Talent Development Programme

On the 17th of August 2023, I watched "Psychobitch", a play written by Amanda Chong, a Singaporean lawyer trained in Cambridge and Havard. It was an extraordinary theatrical experience that left a profound impact on me and the choice of having a single actress for the play was a brilliant decision and brought out a truly unique perspective.

"Psychobitch" is a one-woman play that explores complex themes of gender power dynamics, toxic relationships, and self-worth pursuits, through the story of Anya Samuel. When her tech CEO fiancé accuses her of being "too emotional" and demands an explanation for her public tears, Anya embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Through a slide deck that includes animated infographics of her menstrual cycle, Anya confronts her true self and her desires. The play challenges societal expectations and delves into the complexities of individual experiences. It was a powerful experience, particularly due to the representation and perspective offered by its female minority lead actress, Sindhura Kalidas.

The one-woman performance was powerful as I believe it gave voice to underrepresented perspectives, and her performance highlighted the distress of separating emotions and reason based on gender. It showed that this division can damage relationships, as shown in the characters of Anya and Galven. It reminded me that we're all emotional human beings, regardless of gender. The play was special in many ways, such as the sudden immersion of ourselves in the scent of curry mid-play and its ability to allow one to sympathise with all the characters Kalidas portrayed herself as, as the actress seamlessly transits from one role to another. 

In short, "Psychobitch" made me think about the importance of representation, the need to bridge the gap between emotions and reason, and the beauty of unconditional love. It's not just a great show, it's a reflection of complex human relationships and the value of embracing our emotions.

From May 2022 to April 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in the Economics Academic Mentoring Programme, where I was introduced to the fascinating field of behavioral economics. 

As one of the many fields of study in economics, we delved deeper into the microeconomic branch of behavioral economics, which explores the psychology behind economic decision-making and activities. During the programme, I learned that behavioral economics challenges the assumption that individuals are perfectly rational in their decision-making processes. Instead, it considers how emotions and external relations can impact decisions, and how different life experiences can lead to vastly different decision outcomes. We covered several concepts in the programme, including bounded willpower, bounded self-interest, and bounded rationality, which provides frameworks for understanding these complexities. As a final task, we were required to write an essay applying the concepts we learned to analyse and evaluate a real-world issue. This exercise allowed us to consolidate and enhance our learning by providing an opportunity to apply the concepts in a practical setting. One of the highlights of the programme for me was the opportunity to explore rational decision-making and the extent to which individuals are capable of making rational decisions. As a closure of the programme, I also conducted a sharing of my learning with the Year 1 and 2 students.

It was fascinating to learn about the nuances and complexities that underlie decision-making and to consider the impact of external factors on decision outcomes. This experience has inspired me to continue exploring the field of economics and its intersection with human behavior, and allowed me to appreciate the subject of Economics even more!

On the 4th of April 2023, I went on a Walking Tour of the Civic District in Singapore, which was a unique and insightful experience for me. I had an enjoyable time during the tour as the tour guide was super friendly and enthusiastic, and I really liked the layout of the walk!

During the tour, I visited the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall where I learned that the imprinted letters, VRI, on the building stood for Victoria Regina Imperatrix. This discovery emphasised the significance of Singapore's rich history and the influence of British colonialism in shaping the nation into the first-world country it is today. Furthermore, the tour guide told us the story behind the Sir Stamford Raffles statue, which was built in commemoration of Queen Victoria's jubilee and symbolised Singapore's association with the British colony. This gave me a new perspective on how history and architecture can tell a story of a place and its people. It also made me reflect on how the country has evolved since its independence in 1965. 

I learned that Singapore was initially focused on economic growth and promoting exports for tourism, given its lack of natural resources. However, the people were more concerned about their ancestral countries and did not prioritize building a shared culture and beliefs among the locals living in Singapore. The tour guide mentioned how the bottom-up strategies were implemented, and people of different cultures built their own cultural architecture, such as mosques and schools. Additionally, I discovered that while Singapore wanted to make business agreements with Westerners, the latter feared that Singapore would become communist due to the majority of the population being Chinese and high China affiliation in Singapore. Many Chinese schools were learning mainly Chinese, and they were funded openly or under the table by communists at that point in time. The Stamford Raffles statue showed that Singapore welcomed Western businesses, as suggested by the then-economic advisor, Albert Winsemius. Singapore then built a second statue at Raffles' Landing to promote it as a tourist attraction to increase revenue, embracing the colonial legacy, which was something different from the other British's old colonies in Southeast Asia. 

The tour guide also provided us with some interesting facts about the history of Singapore. For instance, I learned that Sir Stamford Raffles wanted the right side of the Singapore River to be reserved for government use, while the left side was to be used for merchants and trading. Due to Raffles' commitment, the right side of the bank has been retained as a civic district till today. She also highlighted the outstanding abilities of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, in making the government as efficient as it is today. Unlike other countries that have two parliamentary houses, there is only one house in Singapore as Mr. Lee knew he would have to push through unpopular policies and wanted government efficiency. I too learned that the Supreme Court has been renovated to a new building, and the courtroom is built in a circular shape to emblematise that the court does not take any sides. This information gave me a deeper appreciation of how architecture can convey a message and symbolism.

To summarise, the walking tour of the Civic District in Singapore was an educational and enriching experience for me. I gained new insights into Singapore's history, culture, and architecture, which has deep roots in its colonial past. It also made me realise how important it is to preserve and appreciate our cultural heritage to understand our roots and identity.

On 21st July 2022, renowned and award-winning local author, Balli Kaur Jaswal, conducted a seminar titled, "Dreaming & Doing". She shared her personal journey of how she turned her passion for writing into a successful career. Her speech was not only about her achievements but also about the obstacles and challenges she faced to get to where she is now today.

Through her presentation, she conveyed the message of the importance of perseverance, hard work, and determination to achieve one's dreams. The difficulties she faced while pursuing her passion for writing, particularly as a minority-race individual, are significant, and it takes immense strength and courage to overcome such challenges. Her journey and experiences are a true reflection of the struggles that many people from minority races face while trying to make their dreams a reality. It was inspiring to see how she overcame each obstacle and emerged stronger and more determined than before. Her journey is a testimony to the fact that with hard work, determination, and perseverance, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter what the obstacles may be.

The presentation was an enlightening experience, as the author shared her life stories with the audience. Her stories were not only inspiring, but they also provided insight into what it takes to become a successful writer. It was a rare opportunity to hear from such an experienced writer about the ups and downs of her journey, and the struggles she faced along the way. Her insights on the craft of writing and how to approach it as a career were invaluable, and I felt privileged to have been part of the audience.

In conclusion, the seminar was an eye-opening and inspiring event. Her presentation not only shed light on the possible challenges that individuals face while pursuing their dreams, but it also provided valuable insights into the world of writing. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the audience and to have heard firsthand from such an accomplished and inspiring writer.

On 9th May 2022, I had the pleasure of participating in a dialogue session that broadened my knowledge of German-Singapore relations and the European Union (EU). The campaign provided me with an incredible opportunity to meet Mr. Christoph Hallier, the Deputy Head of the Mission of the German Embassy in Singapore. 

During our interaction, he shared with us his views on a wide range of topics, from his role in ensuring German perspectives are heard in Singapore's political discussions to the similarities between Germany and Singapore. I was particularly struck by Mr. Hallier's insights on the EU. He provided us with a comprehensive overview of the EU's structure, its policies, and its relationship with Singapore. I learned about the EU's commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as its role in promoting economic growth and stability in Europe and beyond. Through this session, I gained a deeper appreciation of the importance of strong diplomatic ties between countries and the role that diplomacy plays in fostering understanding and cooperation between nations. I was also struck by the similarities between Germany and Singapore, despite their vastly different histories and cultures.

Overall, meeting Mr. Hallier and learning more about German-Singapore relations and the EU was an incredibly enriching experience. I left the campaign with a renewed sense of curiosity and a desire to learn more about the world around me.

On the 12th of April 2022, Associate Professor Seetoh Pei Pei delivered a captivating conference titled "Intelligence & Achievement," where she expounded on the importance of self-control and delay of gratification. 

Through the famous Marshmallow Test, she demonstrated how patience is a crucial component of achieving success. In addition, Professor Seetoh Pei Pei shared her insights on the strong correlation between achievement and intelligence, providing valuable tools to help attendees surpass their potential. 

Overall, her thought-provoking presentation left a lasting impression and inspired many to strive for greatness.

On the 1st of March 2022, I had the privilege of attending a seminar by Assistant Professor Grace Boey at the Nanyang Technological University Philosophy Department. 

During her presentation, she introduced a new perspective that left a deep impression on me. She said, "There's a deep psychological discontinuity between the meat we see in supermarkets, and live animals we see in pictures and documentaries." As I reflected on her words, I realized that there was indeed a significant difference between the meat that we purchase from supermarkets and the animals that we see in pictures and documentaries. The meat in supermarkets is neatly packaged and separated from the animal it came from, while the live animals we see in pictures and documentaries are free, with personalities and emotions of their own. This realization led me to question whether we, as human beings, are hypocritical in our actions toward animals. We consume meat on a regular basis, yet we may not be fully aware of the extent of the harm we cause to animals in the process. Do we truly understand the lives of the animals that we consume? Do we consider the conditions under which they were raised and slaughtered?

Attending Professor Boey's seminar truly allowed me to see from a new point of view that I hadn't considered before. Her insightful sharing sparked a profound reflection on the way we treat animals, and I realized that we must be more conscious of our actions and their consequences. I left the seminar feeling inspired to take a closer look at my own behavior and to make conscious decisions that are more aligned with my values.