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No place like home

Living on campus teaches Ms Leong to be independent.
PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

WHEN she had to choose between staying in Singapore and going overseas for her tertiary studies, Ms Leong Li Ting chose the former.

While her family and friends would have respected any decision the 20-year-old made, the first-year business administration undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (NUS) feels "they were definitely happier" that she chose to stay on in Singapore.

She says: "Most of my good friends are studying locally, so it is definitely a plus point to stay here. "Studying in NUS allows me to stay in contact with my loved ones, and yet still enjoy a quality education," adds the alumna of Anderson Secondary School and National Junior College.

But it was not the only factor that led to Ms Leong's decision.

Having visited the university before, she was impressed by the vibrant activities at NUS that embraces fun traditions like "Rag and Flag", an annual event that includes a donation drive and a parade of floats by students.

Adding to the university's appeal is the "invigorating" University Scholars Programme (USP), an interdisciplinary academic programme for NUS undergraduates that allows students to take subjects across disciplines and offers a wide range of extracurricular and overseas opportunities.

Ms Leong did consider pursuing her degree at other universities, both locally and overseas. "In the end, I picked NUS as it is a university of international prestige and has a good brand name," she says. "Besides, being a full-fledged university, it has much to offer in the variety of courses."

"An overseas university education is not necessarily a more prestigious one as you can get an equally enriching education here, and with local universities providing many opportunities for overseas exchange, you will not be left out in terms of exposure," she adds.

Ms Leong is a recipient of the NUS Global Merit scholarship. The fact that the award does not come with a bond cemented her decision.

Keen "to try something different from the science subjects" that she was mostly exposed to in the past, Ms Leong opted for a degree in business administration.

After just a semester into her studies, she has already set her mind on specialising in marketing.

She says: "What is most interesting is seeing the practical use of business knowledge come to light in our daily lives, for example, how advertising strategies are in play in advertisements all around us, which we are often subconsciously affected by."

She is looking forward to a career in the public sector, and hopes to "work behind the scenes in the hospitality and tourism sector of Singapore, probably in the policy development departments of the Singapore Tourism Board".

In the meantime, Ms Leong is immersing herself into the full NUS experience, and that includes living on campus, at the Prince George's Park Residences.

She says: "It is quite a good environment for studying, while living on campus teaches me how to be independent. What I like most about it is that my good friends and peers from the USP are all staying in the same residence, so it allows for fabulous interaction and bonding!"

Ms Leong, who counts travelling, visiting museums, doing voluntary work and watching Bollywood productions among her diverse interests, also has her plate full with campus activities. She handles administrative duties for the University Scholars Club as its honorary general secretary, sources for sponsorships and drums up publicity for its freshmen orientation camp as the camp's marketing/ public relations head.

Ms Leong urges those entering university to be pro-active and make the most out of their time there.

She says: "Before school starts, do not hesitate to join orientation camps and make new friends. In your first year, try out new activities to challenge yourself and feel free to expand your social circle. This will boost your confidence and social support network in your foundational years, paving the way for smoother years ahead in the university."