

H

e is a part-time model, certified personal trainer, and a former reality TV contestant.

But when the biennial ASEAN University Games (AUG) kicks off in July, Ikhwan Risydah hopes to add being a national football player to his resume.

“I’ve always wanted to represent Singapore in anything when I was younger,” said the third-year Sports Science and Management student.

“It’s an opportunity to fulfil my childhood dream.”

The multi-sport competition will feature student athletes from universities in the Southeast Asian nations, with Singapore’s men’s football team comprising players from the local universities.

This is Ikhwan’s second chance to represent the nation — the 24-yearold was invited to join the national

“It’s an opportunity to fulfil my childhood dream.”

Ikhwan Risydah, 24 NTU footballer

Ikhwan Risydah is also a part-time model and certified fitness trainer.

PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

NTU footballer Ikhwan Risydah (centre) has scored once in four friendly matches since AUG training started in late February.

silat team after winning the annual National Pencak Silat Championship when he was 16, but decided not to join the team to focus on his O Levels.

Ikhwan, who has since stopped practising the martial art, said: “Now, the AUG is probably the next big chance for me to represent Singapore as I didn’t get to play for football clubs, which would have opened doors to the national team.”

Despite his modelling career and fitness credentials, Ikhwan has made it clear that football comes first for him.

“I just do freelance modelling; it’s not a big thing. I don’t get offers all the time,” he said with a laugh.

Ikhwan, who made it to the final squad of Mediacorp football reality television series First XI in 2013, added: “I’m just concentrating on getting a spot in the team now. ” The versatile player is comfortable playing as a left full-back or winger, but did not make the previous AUG team in 2014.

He had been cut from the preliminary squad early on, having failed to make the coach’s picks.

But Ikhwan is determined to break into the team this year.

He has scored once in four friendly matches while having to vie for game time with more than 20 other hopefuls since training started in late February.

“I think the coach is looking for players who are hard-working on the field – that’s what I observed during training and matches,” Ikhwan said.

“Good attitude and a little flair from the players are also needed.”

In addition to AUG training and his part-time work commitments, Ikhwan also has to stay on top of his school work.

The squad practises on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but he only attends training on Wednesdays to devote time to his studies.

“I can’t attend training on Saturdays because of my school com-

mitments so I will make sure that I turn up to train on Wednesdays, even if I have a test the next day,” said Ikhwan.

Aside from AUG trainings, Ikhwan heads to the gym almost every day for two hours to improve his fitness.

Being motivated is not an issue for Ikhwan, who started playing football in Primary 1.

The self-confessed sports buff enjoys challenging himself by improving his craft.

“Football gives me a platform to push myself to do better in terms of my technique and reading of the game,” he said.

With the AUG held in Singapore this year, Ikhwan is relishing the chance to perform in front of his family and friends.

“The AUG is the only opportunity for me to represent Singapore now, so I’m concentrating on getting a spot in the team.”

Ikhwan Risydah, 24 NTU footballer

PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

“It’s different from playing in front of the general public. When you play live in front of your friends and family, it feels good as they are not watching from behind a television screen,” said Ikhwan.

Having home advantage and local support would boost the team’s confidence as well, he added.

The football team went out at the preliminary stage in 2014, falling 5-0 to rivals Malaysia in their final group stage match. Ikhwan is ready to help the team advance further if he is selected.

“We have to play hard on the pitch because the hungrier team will win,” he said.

“This way, we can have a longer experience and a chance to win for Singapore.

“We’re not just there to make up the numbers.”

With the squad still a long way from being finalised, Ikhwan has his goal in sight and is determined to buckle down and snag a spot.

“I’m not having an easy time fighting through the squad as the players are strong.

“But if I get selected, I will share the joy with my friends who have been supporting my journey.”

Roland Garros Preview | Page 23

Paddlers seek AUG glory NTU’s IVP table tennis captains to compete at AUG in July

would need to adjust his playing style when playing against different opponents.

“Against stronger players, I need to ramp up my offence and take the initiative to attack at the first opportunity,” he added.

SEAN LOO

F

ive of NTU’s paddlers will feature in Singapore’s 10-strong contingent at the upcoming ASEAN University Games (AUG) table tennis competition, which will take place here in July.

Among the five are Tan Yi Zhong, 22, and Lim Yi Xuan, 20, who are the university’s Institute-VarsityPolytechnic table tennis men’s and women’s captains respectively.

The other five players in the Singapore team are students from National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

To be held at NTU’s Sports and Recreation Centre from 12 to 17 July, the biennial competition will pit the best university athletes in South East Asia against each other.

Tan and Lim are expecting to face off against national paddlers, some of whom are already playing in the professional circuit.

First-year Nanyang Business School student Tan, who will be making his debut at an international tournament, said: “Our AUG opponents will probably be much faster, with better stamina and skills as compared to the opponents

PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

Going for the medal Unfazed by the prospect of tough opponents, Tan and Lim are gunning for a podium finish.

“I just want to win a medal at the AUG,” said Lim, as Tan nodded vigorously.

Lim may have seven medals from international competitions under her belt, but an AUG medal would definitely be a cherished victory, she added.

Explaining the significance of medalling at the AUG, she said that it would be her first time competing in a non age-restricted tournament. The previous international competitions she took part in were at the Under-18 level or below.

Tan believes his best chance at winning a medal is the individual doubles event, but insisted that his first priority is to enjoy the sport during his first appearance at an international tournament.

“It’s not all about results.

“When I enjoy the game, I can play without feeling stressed, and I find it much easier to return the ball to the table.”

Tan Yi Zhong (left) and Lim Yi Xuan (right) will be going for table tennis glory at the ASEAN University Games in July.

whom we’ve faced at local competitions like the A Division.”

Lim, a former national youth paddler, is no stranger to competing in international tournaments — the seasoned athlete has taken part in at least two editions of the Southeast Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships, ASEAN School Games and Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships.

But the first-year School of Biological Sciences student believes she will face her toughest competition yet at the AUG. “We are just university students who don’t really train as often compared to them,” she said.

“The opponents in the AUG will be more experienced than those I’ve faced before.”

PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO Men’s IVP captain Tan (above) will play in his first international tournament.

Balancing training and studies The Republic’s AUG paddlers started their training in March with several friendly matches against Malaysian state teams.

Since then, they have been train-

ing three to four times a week, with each session lasting four hours.

Tan believes the frequency of training sessions will increase nearing the competition, and admitted that it will be a challenge having to manage training and school work.

“I’ve got to make sure I complete my work and everything else that needs to be done before going for training, because after training, I’ll most likely not have enough energy to complete my work,” he said.

Both Tan and Lim have a clear idea of what they need to improve on as the clock ticks down to the start of the Games.

While Tan will be looking to build his strength to deliver more powerful strokes, Lim’s focus will be on improving her speed and stamina.

Lim feels that her match stamina is still not up to scratch. She plans to improve her stamina by running during her free time on top of the official AUG training sessions.

On the other hand, Tan said he

PHOTO: BENEDICT ONG Women’s IVP captain Lim (above) believes she will face her toughest competition yet at the AUG.

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Outfoxing the competition

Five must-watch competitions this month BOXING: AMIR KHAN V 1 WBC SAUL ALVAREZ (7 MAY)

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will defend his WBC middleweight title from Amir Khan in a blockbuster clash in Las Vegas. Given the retirements of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Canelo and Khan are ready to stake their claims as the top dog in boxing. With Khan moving up two weight classes for the fight, Canelo — whose last four bouts were in middleweight — will fancy his chances against the Brit.

DERBY 2 KENTUCKY (7 MAY)

Jamie Vardy in action for Leicester City this season. Just four years ago, Vardy was playing for non-league side Fleetwood Town. The Englishman is strongly favoured to feature in Euro 2016.

PHOTO: INTERNET

The Foxes were bottom of the Barclays Premier League for 19 weeks last season, but could be champions by now IGNATIUS KOH

T

he fairy tale continues. And it might yet have the proverbial happy ending.

Leicester City have enchanted fans all season by defying all odds, and a quick glance at their squad will reveal how the Foxes have achieved cult status in the league.

The case for defence This season, Leicester's starting goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been a man possessed.

Channelling the spirit of his father, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel, the Dane has kept 15 clean sheets so far — tied on top with Manchester City’s Joe Hart.

While the younger Schmeichel can hold his own in goal, it helps that there is a brick wall that shields him from opponents.

In Robert Huth and Wes Morgan, the Foxes have two centre-backs with the vision of rugby players.Both boot the ball into orbit instead of simply making slick passes out of the defence.

You can almost hear Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turn in his bed at night.

Compare this with Manchester City’s Arab-funded defence and you can see why Leicester is on top.

With the Citizens boasting the most expensive Premier League centre-backs in Argentinian Nicolas Otamendi and Frenchman Eliaquim Mangala, you would expect them to be tight at the back after spending a combined £72 million (S$138m) on the pair. Unfortunately, both defenders have resembled a man-made disaster at the heart of defence with more spills than thrills.

Patrolling the midfield Holding the fort in the middle of the park are N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater, the tireless midfielders with possibly the league’s best surname combination.

The most sung-about unsung heroes of Leicester City would not look out of place in former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s bus, which had broken down earlier on in the season.

What Mourinho would give to have two more players defending in the penalty box – in addition to the goalkeeper, defenders, groundsmen, and the tea lady.

Deposed champions Chelsea’s season unravelled faster than they could change their tyres with Serbian Nemanja Matic and Spaniard Cesc Fabregas looking a pale shadow of themselves.

You might be forgiven for thinking they contracted the Eden Hazard syndrome – both were nowhere to be found in midfield.

Frontline finesse Even Arsenal’s Mesut Oezil, the league’s assist leader with 18, needed help opening his huge eyes f wurther after seeing how well Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have combined this season.

Mahrez, the Professional Footballers Association's Player of the Year, has 11 assists — second only to Oezil — and 17 goals this season, compared to the German's six.

In a season where the Gunners’ forwards have displayed the accuracy of a recruit at the firing range, Oezil must be lamenting the lack of a clinical finisher like 22-goal Vardy as a teammate.

The Englishman broke Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 11 consecutive games last year.

Vardy, who was playing non-League football four years ago, could be on the plane to France for England's European Championship campaign this summer.

It would be the biggest turn of fortune since Wayne Rooney got his hairline back.

Tactical maestro But Leicester’s season would not have been a success had Claudio Ranieri not taken over from Englishman Nigel Pearson as manager.

Ranieri’s tactics have been criticised since his time as Chelsea boss more than a decade ago, but he got them right this season.

Aside from employing the old 4-4-2 formation, the wily Italian also whipped up his players’ appetite for success after promising them a pizza treat if they kept a clean sheet.

The move was worth it, as the players picked off opponents like pepperoni slices and kept 12 clean sheets in the next 25 games.

Leicester will now be licking their lips at the prospect of a maiden league title.

They had better prepare for a lot more pizzas.

Known in America as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States). Featuring 20 threeyear-old Thoroughbred horses, the Grade I stakes race — the top-ranked grade on the horse racing scene — spans 1.25 miles (2 kilometres) and as one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, this year’s Kentucky Derby has a total prize money pool of US$2 million (S$2.69 million).

1 MONACO GRAND 3 FORMULA PRIX (13-15 MAY)

Held in glamorous Monte Carlo, Monaco, the Monaco Grand Prix is known for its narrow street circuit with tight corner turns. The circuit spans 3.337 kilometres, with a race distance of 260.286km. Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, who currently leads the Formula 1 standings, is the reigning three-time winner in Monaco, and will be gunning for a fourth consecutive title.

Hot on his heels are teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished third at last year’s event, and lap record holder Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull.

GARROS 4 ROLAND (22 MAY-5 JUNE) The second Grand Slam of the year will see defending singles champions Serena Williams and Stanislas Wawrinka return in a bid to retain their Roland Garros crowns. Top-ranked Williams, a three-time singles winner in Paris, will face stiff competition from world No. 3 Angelique Kerber, who started her clay season by successfully defending her singles title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart last month. As for the men, Wawrinka will have to fend off the likes of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who is bidding to win the elusive French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, and undisputed king of clay Rafael Nadal, a nine-time singles champion on the red dirt of Roland Garros.

LEAGUE FINAL 5 CHAMPIONS (28 MAY) The two finalists will fight it out to claim the title of Europe’s best football team. First-time semi-finalist Manchester City will battle against 10-time winner Real Madrid for a spot in the final, with the winner of that tie facing either perennial European powerhouse and 2013 champions Bayern Munich, or Atletico Madrid, who will be looking to avenge their defeat in the 2014 final.

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The ball's in their court As clay season comes to a close, the stage is set for an epic showdown between the world’s top tennis players as they battle it out on the hallowed grounds of Roland Garros at the French Open (22 May to 5 June), the second Grand Slam of the year. Chief Sub-Editor Godwin Ng picks three men and women contenders for the Coupe des Mousquetaires and Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

Serena Williams

Angelique Kerber

Victoria Azarenka

AFTER putting together a majestic 2015 season where she won three consecutive slams, the current world No. 1 has looked like a shadow of her former self, failing to win a title in nearly nine months. Her trademark competitive mettle seems to have taken a beating since her calendar-year Grand Slam attempt was thwarted by Roberta Vinci in New York last year, with shocking losses this year to Angelique Kerber and Svetlana Kuznetsova at her beloved Australian Open and Miami Open respectively. But there’s nothing Williams relishes more than proving her doubters wrong. If the defending women’s singles champion can shake off the sluggish footwork and serving woes that have plagued her 2016 so far, it could be a historic slam No. 22 for the greatest player

WHILE Kerber has long been a tricky opponent at the slams, she never managed to put it all together until her fairytale run Down Under in January, where she toppled her nemeses Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams en route to the title.

Her dogged defence, combined with a crafty lefty game and breathtaking shot-making ability, makes her an all-round threat on clay with few weaknesses to exploit. At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious clay warmups on the women’s tour, Kerber defended her title easily, staking her claim as a legitimate clay contender. Now armed with the self-belief previously lacking from her game, she is riding a wave of confidence that could see her be the final female standing at the end of the fortnight.

BEGINNING the year outside the top 20, the Belarusian has bounced back into the top five and is unquestionably the best female player at the midway mark of the season, with a tourleading three titles under her belt and a jaw-dropping 24-1 win-loss record. The former world No. 1 and two-time Slam champion looked every bit the part during her triumphant runs in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami, but may struggle to replicate her hard court dominance on clay. There, her strengths — lightning-quick returns and relentless baseline rallying — will be neutralised and her average movement, severely tested. But with Belgian coach Wim Fissette, who led Simona Halep to the 2014 final, in her box, Azarenka may have finally found the missing piece to her Parisian puzzle.

Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal

Stanislas Wawrinka

THE Serbian world No. 1 has held on to the top spot with an iron grip since 2014, amassing a near-unassailable lead in the rankings. But just as he was looking increasingly invincible, an unexpected loss to journeyman Jiri Vesely in Monte Carlo was a timely reminder that anything can happen in the topsy-turvy world of tennis. Having conquered Melbourne, London and New York, Djokovic only needs the French to complete a career Grand Slam but was unable to rise to the occasion last year, stumbling at the final hurdle against Stanislas Wawrinka. With his legacy on the line, Djokovic must block out that nightmare loss and will need nerves of steel if he is to go one step further and win slam number 12.

IT CAN be hard to wrap one’s head around the utter dominance of Nadal in Paris. He picked up the title on his very first attempt back in 2005, won it another eight times since and has lost just twice in past 11 years. Nadal’s topspin-heavy game is a match made in heaven with the slow, high-bouncing courts of Roland Garros and his winning percentage at the French — a mind-boggling 97.2 — easily makes him the best clay-courter to ever step foot on red dirt. While nagging knee injuries have threatened to derail his career, his return to winning ways this year in Monte Carlo and Barcelona over quality opponents such as Gael Monfils and Kei Nishikori proved that Nadal still has what it takes to be the king of clay.

IF THERE’S one thing Wawrinka does better than any of his contemporaries, it’s being the underdog. Twice, the two-time slam winner faced off against more accomplished rivals in slam finals and on both occasions, he pulled off stunning upsets in spectacular fashion. At his best, Wawrinka can outhit, outplay and outserve anyone, as Novak Djokovic, who played second fiddle to him in last year’s final, can attest.

Although the defending champion's form has slipped slightly compared to last year, he remains the only player to consistently challenge the hegemony of the Big Four and his big match temperament still makes him a dangerous wildcard that no player will want to see beside their name in the draw.

PHOTOS FROM INTERNET