The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 24 Issue 08

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

VOL. NO.

24

08 ISSN NO. 0218-7310

INSIDE Connect me to you Students can now be paired with an industry professional, under a new mentoring programme by the Career & Attachment Office

NEWS | Page 4

“Bo jio!”

Exchange students share how they adapted to Singapore’s culture, language and education system

A dry spell ends

The Sixers gather during half time in the soccer finals. They ultimately emerged champions after a well-executed 1-0 victory.

LIFESTYLE | Page 6

Don’t judge the ink on my skin Negative stereotypes of people with tattoos should be a thing of the past, writes News Editor Adrien Chee

OPINION | Page 15

南大生凌晨喧哗 情况仍未改善 先驱居民多次投诉南大生在 咖啡店喧哗。虽经过多次提 醒，情况仍未改善

新闻| Page 18

Dark horses take the IHG soccer season by storm as longstanding champions Hall 16 and 3 bow out of the competition prematurely Sherlyn Seah OVER the past decade, Inter-Hall Games spectators have gotten used to seeing the same two Halls of Residence duke it out in the soccer finals.

Not this year.

Different coloured jerseys were donned and a new flag was raised, as Hall 6 edged out Hall 9 1-0 in the IHG soccer finals to lift the trophy for the first time since 2009. Hall 9’s second-place finish on 22 Feb is the best in their history.

Halls 3 and 16, who have shared the cup for the past decade, did not advance past the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, defending champions Hall 16 took on Hall 6 and faltered in a thrilling penalty shoot-out 4-3 after a draw at the end of 90 minutes. Hall 3 performed disappointingly too, with a 3-2 loss to Hall 9.

A new hope The Sixers have established a reputation as a

dominant sports hall, but a gold medal in soccer has always proven elusive.

Although they were considered a top-tier soccer team, they never tasted gold — at least not in the past nine years.

This year, the soccer players finally made their contribution to the hall’s medal haul, alongside victories in track and field, basketball, road relay, softball and water polo.

Captain G Irufan said this was a result of hard work and dedication.

“Initially, many didn’t even know the basics and couldn’t kick a ball properly. But they trained hard and learned to love the game — now we are champions,” said the second-year School of Humanities student.

Of the 23 players in the squad, only seven had prior experience in competitive soccer.

During the summer break, the team would play friendlies. And when the school term began, they would train twice a week.

The semi-final against defending champions Hall 16 was their toughest match, said Irufan.

He added that it was difficult to come up with a strategy for the final game against their opponents, Hall 9.

“Hall 9 were the underdogs, like us, so we couldn’t predict their game plan. It was hard to cope with their fast players. But we managed to score a goal anddefended

PHOTO: JONATHAN LING

till the end,” he said.

Tale of the underdogs While Hall 9 fell short of the title, their second-place finish was a major breakthrough for the team.

Captain Ahmad Afiq, 22, said: “Just reaching the semi-finals was creating history for us. It has never been done before, at least in the past decade.”

In the semi-final game, Hall 3 took an initial 1-0 lead, forcing the Niners to change their tactics and tighten their defence after half-time.

They countered with a brilliant display of football and bagged two goals with precise and decisive attacks.

With Hall 3 striking back and pushing numbers forward, the Niners soaked in the pressure with a memorable rearguard display before delivering the final blow in Mourinhoesque fashion.

Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho is well-known for building up his team’s defence against prominent teams, then quickly countering.

“We were mostly absorbing attacks, and took the opportunity to hit them on the counter when we regained possession,” said Afiq.

Continued on Page 2

News “Complacency was our downfall”: Hall 16 captain Continued from Page 1 Their strategy paid off handsomely. Midfielder Haziq Mahmud first provided a defence-splitting pass to playmaker Kenneth Yeo. Striker Julian Tanega, an exchange student from the United Kingdom, then had the opportunity to pull one back.

The Niners later took advantage of Hall 3’s high defensive line, scoring a second goal with a lob over the opposing keeper, and a third from a speedy counter-attack.

Afiq attributed their victory to their hunger for it.

“Even before the season, we aimed to win friendlies. This winning mentality was built beforehand, and during IHG we saw losses as unacceptable,” said the second-year School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering student.

Belittle, too late Complacency was Hall 16’s downfall, said team captain Derrick Lim. “We felt that with strong players this season, we didn’t have to do much. We thought we could win based on pure talent, and we thought that was enough. But hard work trumps talent, and Hall 6 had that,” said the 23-year-old.

In the first half of the semi-finals, the Knights had the lead, after striker Pradeep Ravi’s shot from the right wing found the top corner of the net.

But Hall 6’s counter-attack in the second half led to a foul by the opponent just outside the box and the eventual free kick that equalised the score.

“Whenever they lost the ball, they’d rush back to form the same defensive shape. That was their tactic and it worked,” said Lim. Hall 3, like the Knights, had also underestimated their opponent.

“They prepared for us more than we prepared for them,” said captain Ryan Nair, 23.

With their long-time rivals firmly in their crosshairs, Hall 3 had not expected to play Hall 9, and had instead focused their preparations on countering Hall 16.

Nair explained: “We only analysed Hall 16’s tactics, to be honest.

We could have watched the Niners many times, but we focused on Hall 16’s way of playing and how to counter that.

“But we will learn from our mistakes. We’ll come back stronger next year.”

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin stressed the importance of a love for Singapore and its people in the inaugural CoHASS Graduate Public Lecture Series.

PHOTO: NICHOLAS KOO

Tan Chuan-Jin: Compassion is the way forward

Civic responsibility and personal values cannot be enforced by the government, says the Speaker of Parliament Shirley Tay CULTIVATING a heart for others is necessary for the progress of the nation, said Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin in a twohour dialogue session held at the Humanities and Social Sciences Auditorium on 2 Mar. In looking out for fellow Singaporeans, whether disadvantaged or not, Mr Tan stressed that “values of compassion and love cannot be mandated by the government”, and must be nurtured by Singaporeans themselves.

“What anchors you here? Because you were born here? History about what happened in the independence years? It’s relationships, which are always about others, never about yourself.”

Mr Tan was the guest speaker at the inaugural CoHASS (College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) Graduate Public Lecture Series, and shared on the topic “The Challenges and Opportunities in Cultivating Singapore’s Heartware”.

Dean of CoHASS Prof Alan Chan delivered the opening address on behalf of NTU president Subra Suresh, in which he defined “heartware” as the sense of belonging and love for Singapore and its people.

He contrasted it to “hardware”, such as infrastructure and technology, which Singaporeans often focus more on.

Speaking to some 300 students, Mr Tan outlined the various constraints Singapore faces — such as its lack of natural resources and small geographical size — and reminded students that Singapore’s only resource is its people.

“As long as we have the right people in place, the rest will follow,” he said.

The former Singapore Armed Forces Brigadier-General cited examples of his experience in the military to illustrate his point.

“When I train a battalion, I can equip soldiers with all the relevant trainings and drills. I can provide all the equipment needed — but the one thing I cannot buy is the will to fight, the belief that this country is worth fighting and dying for,” said Mr Tan. In laying out the ways that Singaporeans can develop empathy for others, Mr Tan reminded

the audience that volunteering is not just about helping the poor or disadvantaged.

Volunteering gives people an opportunity to love, and also teaches them to count their blessings, said Mr Tan. “When you help out in the hospice and work with the dying, perhaps you learn how to live.

Something helps you realise what really matters — it’s not the material things that we chase, but the process of giving and caring that does, ” Mr Tan said.

“As long as we have the right people in place, the rest will follow.”

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin Speaker of Parliament

“Like what Saint Francis said, it is in giving that we receive.”

Students who attended the talk agreed that developing Singapore’s “heartware” will bring the nation forward.

Teo Ming You, a second-year student from the Nanyang Business School, believes that leadership is

key in making Singapore a more caring society.

“Many people with the right intentions might not necessarily lead to the desired outcomes,” said the 22-year-old.

“Some people might want to contribute to the society, but do not know of platforms through which they can do so.

This is where leadership comes in, where leaders have to raise awareness of the available opportunities to volunteer,” he said.

Chen Shijia, 27, a final-year student from the School of Humanities, agrees that it is important to raise awareness about social responsibility among Singaporeans.

“Singapore will be able to move from an economic-centred society to one with culture and increased social welfare for its citizens,” said Chen.

He said that a sense of belonging to Singapore will come as the country builds its identity over the years.

“Being a young nation, Singapore needs time and history to build a strong culture and identity,” he said.

“While the definition of ‘sense of belonging’ may differ from person to person, it will come naturally as a by-product of a strong culture,” added Chen.

VOL. NO.

24

NEWS 03

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

New schemes welcome, but focus on campus life too Students welcome the new schemes focusing on technology, but hope more attention will be given to issues with campus life that technology alone cannot solve Jovi Ho NTU students are heartened by the university’s focus on technology under the leadership of Professor Subra Suresh, but also wish to see improvements in the quality of campus life in the coming months.

This includes addressing issues with administrative staff and food options around school.

Students were responding to Prof Suresh’s announcements at his inauguration ceremony last month, where he outlined the establishment of a new institute and a global arts prize, both focusing on technology.

This follows other tech-related initiatives, such as the “Smart Pass” and driverless buses, announced by Prof Suresh since he began his tenure at the start of the year.

The NTU Institute of Science and Technology for Humanity (NISTH), opening in the coming months, will study the impacts of technology on society through discussion groups, fellowships and research projects, said Prof Suresh.

Undergraduates and postgraduates whom the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to said the University’s research on ethical concerns about technology will help students stay relevant in today’s world.

Elaine Tay, a second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, thinks technology has the potential to improve quality of education, but it must be handled well.

“The University should ensure that technology is used in a way that will help us learn more effectively,” said Tay, 21.

Tay, who is a part of the University Scholars Programme, recalls a module she took in her first semester that examined artificial intelligence (AI).

“Its focus on philosophy gave us insights into possible ethical implications of advancements in technology, such as privacy concerns and identity theft, which I thought was really relevant in today's world,” she said.

During the inauguration, Prof Suresh also unveiled the NTU Digital Arts Prize, a biennial award to “recognise global artists and technologists”. The winner will be selected by an international panel of judges.

Mavis Lim, 22, president of the Art, Design and Media (ADM) Student Club, praised the digital focus of the prize.

“It may encourage artists to pave the way forward with the utilisation of new technologies for art,” said the Interactive Media student.

The University is no stranger to the use of new media in art. Installed in June 2016, the “Media Art Nexus (MAN)” is a large-scale interactive media art wall at the North Spine Plaza showing digital artworks by students from ADM.

Campus life But there remains some dissatisfaction with campus life that technology might not be able to solve.

Joshua Ng, 25, who lives in Pioneer Hall, said residents sometimes speak about unpleasant encounters with administrative and security staff. He hopes the University can help improve staff-student relations.

“I have heard of issues about hall management being unnecessarily rude, and I think students feel that the staff are against them. Perhaps greater transparency and communication can help solve this problem,” he said.

Aside from administrative issues, some wish for a greater variety of food options on campus.

Zulhaqem Zulkifl, a third-year student from the School of Humanities, said he would appreciate more Halal food options around the South Spine.

“When it comes to Halal food options, there’s variety but not quality. It’ll be great if we can have a simple stall selling Halal chicken rice,” said Zulhaqem, 25.

Kimberly Seah, president of the Crescent Hall Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC), is looking forward to the new schemes unveiled by Prof Suresh, and hopes he will take time to learn more about the non-academic side of campus living as well.

She was present at the inauguration along with all the members of her hall’s JCRC. “I think Prof Suresh could spend his first year at NTU getting to know the students better.

Visiting the various Halls of Residence and experiencing our activities are good ways of understanding our school culture,” she said.

“Netflix Tax” prompts more cautious spending among students Students say they are likely to decrease their consumption of online entertainment and retail services in light of the digital tax roll-out, and may consider free options Freda Peh THE NEWS that imported digital services will be subject to a nine per cent goods and services tax (GST) from 2020 has drawn mixed reactions from students.

The Budget statement last month said that the GST ruling would apply to services provided by foreign companies with global revenues exceeding S$1 million and local revenues from digital services exceeding S$100,000.

This includes popular digital services such as Spotify and Netflix.

The latter company reported a revenue of US$3.3 billion in the last quarter of 2017.

While these companies have not disclosed information on their local subscriber base, Assistant Professor Woo Jun Jie from the School of Social Sciences estimates more than half these digital consumers to be millennials, and with the tax burden heavier on full-time students

with no income.

“If you count millennials, it’s easily half to three-quarters of existing consumers affected.”

Prof Woo said taxing Singaporeans on these services would mean higher tax revenues for the government, because of the country’s thriving digital economy.

Most students are concerned about the impending digital tax affecting their expenditure, as they rely on their parents’ allowance or part-time jobs to earn pocket money.

“I think all students just want to focus on school without worrying too much about expenses,” said Jolene Chea, a secondyear student from the School of Humanities (SoH).

Chea, 22, who is on the University’s financial assistance scheme, is concerned about how the implementation of a digital tax will strain the already limited income of students from less privileged backgrounds.

Other students say it might prompt them to reduce their purchases on online retail and streaming services.

Amelia Chua, a third-year student from the SoH, said that instead of paying for Spotify Premium, she would consider using

either the free version, or AMPed from SingTel. Digital education services, such as e-learning platforms, were also a concern among students.

Turning Technologies, the American company behind NTU’s Blackboard e-learning platform, raked in a gross estimated revenue of US$98.4 million last year, making the company potentially eligible for the tax.

Piracy concerns Speaking to the Nanyang Chronicle, digital experts raised concerns about an increase in piracy, as students try to avoid the digital tax by using free platforms instead.

In a 2017 study by Asia-Pacific research firm Sycamore, 39 per cent of Singaporeans admitted to illegally streaming or downloading movies, TV shows or live sports broadcasts.

“In a way, consumption habits will change, and these platforms will need to offer more to justify (higher) costs to students and consumers,” said Prof Woo. However, most students believe the “Netflix Tax” would not encourage more piracy for students currently using paid services.

“Those who are already engaging in (piracy) will be more inclined to

GRAPHIC: CASSANDRA LIM

continue and those who aren’t, are already willing to pay,” said Chia Yun Ting, 22, a final-year student from the Nanyang Business School (NBS).

Nicholas Phang, 23, a secondyear student on a double-degree programme at the School of Computer Science and Engineering and NBS, also believes that not all types of services will see an increase in piracy.

“Entertainment services like the latest movies are more likely to be pirated than productivity services like Evernote and Dropbox, which have greater protection laws," said Phang.

Overall, Prof Kelvin Law from NBS does not believe that the consumption habits of Singaporeans

will change much because of the digital tax.

“I think nine per cent will be a small impact. In the long run, the main question is how high it will get. A nine per cent GST is a single-digit percentage, and it is still low compared to some European countries, which go up to 27 per cent.”

With online transactions growing more popular, NTU student Nicholas Phang believes students have to make conscious choices in what services to use.

He said: “If we choose to use the paid versions of digital services, it’s like paying for any other goods or services in Singapore. You can always choose to watch Mediacorp if you don’t want to pay for Netflix."

04

NEWS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08

New mentorship programme links students with alumni The NTU Career & Attachment Office is leveraging on the work experience of alumni to help students make better career choices Shabana Begum STUDENTS can now receive firsthand career advice from NTU alumni working in jobs related to their field of study, thanks to a new mentorship programme.

The NTU ConnectingMinds Programme, a new initiative launched last month by the NTU Career & Attachment Office (CAO), allows undergraduates to reach out to alumni and industry professionals via an online platform.

“With their career and life experiences, our alumni can guide students with their aspirations and provide them with realistic insights about various industries,” said Mr Ivan Choong, assistant director of CAO. The programme was launched on 1 Feb, the first day of the NTU Career Fair. Response so far has been overwhelming, with over 600 students and 120 mentors signing up within the first month.

Students can visit the NTU ConnectingMinds portal and register as mentees with their NTU credentials.

They can use the portal’s search filter to find mentors who graduated from the same school or who are working in their preferred industries; these mentors will then be alerted to their connection requests via email.

Once mentees have identified their career goals, they will work on an action plan with their mentors for about three months. Mentors then coach them in areas that they need to work on, so that they will be industry-ready before they graduate.

CAO believes mentorship can allow students to get advice on career and work-life balance.

“We realised that mentorship is an important phase in everyone’s career. Hence, we decided to introduce this (programme) earlier to students,” said Mr Choong, who also leads the NTU ConnectingMinds Programme.

“As we have a huge student population of 33,000 students in NTU, CAO would like to leverage on our very own alumni as well as industry partners to provide more personalised career advice to all students.”

NTU ConnectingMinds is not the first mentorship programme by CAO. Mentor-Link, a programme introduced in 2003, matched registered alumni mentors with students

As part of the NTU ConnectingMinds Programme, Mr Ong Shen Kwang (left) meets his NTU mentees such as Atishay Jain (right), 20, every few weeks and gives career advice.

who requested for mentors from a specific industry or company via an online request form.

Mentor-Link required CAO staff to manually scroll through a database of alumni mentors to find a suitable mentor for every student. It will be discontinued at a later date.

Playing to one's strengths The website for the NTU ConnectingMinds programme was created

by JobKred, a local startup founded by two NTU alumni that uses data analytics to help job seekers look for positions based on their skills and for companies to find suitable hires.

“One of the crucial roles of a mentor is to guide (students) and help them work towards where they want to head to by the end of their university life.”

Mr Ong Shen Kwang, 25 Mentor NTU Connecting Minds Programme

On top of connecting students with alumni, the platform will soon provide a free customised skills

profiling report for all users, said Mr Choong.

After completing a 40-minute ­ questionnaire, the system will use data analysis and artificial intelligence to churn out a personalised report that lists the skills that students possess, and lack, for their preferred jobs.

Students can use the information from the report to find suitable mentors. Mentees and mentors can access the questionnaire within the next one or two months.

“If students were to take this test externally, it would cost them quite an amount. CAO chose JobKred partly because of this unique feature and we will be paying for this skills profiling report as we find it useful for our students,” added Mr Choong.

Giving back Nanyang Business School (NBS) alumnus Mr Ong Shen Kwang, 25, who graduated in 2016, signed up to be a mentor because he wanted to contribute back to the university.

Mr Ong was offered an internship at OCBC Bank in a position outside of his area of study during his second year. He accepted it upon seeking the advice of a member of the CAO internship division.

During his final year, the bank hired him for a full-time position under the OCBC Young Bankers Graduate Programme.

Mr Ong is currently mentoring five NTU students, whom he meets over dinner every few weeks.

He frequently connects with them through a WhatsApp group chat.

“I’m very happy when my juniors talk to me. I like to find out what skills and values I can impart to them.”

Planning ahead Mr Ong said the NTU ConnectingMinds Programme is most valuable for first and second-year students since they can start planning and deciding on their career paths early on.

"Year One students may have doubts about which career path they should embark on. One of the crucial roles of a mentor is to guide them and help them work towards where they want to head to by the end of their university life," Mr Ong said.

Early career planning will prevent job-hopping and allow people to ascend the corporate ladder faster, he added.

Another mentor, Mr Andy Koh, said students must ask good questions for the mentorship to be productive and efficient.

Mr Koh, a 36-year-old NBS alumnus, said students need to be more specific when communicating their motivations and goals.

This will help mentors give relevant advice.

A warm welcome Students who signed up to be mentees welcomed the programme.

“While I attend career talks and networking sessions, those events

PHOTO: NICHOLAS KOO

are impersonal. Having a mentor would allow me to form meaningful relationships with professionals who are eager to share their life experiences and career paths,” said Zachary Chin, 22, a second-year student from NBS.

“Having a mentor would allow me to form meaningful relationships with professionals who are eager to share their life experiences and career paths.”

Zachary Chin, 22 Second-year student NBS

Shahnas Farveen, a second-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, agreed that the relational aspect of mentorship is important.

She said: “When I attend industry talks, employers will tell us the same information about their companies. It would be good if my mentor gives insights about the reality of the workplace.”

Chin, who believes NTU alumni are assets and resources for current students, added: “It would be great if every NTU student were paired with a mentor.”

Lifestyle

Veggie Tales

With veganism becoming a growing trend in Singapore, Kimberly Ng finds out why some students have taken to this lifestyle this is not true.

Ingredients like tofu and tempeh (fermented soya bean cake), which are commonly found in vegan meals, are good sources of protein and calcium. One cup of tempeh contains more protein than five eggs, and half a cup of tau kwa (pressed tofu) contains 16 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of calcium.

Benefits of veganism

Soon Chinmy holds a box of salad from Subway, one of the food places in NTU that offers vegan food.

DURING a General Paper lesson in junior college, Nicole Goo discovered a startling fact: Fish could become extinct in 30 to 50 years.

Goo, now 22, was intrigued and did more research into the topic, where she subsequently came across a video titled 101 Reasons to Become Vegan from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida. She went on to watch other videos as well, and learnt about the cruel methods used to slaughter animals.

The videos were a “wake-up call” for Goo, motivating her to remove animal products from her diet.

“I always knew my food came from animals, but I never thought about the process by which my food was obtained,” said the second-year Nanyang Business School student, who has been a vegan for the past three years.

She added: “I thought about the animals and how horribly they were treated, and I couldn’t see meat as food anymore. I saw it as a dead animal that had been butchered and slaughtered.”

The same holds true for 20-yearold Soon Chinmy. Two years ago, she stumbled upon the documentary

Farm to Fridge from international animal rights organization Mercy for Animals and learnt about the impacts of meat production on the environment and human health.

These include climate change due to large emission of greenhouse gases from animal agriculture and the increased risk of mortality from the consumption of red meat. Thus, she was compelled to turn vegan.

“I’m really passionate about the vegan lifestyle because it’s in line with my values and my belief that animals should not be abused,” the first-year School of Social Sciences student said. “Over the years, as I became enlightened about the negative consequences of consuming meat, my passion was reinforced.”

The vegan lifestyle In recent years, the vegan community in Singapore has been growing steadily. Singapore was named the second most vegan-friendly Asian city in 2016, behind Taipei,

by American animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

A vegan diet is plant-based and excludes foods that are derived

PHOTO: NICHOLAS KOO

from animals, such as dairy products like milk and cheese.

For Goo, the hardest part about becoming a vegan was giving up her favourite non-vegan foods.

“I used to have Llaollao three times a week, so the hardest thing for me to give up was yogurt. But I was very determined to become a vegan, so that helped me to kick my yogurt-eating habits,” she said.

There are vegan alternatives to most foods. For instance, nutritional yeast is used as a substitute for cheese in a vegan diet, and nut milks like almond milk are consumed in place of cow milk.

For Soon, the biggest obstacle to adopting a vegan lifestyle was the disapproval from her parents.

Her mother was worried that she would not get enough nutrition if she turned to a vegan diet.

“It was tough for me at the beginning because I argued a lot with my parents. My mum even went three months without talking to me,” said Soon.

Such criticism usually stems from the misconception that vegans do not get sufficient nutrition due to their dietary restrictions. However,

Since turning vegan, Goo’s health has greatly improved.

“My skin has cleared up a lot ever since I cut dairy out of my diet. My digestion is a lot better now, and I feel like I have this boost of energy every morning, even at 6 or 7am,” she said.

Other proven health benefits of a vegan diet include a reduced risk of cancer due to the increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, all of which help to prevent cancer. A vegan lifestyle also promotes better heart health as harmful animal fats, which are saturated, are not consumed.

According to Medical News Today, a medical website owned by Healthline Media UK Ltd., saturated fats, which are mainly found in

meat products, increase health risks such as high cholesterol when consumed in large amounts over time.

While the small vegan community here is growing, it is still a relatively uncommon lifestyle among Singaporeans.

For 22-year-old Lee Yi Shin, his love for meat makes it difficult to commit to a vegan diet.

The first-year Sport Science and Management student had looked up the health and environmental benefits of veganism out of curiosity this year.

While he has since reduced his meat consumption, due to its impact on the environment, Lee is still unable to give it up completely.

“Now I cook plant-based food for dinner in hall, but I really like the taste and texture of meat, so I still eat meat on weekends,” said Lee. Even so, Soon hopes that more people will try out the vegan lifestyle.

She said: “I know it can be a difficult diet to stick to.

“But based on personal experience, I felt a lot more energetic after becoming a vegan and happier as well knowing that I was playing a part in helping to save the environment.”

VEGAN FOOD ON CAMPUS While there are no eateries within NTU that cater solely to vegans, vegan options can be found in some of the more popular food places in school: The Soup Spoon Currently, The Soup Spoon only has one vegan soup — the Roasted Pumpkin Soup. However, their bread bowls, focaccia and sourdough bread rolls are vegan too. Other vegan options include their Asian Tofu Salad and Garden Green Salad, but be sure to request for the egg to be removed from the Garden Green Salad.

Subway The Veggie Delight and the Chatpata Chickpea sandwiches are both vegan-friendly. Order these with either the Hearty Italian, White, or Multigrain bread. Alternatively, opt for a wrap instead. Vegan sauces include chilli sauce, tomato sauce, olive oil, red wine vinegar, sweet onion, and mustard.

Koufu vegetarian stall Though not all vegetarian foods are vegan, the Koufu vegetarian stall is vegan-friendly. Popular choices include the spinach and tofu dishes.

A regular plate of rice with three dishes sets you back about $4.

06 LIFESTYLE

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08

Foreign faces, local places With an increasing number of exchange students spending a semester or two in NTU, Xener Gill explores how they cope with life in Singapore

Swede exchange student Daniel Vandolph (left) chats with local student Cha Chao Jing.

PHOTO: TAN XIN JIE

STUDENTS stroll into the canteens during mealtimes, with their chatter filling the air. But listen closely, and one may overhear unfamiliar accents as groups of exchange students converse among one another.

Last semester, the Nanyang Chronicle reported that there was a record number of exchange students in NTU, with 1,200 graduate and undergraduate students accepted in total.

Living overseas for an extended period of time and adapting to the Singaporean lifestyle can be difficult, but for most exchange students, it just takes time.

her was the attitude of service staff in Singapore.

“A few times, I got quite an annoyed response from the (service staff) when they had to look at me and tell me that I should tell them what I want (when ordering food),” said Munger.

She added that in Switzerland, the service staff normally greet customers before asking them what they would like to order.

“While the culture here is different from Switzerland, I find it entertaining to learn about these differences because it’s a ‘Oh! I should’ve known that!’ kind of moment,” she said.

The education system When 26-year-old Swede William Nestor first started school in Singapore, he found it challenging to cope with the syllabus.

“In Sweden, we follow a courseby-course system so you have one course that runs for a month and only one thing to focus on in that month. But here, I have to keep track of five different classes at the same time,” said Nestor, a student at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

In order to catch up with his peers, he even stayed up until 4am doing work during the first few weeks of school. He has since grown used to juggling different modules at once, and enjoys the diversity of his classes.

On the other hand, Selena Debbert, a 23-year-old Canadian, had no such problems.

“The business courses here are structured very similarly to Canada, where the emphasis is on learn-

ing throughout the year with small assignments and having class participation,” said the Nanyang Business School student.

However, Debbert does feel more pressure to excel here because of the focus on grades.

“In Canada, if you get the degree, you get the degree, so the marks aren’t as important unless you’re trying to get into postgraduate school,” she said.

“In Singapore, everyone considers marks as important no matter what they’re planning on doing after, and the students are so hardworking,” added Debbert.

Hospitality of Singaporeans Xenia Munger, 23, a Swiss student at the School of Biological Sciences, found it challenging to befriend local students when she first came to NTU last August.

She felt that exchange students had to make an extra effort to meet local students and be proactive in making plans since the local students already had their own circle of friends.

“It was hard at the beginning, because I’m not a very outgoing person and I’m bad at keeping conversations going,” she said.

Fortunately, before her first class of the semester, Munger met a local student who had just returned from exchange. She understood the experience of being in a foreign country and made the effort to speak to Munger.

Munger has since befriended more local students from her classes and the NTU Women’s Rugby team, which she is a member of.

Another bit of culture shock for

Jung (left) enjoys a plate of chicken rice with local student Maisarah Mohammad.

Language barriers For Canadian Nicholas Pellegrino, who is studying at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, conversing with Singaporeans is not a problem.

“After all, English is English. It’s just that in Singapore, there are different slangs and words that are borrowed from other languages which I just have to get used to,” said the 21-year-old.

Singaporeans tend to speak at a faster pace as compared to Canadians, said Pellegrino. However, his friends adjust their talking speed for him, which he is grateful for.

“I can understand what they’re saying to me but when they talk to each other, I can’t always catch it,” he said.

He added that it is challenging to understand some of his professor’s in-class jokes and he is usually unaware that a joke has been cracked until the entire room is already filled with laughter.

For 23-year-old Korean Jung Hyeju, adapting to spoken English in Singapore was a struggle, as she spoke English only to foreigners and exchange students back home in Korea.

“Singlish is really hard to understand and the words that are used in Singapore are in British English, which I’m not used to,” said the third-year School of Humanities student.

She finds it frustrating some-

PHOTO: JUNG HYEJU

times when she is unable to get her point across during group projects and discussions.

But Jung added that she has become more confident in her English since arriving, and can better understand Singlish now.

“I’m slowly getting used to it (Singlish). If I don’t understand anything, I will ask my local friends, who are very friendly and always help me even though they don’t know me well,” she said.

SINGLISH SLANG TERMS TRANSLATED

BY EXCHANGE STUDENTS Bo jio (to not invite someone to an event or activity) William Nestor: What would you like? Or what do you think?

Selena Debbert: Oh well Xenia Munger: Oh no Nicholas Pellegrino: Bothering someone?

Jung Hyeju: Boy? Atas (high class) Nestor: Fancy Debbert: Oh my, I couldn’t even guess this one Munger: Snobbish Pellegrino: Classy Jung: A happy sound Bo liao (being in a situation of idleness) Nestor: Jealous or uninterested Debbert: It sounds like something negative

Munger: Someone who gossips a lot Pellegrino: Someone who gossips Jung: Delicious Ang moh (to describe Caucasians) Nestor: A directional thing?

Debbert: A foreigner Munger: A foreigner Pellegrino: I don’t know Jung: Ang Mo Kio? Walao (to describe surprise or disappointment) Nestor: Don’t say this word to the professors Debbert: Why or what?

Munger: It’s like what the hell, they say that during rugby training all the time Pellegrino: Expression of exasperation Jung: Don’t have

VOL. NO.

24

LIFESTYLE

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

Time to get fit

PHOTOS: HILLARY TAN

IN PRIMARY and secondary school, mandatory physical education lessons can help to keep the fitness levels of students in check.

However, upon reaching tertiary education, the responsibility of adopting an active lifestyle falls entirely on the student.

It is important that young adults remain active.

According to a study in 2016 by JAMA Internal Medicine, a medical

journal published by the American Medical Association, fitness in young adults was found to be associated with lower long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in one’s later years and better overall health.

Additionally, exercise has also been proven to keep one mentally sharper throughout their entire life.

Studies by the American Physiological Society suggest that people who exercise can grow more brain

cells compared to their peers who do not.

This is because the hippocampus, an area in the brain closely linked to learning and memory, is especially receptive to new neuron growth in response to endurance exercise.

In the short term, adopting an regular exercise routine can provide one with more energy throughout the day.

07

University students may find it hard to make time to exercise, but Kames Narayanan shows that all it takes is a few minutes This also means an energy boost for the brain, thus improving one’s mental output.

Despite the benefits of an active lifestyle, only 10 and 20 per cent of students from the Institutes of Technical Education and local polytechnics engage in an hour’s worth of physical activity per day respectively.

This was revealed in the 2016 Students’ Health Survey conducted by the Health Promotion Board.

Though no formal studies have been carried out on university students, it is likely that numbers are low for university students as well.

The unpopularity of exercising regularly among tertiary students could be due to the misconception that it takes up a lot of time.

But a study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia in 2013 revealed that regardless of the intensity of exercise that one partakes in, the benefits reaped are similar.

“There is a common misconception that in order to stay fit, one has to spend a significant amount of time working out. This, in fact, is a myth,” said 29-year-old personal fitness trainer Karthik Nair.

“What has been proven to be more effective is incorporating an active lifestyle into everyday life.

“All you need is 10 to 20 minutes each day, and you can practically work out wherever you are. If a gym is not accessible to you, there are plenty of exercises you can do without even leaving the comfort of your room,” he added.

Some simple exercises that can be done in under 15 minutes are lunges and squats, he said.

For students staying in hall, exercise can be easily incorporated into their busy schedules by taking part in the various hall sports or dance activities.

“I used to stay in hall, so joining hall sports was the chance for me to get my weekly dose of exercise,” said third-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student Lee Yu En. “Although I don't really work out apart from those sessions, I would say that there was definitely plenty of time to run and exercise, especially in the evenings or at night," she added.

Additionally, students who do not stay on campus may also register for sports modules offered by the National Institute of Education, such as tchoukball and badminton, to kick-start their fitness journey.

With all the options at one’s disposal, all it takes is making the first move towards a healthier lifestyle.

The following are five fuss-free exercises for beginners to try out. For a 15-minute workout, do three sets of each exercise, with each repetition lasting a minute.

Caterpillar walk (above) Standing with your feet together, bend your body over and bring your hands to the floor. Slowly walk your hands forward to a push-up position, with your hands aligned with your shoulders. Do one push-up. Keeping your hands planted, walk your feet towards them and return to a standing position. Target area: Full body

Bodyweight squat Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Hold your arms straight out at shoulder level, parallel to the floor.

Push your hips back and bend your knees while keeping your torso upright.

Target areas: Quads, hamstrings and glutes

Hip raise Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Raise your arms at a 45-degree angle with both palms facing up. Raise your hips so that your body forms a straight line. Hold the position for five seconds.

Target areas: Glutes and core

Side plank Lie on your right with both knees straightened. Prop your upper body on your right elbow and forearm, which should be directly below your right shoulder. Place your left hand on your left hip. Raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders.

Target area: Core

Leg extension crunches Sit on the floor with your hands behind you, palms facing down.

Lean back and raise both legs off the floor. Bend your knees and curl your legs in towards your body.

Extend your legs, then raise them as high as you can. Lower your legs, making sure they do not touch the floor.

Target areas: Quads and core

“All you need is 10 to 20 minutes each day, and you can practically work out wherever you are."

Karthik Nair, 29 Personal fitness trainer

08 LIFESTYLE

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08

Ways to secure a job Peak season is in for students rushing to find internships or jobs. Wee Rae finds out what help they can get from NTU career coaches and consultants THIRD-YEAR School of Social Sciences (SSS) student Tan Ren Kiat was only in his second year of university when he started applying for internships.

“I thought it would be good (for me) to get a head start,” said the 24-year-old.

He managed to clinch a position as a research assistant with the Ministry of Home Affairs during his summer break, thinking that research was an area he would be interested in.

But after his 10-week stint, during which he did qualitative research on case studies regarding team resilience for the Singapore Police Force under the Police Psychological Services division, Tan realised that the job was not for him.

Tan then decided to approach the NTU Career & Attachment Office (CAO) for advice on the types of jobs that would suit his personality.

“I was considering a lot of options and wanted a second opinion on what would be a good fit for me,” he said.

After attending group coaching sessions as well as one-to-one consultations with SSS career

more time understanding the student’s concerns and needs.”

The group sessions are held workshop-style but capped at eight to nine participants. The small class size facilitates greater interaction between the coach and the students, allowing students more hands-on practice and time to ask questions.

Though most students are aware of this service due to the frequent emails sent out by the office, according to Ms Rachel Wang, a career coach for the School of Biological Sciences, many students only approach CAO for help in their final year. But ideally, students should start attending these sessions as early as possible.

Seventy per cent of students who participated in individual and group sessions are fourthyear students, while third-year and first to second-year students make up only 20 and 10 per cent respectively.

While career coaches provide general help, students who have an industry in mind can turn to the career consultants for more industry-specific advice.

“The coaches are like the GPs The career coaches of the Career & Attachment Office (CAO).

“She offered to send my resume to some of the companies directly, securing me the first round of interviews,” said Mr Xu, 26, who gradu-

“She offered to send The career consultants of CAO.

coach Kee May Lee, Tan realised that he preferred working in a place that allowed him to interact with people. He then began looking for internships that would allow him to do so.

Career exploration coaching service

and

The career services provided by CAO address career, resume and interview concerns that students may have. They are offered to both individuals and groups, and are conducted by CAO’s career coaches.

On what the coaching sessions entail, Ms Kee said, “The one-toone sessions are more personalised and targeted because we can spend

(general practitioners).

When you’re not feeling well, you go to the GP for diagnosis and referral if necessary. If you need consultation in a specific domain, you will have to go to a specialist. Our consultants are like the specialists,” said Ms Wang.

For example, Renaissance Engineering Programme alumnus Xu Shutao was keen on working in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Mr Xu, who specialised in Chemical Engineering, then approached ICT career consultant See Wai Yen while he was still studying in NTU. Ms See provided him with a list of companies to consider, and also went beyond her call of duty.

my resume to some of the companies directly, securing me the first round of interviews.”

Xu Shutao, 26 Alumnus Renaissance Engineering Programme

ated last year. Mr Xu started work as a software engineer at software firm BitTitan after graduation.

New initiatives by CAO Apart from advising students on how to go about choosing their

careers, the career consultants also come up with ideas on how to showcase new job opportunities to the school population.

This academic year, Ms See invited industry experts in areas such as artificial intelligence and blockchain to give talks and conduct workshops for NTU students.

Such sessions happen almost weekly and take place in different formats, depending on the company conducting it.

While some companies may choose to only conduct recruitment talks, others may hold informative sessions to share industry knowledge and introduce their respective companies to students.

One of the job search challenges faced by students is that they do not understand themselves enough.

Hence, CAO’s career coaches introduced the Self-AssessWORKOUT session to address this concern.

During the sessions, Knowdell Card Sorts are used to help participants identify their career values, motivations, skills and occupational interests.

Through this session, students will get to understand how such factors affect their career decisions

PHOTOS: CAO

and know which jobs are more suitable for them.

Start early, and be bold Ms Melissa Ng, career consultant for consumer business, media and marketing, and logistics and transportation, advised students to start thinking early about the type of jobs that they want to have in the future.

She said many students often wait till their final year before starting their research on suitable jobs and as a result, may become very anxious and worried due to the time constraint.

“If you start it right and early, by the time you get involved with many more (career-related) events, by the time you reach your penultimate year, you will definitely have a clearer idea of what you want to do,” she added.

On what are some important attributes that one should have when looking for a job, Mrs Chong Mei Eng, deputy director of CAO, said: “You must be willing to take up challenges and just go for it. A lot of it (applying for a job) is about taking one big step after another.

You need to be bold."

10-11 SPOTLIGHT

1

Chefs on campus Follow Photo Editor Nicholas Koo on a food trail as he talks to some of NTU’s best chefs — its students Cooking for passion Cooking in school may seem like a daunting task for some, but for Glen Kuick, 22, it only takes a nonstick pan and a pinch of passion.

The second-year School of Social Sciences student picked up cooking as a teenager while helping his grandmother in the kitchen.

Before long, he was taking food orders from family members and was even put in charge of family dinners. They loved his dishes, whipped up exactly as they wanted it.

But Kuick’s passion could not be confined to just cooking for his family; he is now feeding his university friends too.

After cooking pork chops for a friend who did not like pork, and managing to change her mind, Kuick was inspired to do more with food.

Now, he wants to influence people to be more open to food and its possibilities.

He does so by cooking dishes for friends and challenging himself by adding an ingredient they dislike into the dish, only revealing this after they’ve tried it. These secret ingredients have ranged from fish and other meats, to leek and celery.

This would often surprise many of his friends, who would find themselves enjoying what Kuick had served.

With every dish he plates, the young cook is changing people’s mindsets about food.

“It has to start somewhere from someone,” he said. “No matter how small, at least there’s a difference made to anyone I come across.”

Cooking for fellowship For some, cooking in school is a bonding activity. Just ask Joel Ang, 23, and his roommate in Hall of Residence 16, Quek Wen Jie, 23.

The pair has different cooking styles — Ang is organised and likes

to refer to recipes, while Quek prefers to use his intuition when deciding what ingredients to add to the mix.

But both agree that spending time together in the kitchen helps to take their minds off work.

“Cooking is partly about the food, but ultimately it’s all about the company, which makes the process fun,” said Ang, a second-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student.

The roommates enjoy cooking for their friends in hall, too.

And though most students run the age-old excuse of being strapped for time, Ang’s stance is: “We’ve got to make time.”

Students have the convenience of two supermarkets in school, and sourcing for groceries does not take long either, he said.

“All we need to cook are a wok and spatula — not that much of a hassle.”

1. A succulent dish of chicken breast created by Glen Kuick, 22, served on a bed of butterhead lettuce and baby rockets seasoned lightly with parmesan and walnuts, with a base of carrot puree.

2. Through his food, Kuick hopes to inspire others and show them that gourmet food can be made at home too.

3. Kuick finishes preparing the meal by plating his dish, as he believes that presentation is as important as the meal’s taste.

4. A ribeye steak prepared by Joel Ang and Quek Wen Jie, paired with lemon-infused aglio olio and pork skewers with bell peppers, served in their signature mess tin.

5. Despite their busy schedules, roommates Ang and Quek still manage to pick up groceries at the supermarkets on campus for their weekly cooking sessions.

6. The roommates, both 23, enjoy cooking together to take time away from their books and bond as friends.

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS KOO

Follow the chefs on Instagram at @gastrokuick and @themesstinboys

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08

5

6

4

2

3

Sc ence

More than just a phone alarm

Abigail Ng WHEN final-year student Trisha Lim, 23, stopped using Telegram for nine hours, her friends were alarmed.

Nine hours is a short time, but it was a departure from her usual behaviour. The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student usually checks the app once an hour – at least.

“One of my friends started asking other people if I was okay,” she said.

Another asked her on Facebook if she was all right.

Her friends’ concern may not be irrational, researchers point out.

Experts believe changes in patterns of posts and clicks can hold clues to the user’s mental or physical health.

“Our interactions with the digital world could unlock secrets of disease,” Dr Sachin H. Jain, who studies Twitter posts for signs of sleep problems, said to The New York Times.

Lim’s coursemate, 22-year-old Rachel Lim, agrees. She will call friends who “go off the radar for

PHOTO: TAN XIN JIE

too long” as she believes that such online indicators could even be more telling than a person’s real-life behaviour or actions.

“Cryptic posts, sad quotes or

black-and-white pictures on social media are tell-tale signs,” she said, adding: “I think many people in this era feel safer expressing themselves behind screens.”

In Singapore, surveys show 77 per cent of the population actively use social media, with the average time spent on devices being close to 13 hours.

American company Mindstrong

Health monitors smartphone habits down to the taps and clicks, watching for changes in mood and memory associated with depression.

As the start-up’s co-founder Dr Thomas Insel says: “We are building digital smoke alarms for people with mental illness.”

But some remain sceptical about the connection, attributing changes in social media behaviour to simple reasons such as low battery or the lack of an Internet connection.

Final-year student Melissa Ong, from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, was on a flight to Sweden that arrived two hours late.

When she landed, she found her phone filled with worried messages from her exchange companions.

“I had no Internet access at the time and was unable to inform them of the flight delay,” she said.

She added: “Still, I guess if it really were a life-or-death situation, their concern could make a difference.”

It’s a dog’s world Lim Ching Ying

GRAPHIC: LIM CHING YING

Some people still think Earth is flat Chong Yoke Ming IN A bid to prove that Earth is flat, American Mike Hughes planned to launch a $27,400 homemade rocket that would take photographs till the edge of the planet.

Many people gathered in the Mojave Desert near California for the spectacle last month. But after 11 minutes, Hughes aborted his plan – for the third time.

“Guys, I’m sorry,” Hughes, a limousine driver, told the media.

So, we still have no pictures to show Earth is shaped like a Frisbee.

Hughes is not alone in his belief of a flat Earth. In fact, several organisations have formed in recent years to promote the idea, including the Flat Earth Society,

which boasts over 43,800 followers on Twitter.

Rapper B.o.B and NBA star Kyrie Irving are among the believers who say that space photos of Earth are altered to make it look spherical.

They point to the results of English inventor Samuel Rowbotham who in 1838 marked out a six-mile stretch of water along a river in Bedfod and noted that the surface of the water remained flat.

Experts have tried to explain why some people still don’t get that Earth is a sphere. Flat Earth believers are just trying to make sense of the world around them, they say.

Prevailing scientific theories are

often overturned as man moves to a more precise understanding of the universe, astronomer Stuart Clark told Business Insider UK. And this is just too complicated for some people. “There is a tendency for people to reject that reality, and just fall back on comfortable myths, things that make them feel at home and make them much happier that they know what is going on,” he said.

Meanwhile Hughes’ battle to prove that Earth is flat continues, and he dreams of seeing Earth’s edge one day.

But first, he will need to break away from the gravitational pull of the Earth’s spherical core.

EVEN in science, there seems to be a bias towards man’s best friend — far more scientific research has been conducted on dogs than cats.

The dog genome was sequenced before the cat. Surface evidence also comes in the form of PubMed, a database of biomedical journals, shows 139,858 results for cats and 328,781 for dogs.

This, in spite of the value vets believe cats could bring to the research table.

Dr Kate Megquier, a veterinarian working on a Ph.D. at the Broad Institute in cancer genomics, told the New York Times: “They get a

lot of cancers called lymphomas, and they certainly have something to teach us about them.”

Dr Leslie Lyons, a geneticist at the University of Missouri recently responsible for sequencing a new cat genome, also adds that it is harder to obtain funding for studies involving cats.

It is not just favouritism towards canines though.

Researchers acknowledge that dogs share many other similarities with humans, as well as the simple fact that they have been domesticated for a far longer time than felines.

GRAPHIC: LIM CHING YING

Opinion EDITORIAL

THE GOAL? STAY IN THE GAME IN THE recently concluded IHG soccer season, dark horses Halls 6 and 9 made history — Hall 6 for clinching the cup for the first time in a decade, and Hall 9 for reaching the finals.

Longstanding champions Halls 16 and 3, who were the favourites to win, were ousted in the semi-finals.

Such stories, however small, represent the side of us that feels like we are never enough. They spark hope that even the weakest among us can one day rise to seize victory.

Think back to the 4th of July 2004, when Greece pulled off one of the biggest upsets of football history to defeat Portugal and clinch the Euro Cup. Recall how, Apple was once associated with the uncool and the misfits.

Both might never have succeeded, if they had focused on trying to win every match or come up with a better product at every launch. Because channeling energy towards making small wins at every stage is exhausting. Sooner or later, the team would have given up.

Providing another perspective at a Google talk in 2017, motivational speaker Simon Sinek said: “Sometimes you are ahead and sometimes you are behind. Your goal is not to beat your competi-

tor. Your goal is to outlast your competitor.”

And that is what Greece and Apple did. They channeled their energy inward and started focusing on improving themselves.

For Greece, they developed a strong familial culture and a formidable spirit. Instead of focusing on victory at every football game, they played to survive even if it meant achieving a draw.

For Apple, they focused on making products more intuitive and crafting designs that inspired. They were more obsessed with their vision than with the new features and products that their competitors were throwing into the market.

We can draw from such lessons. As students, we want to stay ahead of the curve, whether it is through choosing an easier module to score in or to find a “better” internship. But maybe, what is more important is to understand what we desire and to move towards that goal with persistence, even if we have to go trophyless for a long period of time.

Only by realising that there are no true winners and losers in life – just those who choose to give up when they have lost their will to succeed – can we truly start to play the game.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

LAYOUT SUPERVISOR

DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR

CHINESE EDITOR

DIGITAL ADVISOR

SUB-EDITORS

DIGITAL EDITOR

PRODUCTION SUPPORT

Claudia Chong Ariel Pang

Jolene Ang Hillary Tan

NEWS EDITORS Jovi Ho Adrien Chee

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Wee Rae

Clive Sin

Lo Hoi Ying

Natasha Razak

PHOTO EDITOR Nicholas Koo

BUSINESS MANAGERS Vanessa Tan Vinice Yeo

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 Twitter: @chronNTU Website: www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg General Enquiries: chronicle@e.ntu.edu.sg

Yeo Kai Wen Ng Yi Shu

Joe Tok Kenny Wong

FACULTY ADVISORS Wu Shangyuan Zakaria Zainal

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

GRAPHIC: CASSANDRA LIM

Left alone to prosper Jing Hui OVER the past few years, the idea of loneliness has received considerable attention for its negative impacts on physical and mental health. In August 2017, The Guardian reported that loneliness can cause higher risks of heart attacks and earlier deaths.

The concern over loneliness is justified. We fear being alone because it makes us appear disliked and out of place. We crave companionship because it makes us feel understood and accepted.

But being alone is different from being lonely.

Solitude is objective and looks at the amount of social interaction a person has. On the other hand, loneliness is subjective and looks at how isolated a person feels. Therefore, it is possible for a person to feel lonely even when surrounded by people.

We should embrace being alone because we can develop skills that can help us lead a healthier life.

Increasing productivity Being alone boosts productivity. As university students, we are expected to learn independently, which means that we have more on our plates as compared to pre-university students, who are given more guidance at school.

Working alone helps us to focus and be less distracted by the people around us.

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2017 that employees in open offices found it harder to concentrate on their work. They were not only distracted by auditory noise, but also “visual noise”, when they see movements around them from the corner of their eyes.

So when it comes to working, being alone is a good way to achieve productivity.

Understanding self Increasing productivity is not the most significant benefit.

An article by the Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour found that one of the main benefits of solitude is the development of a distinct identity. The study showed that being alone allows one to be more in tune with one’s feelings and decisions, leading to better self-awareness and a stronger sense of personal identity.

Increased self-awareness will in turn lead to a clearer idea of one’s values and beliefs. We often have to make difficult decisions – such as whether to go on exchange, whether to take out loans or which modules to enrol in. Knowing what truly matters will help us make those decisions instead of just following the crowd.

Forging connections Solitude also helps to forge better relationships, as a study has re-

vealed that compassion is developed by being alone.

A Cognitive Neuroscience study using neuroimaging in 2016 provided evidence that people who described themselves as lonely reacted twice as quickly to images, as compared to people who did not.

This suggests that they are more attentive to their surroundings.

Psychology professor John T. Cacioppo, one of the study’s authors, said this indicates that people who interact less with others are “more attentive to the distress of others” because lonely people, who lack the security from being part of a group, evolve to be more observant.

This increased sensitivity to the surroundings can help us empathise and create better relationships.

Being alone might not always be the most pleasant thing. It is often stigmatised in society and can be misinterpreted as being anti-social or arrogant. It can lead to one being called unpleasant names like “loner” or “hermit”.

Nonetheless, we should still embrace being alone because its benefits can improve our lives. We do not have to be alone all the time, but striking a balance between solitude and socialising would allow us to enjoy the best of both worlds.

After all, in a world where we receive so much information about everything around us, not knowing ourselves would be a real tragedy.

VOL. NO.

24

OPINIONS

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

15

More than skin deep

GRAPHIC: TAN XIN JIE

It is time we accept that tattoos do not define an individual's moral decency, but can be appreciated instead as a form of art Adrien Chee News Editor “YOU are a disgrace to the family, you are just going to take drugs next!” said my uncle as he pointed to the tattoos on my chest.

I laughed, and said nothing.

Even in the 21st century, people with tattoos are still stereotyped as lacking moral decency and deserving of condemnation.

It is time we view tattoos as a form of artistic expression and steer away from stereotyping the people who have them.

A symbol of the damned In the past, tattoos were associated with triads, gangsters, and outcasts, and have historically been used to mark gang-related insignias and reflect crime-filled lives.

Singaporean tattoo artist Ng See Min said in an interview with Vulcan Post in 2017 that tattoos are

considered a “sign of gangsterism or irresponsibility” in Singapore, perpetuating a stigma she believes will likely take years to remove.

However, this has created a new market. Using henna or jagua, which is ink extracted from Jagua fruit originating from Central or South America, See Min allows people to express themselves with temporary tattoos that can last up to two weeks.

In a study published by The Social Science Journal in 2013, researchers examined tattoo behaviour and bias in Singapore. Some of the findings were pretty obvious: For instance, the more tattoos a person had, the more they felt stigmatised by others.

The journal also found that 90 per cent of the tattooed respondents had received negative remarks from the public.

Former human resource director Theresa Ng, 54, said companies today still avoid hiring individuals with exposed tattoos, as they “do not reflect well on the branding and quality of firms”.

In a letter to The Straits Times in 2016, a reader wrote that getting tattoos should be discouraged, because “we should take good care of our bodies”.

The writer felt that tattooing was a permanent scarring of the body and continued to say that we should “stem the spread of the tattooing trend” in Singapore.

It is a tragedy that many people here still fail to appreciate the beauty of tattoos as a form of artistic expression.

Beyond blemished history The tattoos that we see on the streets today are no longer what they stood for in the 1900s.

“Our forefathers used (the tattoo) as a symbol of loyalty to the underworld, but now we use it as a symbol of loyalty to ourselves, to our beliefs,” said tattoo artist Ben Hu from the award-winning 13ink tattoo parlour in Taipei, in an interview with the Nanyang Chronicle.

Modern tattoos are forms of artistic expression for individuals, with stylistic designs like animals and nature holding meanings beyond the literal.

“For many, this process is a spiritual, emotional and physical experience that allows individuals to get closer to what they love and believe in,” Mr Hu said.

This is true for me. Tattoos are a way for me to express my ideas and my life.

My first tattoo was a Roman numeral seven on my hip bone. My tattoo artist warned me against the pain as it was located directly above the bone. However, the number was important as it was the date that my mother gave birth to me, so I went ahead. Six years on, I have collected eight different tattoos across my body.

The rose tattoo on my ribs is particularly significant as it representated my final gift to my mother. It was her favourite flower. Yet, it was also the gift that I failed to give her as her son when she was around.

The rib area is one of the most painful parts to tattoo, and it reflects the pain that I went through when I lost her.

It's just art Going beyond self-expression, tattoos can be viewed as paintings represented on a different canvas.

The marks of ink made on the human skin are permanent artworks which bring together the recipient’s vision and the tattoo artist’s technique and skills.

Art can mean the communication of an idea or a different perspective through the altering or even challenging of the status quo.

Art need not fit the taste and pref-

erences of the masses. But it should be a manifestation of a vision.

A tattoo is the visual manifestation of an individual’s memories, emotions and thoughts. It is not created with the intention to please the viewer. Yet through its vibrant colours and eclectic design, it can attract attention, evoke emotions and inspire imagination.

To see each individual design in isolation would be a folly. With tattoos, we can consider the human body as an exhibition of art pieces.

For an art curator, it is important to consider how the use of space can create synergy between art works in a museum. An individual deciding the placement of his tattoo steps into those shoes.

He has to decide the location of the tattoo, the significance of the tattoo in relation to the specific body part and ultimately how each design flows into one another.

And because it is art mounted onto one’s skin, a tattoo is both an expression of pride and vulnerability. Even as we are intrigued by the intricacy of its design, we can also step back to appreciate the humanness of this art in its entirety.

Art, in all its forms, should be appreciated. It’s time we do the same for tattoos.

16

OPINIONS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08

Woes of the middle class

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: NICHOLAS KOO

Rising healthcare costs and a lack of subsidies mean middle-income families may be struggling

of some Singaporean families, it is easy to miss the point that middleincome families may actually be struggling to survive in Singapore.

Freda Peh

In 1987, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore a “middle-class society”. He took pride in the fact that Singapore was not plagued by class distinctions caused by occupation, education level and lifestyle.

However, the rise of inflation in the following decades have surpassed the rate of increase in income for many families.

This has resulted in a middle class “squeeze”, as argued by Associate Professor Ho Kong Weng in Middle Class in Singapore: Security or Anxiety? published by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in 2014.

Since we usually use nominal income, or dollar amounts, to judge if a family can sustain itself comfortably, the struggles faced by middleincome families are less obvious.

This is because this marker fails to account for the effects of inflation, as well as the financial constraints of individual families with young school-going children or healthcare dependents.

EARLY last month, Singaporeans were outraged by a middle-income family seeking financial aid from the government ahead of Budget 2018.

The family featured by The New Paper claimed to be “suffering" and struggling to make ends meet, despite drawing a five-figure income.

Their expenses included payment for sailing lessons and private tuition for their children, in addition to hiring a maid.

Because they earn just enough to cross the income threshold, they do not receive welfare subsidies.

Many were livid at the family’s request for aid. The public accused them of already enjoying privileges that were out of reach for most.

While the article placed a spotlight on the extravagant lifestyles

The overlooked "middle"

Swept under the rug In contrast, lower-income groups receive subsidies such as GST off-

set packages, health subsidies and workfare supplements.

For instance, children in government-aided schools are eligible for bursaries if their family's gross monthly household income does not exceed S$6,000.

On the flipside, a Global Wealth Report by Credit Suisse Research Institute found that in 2017, the number of millionaires in Singapore rose 2.7 per cent to 152,000, owning a total wealth of US$570 billion (S$748 billion).

With the impending consumption tax hike announced in the 2018 Budget, middleincome families at the lower end of the spectrum will likely be hit hard.

That leaves us with the middleincome group, and the assumption is that these families can take care of themselves.

At a 2015 People’s Action Party rally, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam acknowl-

edged that “the middle class pays very high taxes so that everyone gets something. It’s a very expensive system for the middle class — not just for the rich.”

It is especially taxing for families in the lower end of the middle-income bracket — because they earn just enough to cross the income threshold, they do not receive welfare subsidies.

Assistant Professor Woo Jun Jie from NTU’s School of Social Sciences said the government is not incentivised to provide the middle class with additional aid, because the poor and vulnerable of society require more assistance.

However, with the impending consumption tax hike announced in the 2018 Budget, middle-income families at the lower end of the spectrum will likely be hit hard.

Families with healthcare dependents and young dependents are most susceptible to falling into the lower-income bracket, Prof Woo noted.

A re-evaluation of priorities The expectations of excelling in our meritocratic system also adds to the strain.

Every parent would want their child to do well, even if it means spending beyond their means.

Shelling out for tuition is seen as necessary for any child’s future.

The number of middle-class fam-

ilies seeking temporary financial aid are on the rise, noted principal social worker Petrine Lim of Fei Yue Family Service Centre in the same IPS paper.

Even though parents struggle to finance their children’s education, they find it difficult to meet the criteria of subsidies such as the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Further considerations So it seems The New Paper could have picked a more suitable family to feature, to truly highlight the plight of the middle class.

Choosing a family that seemed neither representative nor relatable to many Singaporean families diverted discussion towards the lifestyle choices made by one family.

It is time to throw a spotlight on the real struggles of middle-class families in Singapore.

Society needs to re-evaluate its tax markers to address families with healthcare burdens that feel systematically disadvantaged by the system.

With higher living costs and greater income inequality, more families will likely feel the squeeze on their already tight budgets.

As a society, we should try to understand and address these deep-seated systemic problems that affect families in Singapore, rather than sweep them under the rug.

VOL. NO.

24

OPINIONS

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

After some consideration, we might end up realising how to improve a job application or decide to move on from a hopeless cause of unrequited love.

This delay in response gives us ample time to think, which also usually leads to a better and more informed decision.

However, it is easier said than done. Waiting can feel like being trapped in a prison cell with no release date in sight.

From the confines of an actual prison cell, Nelson Mandela expressed his thoughts on his dire situation through a letter to his wife in 1975.

“At least, if for nothing else, the cell gives you the opportunity to look daily into your entire conduct, to overcome the bad and develop whatever is good in you.”

Take control

GRAPHIC: NG YI SHU

We all know that waiting is inevitable – but let's make the most of it Clive Sin Opinion Editor IF YOU have been waiting forever for the special one to reciprocate your love, fist bump, brother.

If your resume has been floating endlessly from one unsympathetic employer to another, my heart goes out to you too. Let me hold your hand, sister.

Because nothing can compare to the torture of waiting when the endpoint is as yet uncertain.

Waiting is a commitment to time, a surrender to unknown forces that paralyses us. While some of us are born with the unusual ability to find peace in uncertainty, most of us oscillate frivolously between pessimism and despair.

And yet, even through all the suffering, there is value to the act of waiting.

Buffering space Waiting for something to happen creates a pause in our lives.

It makes us feel as if we could be doing something more productive.

Since our lives are usually jam packed with activities and a busy schedule is often taken as a marker for fulfillment, it is natural to feel this way.

But when we are forced to wait, it carves out a meaningful space for us to reflect.

According to a Harvard Business Review article published in 2017, Why You Should Make Time for Self-Reflection (Even If You Hate Doing It), waiting allows us to reevaluate our choices and the effectiveness of our strategies.

When we choose to reflect, we make better choices than if we rushed into meaningless tasks just to relieve the boredom.

In his 18 years of imprisonment on Robben Island, Mandela worked with other prisoners to organise education opportunities in prison, inspired a shared vision for South Africans with young fellow convicts and even completed a law degree before his release.

He could have given up, but chose to make himself useful during the wait.

There are lessons to learn from his time in prison.

You could be waiting for a loved one to come home from abroad, the ballot results for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat — nothing remotely close to a prison sentence. Whatever it is, there is always something you can do.

Pick up a new skill even if it’s tying a cherry knot with your tongue.

17

Your next infatuation may just find that hot. Save more money, because even if you do not get the BTO flat this time round, you will be flinging cash into the next application. Because the world isn't going to move for you while you are sitting around moping.

Remember, events may be put on pause but you keep running the race called life.

Reach out for that hammer and strike the phrase “Carpe diem — seize the day” deep into your aching heart.

Purposeful waiting It is interesting how when we want something more, the waiting time seems to lengthen and we suffer more.

But through this passage of time that seems to taunt us at every stage, we can find boundless opportunities to practice and hone our patience.

And that means subjecting ourselves to anxiety, failure and even boredom so that we can develop our endurance.

As English novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton puts it, “Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength.”

Patience is a form of self-restraint and resilience. It allows us to overcome the frustration and fears of giving up while giving us the strength to stick to our guns and master our skills.

And this is a skill that we have to actively practice.

Perhaps one day, we may wake up with the accumulated strength of a Jedi master.

Waiting is an enduring commitment to time, and we mere mortals are bounded to it.

Let us not perceive it as a merciless leash around our necks, but as a measure of how much further we can go in life.

Family ties that bind Prioritise your family members as they will anchor you in life Kames Narayanan WHEN was the last time you spent time with your family? Discounting the mandatory family dinners enforced by your parents or the customary home visits during traditional festivals, chances are, you might not even recall.

A survey of 700 respondents in Singapore conducted in 2016 revealed that over half spent less than 35 hours a week with their immediate families. Furthermore, one in 10 cited just six hours or fewer a week. The results were collected from Singaporeans aged 20 to 69 by Families for Life, a council which seeks to promote family ties.

Some of the reasons cited for the lack of time spent with family in-

cluded busy school schedules and social activities.

But this is barely reason enough for us to take for granted people who are close to us. Time spent with family should not only be cherished but also, prioritised.

Family time is finite When I was about 14 years old, I came home from school to find my mother sobbing on the phone. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that age, I never thought that a terminal illness could happen to my family.

It was a rude awakening and a lesson on the fragility of life.

My mother’s diagnosis, however, did not shift my perspective overnight. At 14, I barely had a social life and most of my days were spent at home.

But as I grew older, the lessons from my mother's illness faded from my memory with each of her subsequent remissions.

It was only when my brother moved out of the house last year after getting married did it all sink in — while we may be bonded by blood, we may not always have the luxury of time together.

Memories of my mother’s brush with cancer also came flooding back, reminding me that it would be folly to think that family would be around forever.

Family over friends Many of us turn to friends in difficult times. Strong friendships are integral, but your friends who are probably battling the same problems as you may not be the best people to turn to for advice.

What we are ignoring could be the vast amounts of experience that our family members can offer. These are adults who have lived and experienced life.

Our parents can help us navigate the transition into adulthood.

From experience, priorities shift once we graduate. Chances

GRAPHIC: BRENDAN TAN

are, the number of friendships we have will dwindle over time.

However, even our closest friends might not stick it out with us to the end. Family will. By being more discerning in the relationships we choose to invest in, we can dedicate more time to the people who really matter.

Looking back on my university days, contact with my family were mere greetings in the

morning, and perhaps a brief catch up on life in the evenings.

I have learnt that as our social calendars fill up, scaling back and re-prioritising our relationships is crucial to nurture strong bonds.

Forging close relationships with family members can only be built with time. Familial ties may be a part of us since the day we are born, but the onus is on us to maintain these relationships.

“ 读 ” 特 的 温 习 角 落 陪 伴 你 准 备 期 末 考

—— 刊21页

新闻

南大生凌晨喧哗 情况仍未改善 陈昱嘉●报道

南

In summary

情况未改善 店员却习以为常

In February, the Student Affairs Office (SAO) sent an email to students reminding them to lower their volume at the coffee shop on Pioneer Road North after complaints were made by residents living in the area.

The coffee shop owners also began taking measures to reduce the noise levels, including putting up reminder posters.

These efforts, however, have not been effective. NTU students tell the Nanyang Chronicle that they sometimes get carried away, and SAO’s email did not leave a lasting impact.

The stall owners also acknowledge that the noise may be attributed to other patrons, besides NTU students, as well.

大生凌晨在先驱组屋区喧 哗遭居民投诉，校方及咖 啡店业者实施措施后，居民反 映情况仍未见改善。 学生与学术服务部（ Student Affairs Office）2月6日对全体学 生发电邮，说先驱居民投诉南 大生凌晨在裕廊西91街大牌947 附近喧哗。电邮提到，众多学 生在此时段会到先驱路的24小 时咖啡店吃夜宵，并提醒学生 降低声量，或可能受警方制裁。

南大生凌晨喧嚣并不是近期才 发生的事。居民已在半年前 （2017年8月）开始向建屋发展 局（HDB）投诉喧哗声。当局经 居民投诉后，同月发送电邮至 大牌964的NTI咖啡店，要求店 主提醒顾客在晚上10点后降低声 量。 咖啡店店主陈先生将电邮打 印成海报，摆放在饮料摊的收 银台前让顾客了解情况。陈先 生说，每当一群人在咖啡店特 别吵闹，员工也将海报递给客 人，提醒他们降低声量。 咖啡店店主陈女士曾屡劝醒 学生调低声量，但她说不是每 个人都听从劝告。 她坦然：“员工会跟学生讲 ‘拜托你们小声一点，这边楼 上的人在睡觉’，但他们也不 管，因为太兴奋了。” 咖啡店座位旁的柱子上也挂 着两条布条，写着：“亲爱的 顾客，请在晚间十点半过后降 低声量，谢谢你们的合作”。 在煮炒摊工作四年的摊位助 手许泳慧（30岁）却说布条不 管用。 她说：“没有人会管这些 的，其实我们也没办法叫人不 讲话。学生有时候讲话、说 笑，又不是一张嘴巴，是几十 张嘴巴，讲起来当然大声！”

学生也反映声量太大 南大生也注意到了喧嚣的情 况。化学与生物医学工程学院

咖啡店座位旁的柱子上挂着布条，提醒顾客降低声量。

一年级生黄顺意（22岁）每个 星期会光临咖啡店两三次。住 在第15学生宿舍的他，会与数 十名朋友开车到咖啡店，从凌 晨一点到三点享用宵夜。 黄顺意说，很多南大生也 选择在这个时段吃宵夜，而聚 集在一起时的声量的确有点太 高。即使有了布条的提醒，情 况也没有什么改变。 他说：“我们虽然看到布条 会调低声音，但呆久了就感觉 比较自在，讲得起劲时就会很 大声，忘了这是公共场所。” 生物科学学院二年级生郑初 华（21岁）通常在晚上十点多光 临咖啡店，观察到多数学生都 是七八个人一起来的，喧嚣声 特高。 她说：“一大群学生说话时 自然就会提高声量，笑起来时 就会更吵闹。” 学生也反映没太留意校方的 电邮。数理科学院二年级生沈 佳美（21岁）通常在晚上十一点

多到咖啡店吃夜宵。她完全没 有注意到SAO的电邮，认为多数 学生也同样忽略了提醒。

声量因时段而异 咖啡店店主陈先生说声量通常 在新学段的初段最显著，但是 随着学段进程而减弱。 他说：“新学期的同学，或 新来的交流学生在迎新会时期 时还不知到情况，但第二学段 他们就有意识了。” 许小姐也说这情况不是每 天发生的，通常只出现在星期 五、六及公共假期晚上。 她说：“平常来来去去的学 生只是那些时期才会来的，学 校放假时就没有了。” 南苑星期四晚上十一点半到 NTI咖啡店观察时， 发现有50多 名穿着南大衬衫的学生三五成 群在吃夜宵。虽然有些吵杂， 但音量还是普通，只有偶尔听 到学生的笑声。 经当局指示，咖啡店的室

摄影：陈培胜 外座椅区（outdoor refreshment area ）的灯和风扇已关，以让 顾客聚集在室内里，降低吵杂 声。室内有六家店仍在营业， 但咖啡店有数十张空桌子，室 外桌子也有十多名酒客。接近 凌晨12点时，南苑观察到越来 越多南大生陆续光临，但声量 仍保持不变。

南大生非罪魁祸首 陈先生说，咖啡店是个开放的 公共场所，各种各样的人都 有，住在这里的居民有时也造 成噪音。 住在先驱大牌976的居民王庆 南（68岁）已在此地住29年， 非常熟悉这里的居民及环境。 他说：“咖啡店是个‘发泄 站’，居民家里有问题都会下 来交流诉苦，气的时候说出来 就会大声一点。” 住在先驱路大牌964对面的的 刘女士（72岁）也经常在晚上 听到在咖啡店的酒客喧嚷。

她说：“有时候（酒客）喝 完酒会发酒疯，如果看到，我就 会避开。” 先驱路居民蔡女士（64岁） 透露，以前在咖啡店看足球的人 也非常吵。但如今电视机因损坏 已拆掉，声量就减少许多。 王先生也认为，一群学生在 一起时难免会比较吵，难怪罪于 南大生。 他说：“他们聚在一起时有 时候没有注意自己说话的声量， 因为太高兴了。比如他们分享 今天踢球踢得很好，或考试考 得好，兴奋时说话就会大声一 点。” 发送电邮后，校方继续呼吁 学生注意声量，为附近的居民着 想。南大的一名公关员通过电邮 向南苑表示，不遵守规矩的南大 生违反了南大的学生行为准则， 校方也会采取相应的行动。 大学公关在电邮中说：“南 大既然有众多留宿学生，我们要 尽量成为附近居民的好邻居。”

VOL. NO.

24

19

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

新闻

摄影：陈培胜

本学期驻校作家孙爱玲希望通过小说记录身边女性的生活和命运。

驻校作家孙爱玲 校内讲座暨作品展 杨量而● 报道

今

年，南大中文系和国家艺 术理事会（National Arts Council）联合推行的华文创作 项目，有幸邀请本地著名作家 孙爱玲驻校，为学生授课。中 文系与南大图书馆合办孙爱玲 的讲座暨作品展，主题为"蓦然 回首—论孙爱玲的分期创作"。 讲座于2月21日在南大华裔馆 举行，中文系教授及同学都纷 纷到场支持。同时，孙爱玲的 作品展也在位于S3.2大楼内中文 图书馆展出，展览日期由2月22 日至3月21日。

NTU-NAC华文创作项目 作家孙爱玲，毕业于南洋大学 中文系，曾任国立教育学院亚 洲与文化系的助理教授，也在 香港的大学担任讲师。 孙爱玲的短篇小说《碧螺十 里香》获得第二届金狮奖小说 推荐组优胜奖及新加坡全国书 籍奖。1989年的《斑布曲》更 获得台湾第一届海华杂志文学 奖第二名。另外，她的论著则 有《红楼梦对话研究》、《论 归侨作家小说》、《儿童文学 与读写教学》等。

华文驻校作家计划为南大 中文系与国家艺术理事会联合 推行的“NTU-NAC华文创作项 目”。每学期都会聘请一位本 地或国际驻校作家到中文系开 班授课，并举办讲座会。此项 目的宗旨为培养学生的创作兴 趣与推进校园的文学氛围。 中文系主任游俊豪副教授 在演讲的致辞上表示：“本系 除了邀请国际著名作家，也曾 邀请四位本地作家担任驻校作 家，每位都具有各自独特的写 作风格与特色。” 当中就包括了英培安、谢裕 民、黄凯德和张曦娜，孙爱玲 则为第五位应聘的本地作家。 有别于前四位作家，孙爱玲 更擅长于写女性的生活命运， 其小说主题常围绕在现代与传 统女性的主体意识。她笔下的 女性都性格、形象鲜明，有自 我意识，且带有文化内涵。 围绕讲座主题，孙爱玲把过 去的作品分成了四个创作阶段。 她说：“我从七十年代末开 始创作，先围绕在追寻生命的 主题上，八十年代开始转向文 化书写，而九十年代写的则是

在海外香港的故事，最后一阶 段则将在今年开始创作。” 孙爱玲计划在授课的同时也 进行小说创作。回到南大前， 于香港担任讲师的她主要在书 写学术论文，因而已有20多年 没有创作小说了。 孙爱玲说：“回到南大授课 的其中一个原因，正是想借此 机会再次创作小说，边授课边 写作，已经答应中文系会在今 年创作两篇小说。” 今年，孙爱玲将创作中篇和 长篇小说各一篇，分别讲诉童 年时期的华校生活记忆与四代 女性从漂泊到定居的故事。

论创作灵感 毕业于南洋大学，从事教育工 作多年的孙爱玲，希望回到曾 经走过的地方，回馈母校，完 成自己的使命。 她说："这次回到南大授课算 是一种使命感，想把自己学到 的、经历到的教给南大学生。" 创作小说对孙爱玲来说是记 录生活、想法及对人生探索的 一种方式。因此，身为女性， 她非常关注女性的命运，也擅

长写女性故事，希望通过小说 记录身边女性的生活和命运。 她认为：“女性在生活上需 要面临许多的抉择，而在社会 上也要接受身份的变化”。 所以，在小说创作课上，孙 爱玲也常介绍一些与女性相关 的小说和电影给同学们。 人文学院四年级生陈淑琪 （22岁）是小说创作课的学， 她认为孙爱玲在课堂分享有关 女性的电影令她印象深刻。 她受访时表示：“虽然孙老 师属于传统式的教学方式，但 所设计的作业非常有趣。老师 介绍的电影，讲述四个在美国 长大的中国女孩故事，《喜福 会》也非常有意思。” 在小说创作上，孙爱玲表 示她受到巴赫金的小说理论影 响，在后期的创作上更加注重 写作手法、叙事视角、小说情 节设定等。这也是在小说创作 的课堂上，孙爱玲常常提醒学 生的要点。而小说场景和氛围 的设定、小说中角色的对话、 小动作、服装等都是写作时必 须注意的细节。 孙爱玲强调：“创作小说

最重要的是在于小说的表现手 法。” 即使一篇简单的故事，也可 以通过表现手法来改变、加强 故事的精彩程度。

In summary Since 2014, the Division of Chinese from the School of Humanities and the National Arts Council have been collaborating to bring in both local and international writers every semester to conduct Chinese creative writing classes.

Local writer and NTU alumnus Soon Ai Ling is the writer -in-residence this semester.

Speaking at a public lecture on 21 Feb, Ms Soon said she hopes to impart to her class the importance of character development and scene-setting for effective storytelling.

An exhibition of her works is also held at the Chinese Library from 2 Feb to 21 Mar.

20

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 08 言论

不要错失中国的潜能 英

国充满文艺气息、韩国是 个时尚购物天堂、而美国 有种奇特的“理想大国”吸引 力。但一说起中国 —— 我们就 不禁被偏见蒙住了。 南大环球教育与交流处 (Of-

到周边同学的埋怨，说不了解 这些“古老”文化与我们的关 系，或连会馆展览中的华文字 都看不懂。 许多西方国家，无论是在艺 术、文化或历史方面都显得精 彩多了——伦敦的音乐剧及巴 黎的博物院都深受众人欢迎。 但中国是世界的文明发源地 (cradles of civilisation) 之一，千 年文明的故事仍等待探索 。 ​还 记 得 坐 在 船 上 过 大 理 的 洱海，微风轻拍着脸颊，喝 着云南白族传统的“三道茶” －苦、甜、回味，即代表生活 的坎坷、快乐及最终的心得。 走在北京紫禁城的楼道，我看 到盖顶叠着由古代皇室画家亲 手绘画上色的木板，记载着皇 宫千年的悠久历史。最印象深 刻的是《印象丽江》的表演－ 彩色斑斓的族群排在锈红色的 山坡上齐声合唱，背景是皑皑 白雪的玉龙雪山。 大多数人去到伦敦看大笨钟 或赴日本看樱花，却错失了这 如诗如画的风景。很多人也因 无据的偏见或误解，而错失探 索大国的机会。 是时候了！新加坡人应向 中国敞开胸怀，放下心中的成 见，重新认识中国。 （文/陈昱嘉）

fice of Global Education and Mobility) 数据显示，仅7%的南大生在 暑假浸濡中 （GEM Discoverer）

选择到中国交流，相比45%的 赴韩学生差得远。我朋友圈里 到中国浸濡的人也罕见。高中 同学一申请去上海名校复旦 大学交流就即刻获得大学奖学 金，“竞争对手” 极少。她笑 说：“因为没人想去中国！” 在中学及高中生涯，我在中 国浸濡的时段总共整三个月， 赴中国数十多个县及城市，感 受了当地的人文气息。对这常 被误解的大国，我却情有独钟。

对陌生大国产生偏见 新加坡年轻华人对中国的偏见 从何而来？ 南洋公共管理研究 生院客座教授吴元华博士在文 章《新加坡青年应多了解真正 的中国》中表示，新加坡这 “马来人海洋里的华人小岛” ，在1960年代建国时期被周边 国家视为中国的代理人。 因此，建国总理李光耀当时 刻意让新加坡与中国保持一段 距离，直到印尼与中国建立邦 交后才正式与中国建交，导致 中新人民之间的断层和疏远。 在这联系真空里，新加坡年 轻华人对中国的认识多数来自 与在籍中国人的互动。吴博士 在访谈中也表示，本地人在日 常生活中看到中国人的一些不 雅行为，就以偏概全地形成对 中国人民及国家的排斥。 社会科学院的社会学客座 副教授柯群英被访问时也说， 虽然新加坡人清楚中国的经济 能力，社会上的关系却有些疏 远。新加坡华侨虽是华人，但 已有自己的本土文化。因此， 我们视中国人为陌生的“他 者” (the other)，不停地比较新 中的文化差异。 但我们需要跨过鸿沟，了解 真正的中国。如果只仰望其他 国家，我们就会错失这大国的 潜能。

神速发展不输欧美 除非远赴中国一趟，我们是无 法想象中国发展的进度。一提 到“中国制造”，许多人就联 想到低质廉价的商品，既落后

In summary 摄影：陈培胜 并不跟进潮流。但事实并未如 此 —— 北京三里屯的购物商场 外表闪亮，一扇接一扇的玻璃 窗壮观迷人，一户户的名牌商 店，看似巴黎香榭丽舍大街的 景象。我也曾站在为奥林匹克 建的鸟巢门口，看见眼前庞大 的体育场，不仅惊叹中国建筑 技术的高超。广州的市中心由 威严的商贸大厦围绕着，与新 加坡滨海湾相似。 这些景象不差纽约市的高楼 大厦，甚至还更整洁：纽约看 似富有魅力，但地铁道上有很 多随手扔的垃圾，脏乱不堪。 见识到纽约这一面颠覆了我对 大国的看法：西方国家并非是 发展的巅峰，而中国也正落力 追上发展的进程。

社会处处有温情 我们通常也对其他国家的人民 有良好印象：美国人很友善、 日本人非常有礼貌等，却认为 中国人既粗鲁也不文雅。新闻 常报道中国人民没有公德心的 行为，如2014年中国女士在地铁 站外排便事件，或中国人民在 公共场所里大声喧嚷。 中国驻新加坡大使馆还针对 这问题，在去年推出了《中国 公民安全文明狮城行》手册， 让中国游客了解新加坡的文化 习俗。手册内容包括：切勿插 队、不可大声喧哗、避免与别 人发生争执等行为。 但我们笼统的成见不足以代 表中国整个国家的人民。我曾 在重庆熙街遇到了一名店员；

她不仅非常有礼貌，也很友 善。得知我们是新加坡人后， 她立即与我们分享与其他外国 人交流的经验。她还免费送我 们手链，欢迎我们来到中国。 在云南翠亨公园，我也遇到 一群老婆婆正随着音乐跳民族 舞，她们热情地邀我共舞。随 着节奏跳起舞，我感到中国社 会处处有温情。 ​

千年历史等待探索 许多年轻人也对华族文化感到 厌恶，觉得中国是个枯燥的国 家。我高中是传扬华族文化的 特选学校之一，常让我们尝试 武术、传统书法等活动，还 带我们到华族宗乡会馆参观。 但每当参与活动时，就必定听

When it comes to exchange programme destinations, most NTU students would choose Western countries like the US and UK, or other Asian countries like Korea, over China.

The Office of Global Education and Mobility (OGEM) revealed that only 7 per cent of students chose to go to China for their summer studies programme, compared to 45 per cent who chose Korea.

Based on the author’s own immersion experience in over 10 Chinese cities, this opinion piece debunks three longstanding myths about China: its economic backwardness, “uncivilized” people, and unexciting culture.

It is time for Singaporeans to put aside their stereotypes and embrace China anew.

VOL. NO.

24

21

THE NANYANG

08 CHRONICLE

生活

“读”特的角落 这

学期已过了一半，眼看作 业呈交日期与期末考渐逼 近。而温习功课、赶报告，最重 要的莫过于学习的环境。你是否 还在为一位难求的图书馆和热门 温书地点而苦恼呢？ 记者黄璟蕙和杨量而将带你 一同探索校园“读”特的角落， 为你介绍三个鲜为人知的读书地 点。我们将根据各地点的地点便 利、开放时间和环境作为我们排 名的基本条件。

1.商科图书馆“自习室” 便利：☆☆☆☆ 开放时间：☆☆☆☆ 早上8.30am至9.30pm 温习环境：☆☆☆☆☆ 坐落在N2的商科图书馆，共 有三层楼，不仅设有默静区域 （Quiet Zone）让学生专注温 书，还有位于B4的个人自习室 （Individual Study Rooms）。 图书馆内共有14间独立的自 习室，每间自习室只供一人使 用，是一个可以集中精神温习的 好去处。如果要使用自习室，只 需提前通过图书馆的网站预约时 间，一天可预订4小时，然后到

里也提供位子，让学生可以在 那里读书。所以如果需要找关 于东南亚一带的资料，或者需 要一个在文学院附近的读书地 点，王赓武图书馆是一个不错 的地方。需要注意的是，图书 馆的冷气很强，所以如果要在 那里呆上几个小时的话，请记 得带上外套。

时从B2的柜台领取自习室的琐 匙。值得一提的是：租用个人 自习室是免费的。 若你温习时感到肚子饿， 也可以到附近的北区大楼广场 （North Spine Plaza）填饱肚子 后再继续努力冲刺。

2. 24小时创意之室图书馆 (Library @ Outpost)

创意之室图书馆

（文/黄璟蕙/杨量而）

便利：☆☆☆☆☆ 开放时间：☆☆☆☆☆ 24小时 温习环境：☆☆☆

In summary

外貌酷似点心蒸笼的创意之室 （The Hive）除了有56间智能教 室之外，在一楼还有着一间全 天24小时开放的图书馆（Library @ Outpost）。 创意之室的图书馆有别于传 统的图书馆类型。里头没有长 桌椅，而是较为居家的豆袋椅 子和小茶几，让学生能够自由 地选择喜欢的角落温习功课。 而图书馆隔壁设有LCC Communication Cube，专门为学生 提供课业咨询服务。那里的 学术辅导员包括本科生和硕士 生。学生完成作业后，可以

As the exams draw near, conducive study spots around campus are harder to find.

In this issue, we present to you three of them - the individual study rooms at the Business Library, the Library @ Outpost with its comfortable beanbags, and the CHC Wang Gung Wu Library with materials about Nantah.

We offer our ranking of these three spots, based on their location, opening hours and type of environment.

摄影：丘凯文

商科图书馆

王赓武图书馆

在网上预约咨询时间，学术辅 导员会为学生的报告作业做出 反馈，与学生讨论写作上的问 题，以及指导学生如何有效地 提高写作能力。赴约时，只需 要带上学生卡和报告即可。

温习环境：☆☆☆☆ 华裔馆除了有展览室展出新马 华人的历史外，也有着为海外 华人研究权威王赓武教授命名 的王赓武图书馆。 图书馆收藏着关于新马华人 和早期南洋大学丰富的历史资 料，包括早期致力于对南洋进 行研究的《南洋学报》和新加 坡早期使用的华文课本。 除此之外，王赓武图书馆

3. 华裔馆王赓武图书馆 便利：☆☆☆ 开放时间：☆☆ 早上 8.30am至5pm

娱乐

《黑豹》颠覆对非州的刻板印象 维克·博斯安（Chadwick Boseman），露皮塔·尼永奥（Lupita Nyong’o），和迈尔克·B·乔 丹（Michael B. Jordan）主演，打 破超级英雄电影的界限。首次 由非裔美国人主导，拥有历来 黑人演员最强大的阵容，《黑 豹》推翻了黑人在电影中“弱 势群体”的一贯角色，从而强 插图：陈培胜 化了非洲文化的电影题材。 可以这么说，作为漫威电影 宇宙的第18部超级英雄电影， 《黑豹》与众不同，颠覆了大 家对非洲的刻板印象。电影让 观众想象，如果非洲没有被欧 洲强国统治和入侵，他们是否 图片：漫威影业 会像其他国家一样繁荣进步呢？ 瓦坎达（Wakanda）是一个科 威电影宇宙 （Marvel Cin- 技进步，前卫的非洲国家。因 ematic Universe）的最新 为拥有宝贵的吸音钢资源，瓦 制作《黑豹》（Black Panther） 坎达才能够逃出被欧洲殖民统 打破了超级英雄电影的刻板印 治与入侵的命运。为了保护自 象，上映不到两周全球票房就 己，瓦坎达与世隔绝，假装自 高达 $8.1亿美金，快速成为漫 己是非洲落后国家之一。 威电影宇宙的票房第三高的电 查德维克·博斯安所饰演 影。 的特查拉（ T’Challa）在父亲特 《 黑 豹 》 由 瑞 恩 · 库 格 勒 查卡（ T’Chaka）死后，继承王 （Ryan Coogler）主导，查德 位。除了当瓦坎达国王之外，

漫

特查拉也是黑豹。当瓦坎达遭 外力袭击时，特查拉就会蜕变 成黑豹，保卫国家。 在这个全球化的时代，特 查拉必须决定是否继续让瓦坎 达与世隔绝，还是把瓦坎达所 拥有的科技与资源分配到其他 有需要的非洲国家。可是，瓦 坎达一旦公开自己的身份，就 很有可能被西方强国攻击与入 侵，偷取他们的吸音钢。 迈尔克·B·乔丹饰演的艾 瑞克·克尔芒戈（Erik Killmonger ）是恩乔布（ N’Jobu ）的儿 子，也是特查拉的堂弟。恩乔 布为了帮助贫民，将吸音钢偷 渡出国，被哥哥特查卡国王杀 害。因此，艾瑞克一家被诬赖 为叛徒，直到他回到瓦坎达， 挑战特查拉，以便夺取王位。 特查拉与艾瑞克之间的搏 斗不限于肢体上：他们思想上 也有差异。特查拉坚持封闭国 家，认为这样是保护瓦坎达的 最佳方式。而艾瑞克认为，瓦 坎达能用吸音钢技术帮助非洲 国家，同时也能打击和报复 欧美强国，让非洲国家变得更

强。他们两之间必须达成共鸣， 才能决定瓦坎达的未来。 《黑豹》的影响力无限 —— 它将非洲文化带到了大荧幕。黑 人在好莱坞电影里的角色以往以 配角居多，饰演不务正业的流氓 或搞笑的角色。《黑豹》里的角 色幽默风趣，同时也英勇机智。 作为第一部主流黑人超级英 雄片，《黑豹》让全世界的非裔 孩童在大荧幕上看到长得像自己 的英雄。一直以来，超级英雄都 以白人男性占居多，让其他种族 的孩子成长时没有一个能仰慕的 榜样。此外，电影里的女性非 常有主张，独立，科技技术也一 流，智勇双全。 同时，《黑豹》也让观众幻 想非洲国家的发展潜力。大家可 能认为非洲国家落后，贫穷。但 那是因为他们遭殖民者入侵，本 有的自然能源都被殖民者抢夺， 人民被镇压。而瓦坎达提供了非 洲国家一个另类的可能性，让观 众对非洲国家的印象，得到正面 的改变。 《黑豹》也反映了现今社会 的政治问题。身为强国，瓦坎

达应该封闭，还是将资源分配 给全世界呢？在这个全球化的 时代里，国与国之间应该互相 依存，还是自我封闭为孤岛？ 最终，特查拉与瓦坎达似乎学 到，建桥比筑墙更有意义。 （文/罗恺盈）

In summary Black Panther by director Ryan Coogler stars Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan in the first Marvel movie that features a black superhero and a nearly all-black cast.

Black Panther breaks boundaries by portraying Wakanda as a futuristic African nation faced with the dilemma of building walls or building bridges.

Touching on issues such as colonialism, politics and family, this movie is layered, thoughtprovoking, and a must-watch.

Sports

Getting back on track

Koh scaling to the top of the rock wall on her first attempt during a training session at Onsight Climbing Gym.

Athletes are no strangers to pain, but when sports injuries threaten their ability to continue playing the sport, it takes a certain level of grit to overcome it Toh Xun Qiang

THE recently concluded Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang saw 23-year-old Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu become the first man in 66 years to bag two consecutive Olympic figure skating gold medals.

But his victory was a hardearned one. Last November, he fell and badly twisted his right ankle during a training session. Upon his return from Pyeongchang, he revealed that he had performed his gold medal skate with his ankle only partially recovered.

On 7 Mar, it was announced that Mr Hanyu would be withdrawing

from the upcoming world championships, so that he could focus on recuperation.

Many athletes have come up close and personal with the phrase “blood, sweat and tears”. Some injuries can compromise an athlete’s ability to ever take part in their sport again. However, what sets athletes like Mr Hanyu apart is their tenacity to push on, past the pain of their injuries.

Striving for greater heights While rock climbing at an indoor gym in 2016, 24-year-old Lynnette Koh fell five metres to the ground and landed flat on her back.

The impact of the fall caused her so much pain that the usually composed Koh immediately started crying.

“I was just lying on the ground, squirming and crying in pain as I realised I couldn’t get up,” said the final-year Sport Science and Management student.

She was then rushed in an ambulance to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

“Everything was a blur and I only

remembered hoping that nothing would go wrong,” she said.

However, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed that Koh had suffered a burst fracture in her T12 thoracic vertebra — the middle segment of the human spine. Bone fragments could penetrate the spinal cord and cause paralysis and neurological damage.

“It was a horrible day with lots of crying. I was really afraid when they said I had to go for a surgery,” she said.

As Koh’s MRI scan indicated signs of spinal cord injury, she was sent into surgery just three days later to prevent neurological damage and to preserve the functionality of her spine. She had four screws, three inches long and held together by two metal rods, inserted into two segments of her spine to protect her fractured vertebra.

During her physiotherapy session the next day, Koh found that she was unable to walk to the physiotherapy area that was a short distance away from her ward.

Even when the physiotherapist

PHOTO: LEE YI HONG

helped to support her weight, she was unable to stand on her own or move her legs forward.

“It was too painful and (it felt like) I had forgotten how to walk,” said Koh. “Imagine going from being an avid runner to learning how to walk again. It was such a painful reality for me to accept,” she added.

Koh eventually regained her ability to walk independently after nearly two months of daily physiotherapy.

Despite being advised by doctors to not participate in any form of sport for the rest of her life, Koh started sport climbing again just two and a half months after she had recovered.

“It was difficult climbing again because of the fear. My doctors told me that I would be different after the injury, that I was not the same as before. I was very scared to take falls again because another injury could be worse (for me),” she said.

However, Koh soon got used to the backaches she felt when climbing, which were side effects of her

surgery. She started climbing recreationally and at a lower intensity to get her fitness level back.

Slowly, Koh started taking part in the sport competitively again.

While on semester exchange in Canada last year, Koh represented the University of Western Ontario in the provincial competitions organised by the Ontario Climbing Federation.

She also represented NTU in the recent National Schools’ Bouldering Championships that concluded on 17 Mar. In the near future, Koh, who was a member of the national climbing team prior to her injury, hopes to return to the team again and represent Singapore in international competitions.

Koh’s parents were initially reluctant to let her continue the sport, but they have since accepted her passion for climbing and trust that she can look after herself.

Koh is now more cautious and restrained when climbing. She does not push herself towards demanding courses, and tries not to take

falls as she does not want to risk another injury to her back.

“Despite bringing me such sadness at that point of time, I don’t think my passion for climbing will ever die. As much as it has brought me more pain with this injury, climbing has brought me even more joy than in the past that I won’t ever stop doing it,” said Koh.

One knee, twice hit Final-year Nanyang Business School student Michael Goh suffered his first knee injury in 2011 during a friendly futsal game at Kallang, when a soccer ball hit his ankle and caused his knee to pop.

He was blocking a shot from a player three metres away.

“The pain was excruciating and I fell to the ground. I couldn’t move my knee for 10 minutes,” said the 28-year-old.

Goh’s friend then carried him off the pitch to rest while the others continued playing, but did not administer first aid or get him medical attention.

After some time, Goh decided to join the game again, but found the injury too severe and left the pitch a second time.

When he woke up the next morning, Goh felt an excruciating pain in his knee and could not get off his bed.

At a polyclinic near his house, Goh was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

He was then scheduled to see an orthopaedic specialist in Alexandra Hospital two weeks later and to go for an MRI scan. The scan revealed that he had suffered a complete ACL tear and a ruptured meniscus.

The ACL, a flexible tissue that connects the shin bone to the thigh bone, provides rotational stability

to the knee. Menisci are connective tissues that cushion and stabilise impacts on the knee joint.

A complete ACL tear causes severe pain in one’s knee and results in a loss of motion, while a meniscus rupture locks the knee and removes mobility.

“I was really worried,” said Goh, who started playing soccer when he was in kindergarten.

He turned to Google to learn more about the injury, as he was afraid he might not be able to continue playing soccer.

“I even went to find out if there were successful soccer players in the English Premier League who continued playing after ACL reconstruction,” he said.

“Knowing that there were a number of such athletes reassured me, and taught me to be patient with my own injury. I knew my time to play again would come, as long as I made sure to be disciplined during the recovery process.”

Goh underwent an ACL reconstruction surgery in early 2012, during which his ACL was replaced with another tissue from his body to restore his knee.

After the surgery, Goh, who was serving his National Service at the time, was given two months of medical leave and was advised to walk with crutches during the entire duration.

“I couldn’t move my knee for three weeks after the surgery, and my muscles atrophied,” he said.

“My leg would give way if I didn’t rely on the crutches.”

He added: “The first few weeks were really frustrating because I couldn’t go about doing my daily activities.”

After completing six months of physiotherapy, he immediately went

Koh after her second surgery in 2017 with the metal rods and screws removed.

Goh in a friendly game against the Admiralty CSC Youth team at Woodgrove Secondary School.

on to take his Individual Physical Proficiency Test, where he achieved a Gold standard.

A few weeks after being discharged from physiotherapy, he started playing football on weekends again once more.

Three years later, in 2015, Goh suffered his second ACL tear.

He started getting frequent knee locks during his soccer games, where his knee would momentarily lock in a single position before gradually regaining mobility.

On one occasion, a fall after a header attempt caused a knee lock that was extremely painful and resulted in soreness.

Afraid that it might be a relapse, Goh went for an MRI scan. The re-

PHOTO: LYNNETTE KOH

sults revealed that he had suffered a partial tear on his ACL and meniscus, and had to undergo surgery once more.

“I was very dejected when I found out I had to go through surgery again,” said Goh. However, he took comfort in knowing that he would be able to continue playing soccer after the operation.

Since the two surgeries, Goh has been cautious to not put stress on his knee. He now wears a guard to protect his knee when playing soccer, which requires agility and explosive movements.

However, he has no intention to quit soccer anytime soon, even if it may worsen his knee condition.

“I would feel lifeless without soc-

Goh was all smiles after his team scored a goal during the match.

PHOTO: LEE YI HONG

cer,” said Goh. He added that being good at soccer has boosted his confidence and allowed him to develop soft skills like teamwork and communication.

At present, Goh plays as a defensive midfielder for the Admiralty Community Sports Club, a second tier club in the National Football League which trains twice a week.

On top of that, Goh works out on his own every weekday for 15 minutes to stay fit.

“Although my knee may not be as strong as before, it is good enough for me so long as I can continue doing what I love,” said Goh. “I grew up playing soccer. It is a part of me, and it’s made me who I am.”

PHOTO: LEE YI HONG