Meet Our People, SMU!

SMU students are as diverse as they come, and life as an undergraduate need not be all about academia and late nights in the library. Here on campus, we have students who dare to embrace their passions and take the road less travelled. These are the students who define the SMU student: colorful, bold and different. So in this series, we seek out and showcase the students who choose to experience the full vibrancy and color of undergraduate life here at SMU.

Featuring ...

Je Tung Chi Fung,

School of Business, 2009

An avid volunteer who has participated in various community service projects, Je Tung is also the Social Enterprise Director for SMU Caretalyst. He is also a successful student entrepreneur who began his rst business in SMU and is now the owner of his very own Subway franchise.

My SMU Life so far.

My SMU life so far has been very enriching. I started my rst business here and I met many funny people from di erent backgrounds. I was very much an introvert when I rst came to SMU. It is because of them that I opened myself up. It is also because of them that I stand rm and rise up to challenges. For the past one and half year in SMU, I have been constantly pushing myself to the limit simply because I want to nd out how far I can go on my own at this age. The journey was tough but I have enjoyed pretty much most of it.

Its all about time management and prioritising the to-do. Since young, I have a habit of putting to-do activities on paper because I know I will get old and start to forget things. I always believe a pen will serve me better than my memory.

My typical day in SMU will be

Aside from attending lessons and project meetings, I am either awake or day dreaming. When I am awake, I make people laugh. When I am day dreaming, people laugh at me.

I spend most of my time on campus doing

Trying to stay awake.

My Interests/passion
My interests include basketball, golf and cooking.

My Philosophy
This is not the end, stay foolish, stay hungry!

How do you manage your academic life, CCAs, personal commitments etc.?

>Our Say: Enterprising yet socially responsible, Je Tung would make any BGS professor proud. His dedication to community service goes above and beyond the 80 hours that all SMU students are expected to serve. As far as were concerned, he could be a role model for SMU students, and has de nitely impressed us with his generosity and dedication to good causes.

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Neo Chua Kok Keng,

School of Business, 2008

If you were to pass by third year business student Neo Chua along the concourse, you might not look twice. But this unassuming student is also the lead vocalist of J-rock band Renaissance, and when he assumes his glitzy stage persona (complete with elaborate make-up and wig), even a double-take might not be enough to fully appreciate this rockers stylishly androgynous transformation. My SMU Life so far.
If anyone were to ask me if there are any life changing decisions that Ive made, coming to SMU would de nitely be one of them. This decision is one that Ive never regretted. Looking back at the road Ive taken before coming here, I would say that it was all worth it, be it my two years of Arts in JC, or the three years of IT in Polytechnic and even the one semester of Computer Engineering in NUS. The reason for this is that having spent three years here, I have nally discovered that Business is what I really like and what suits me the best. Although I have to admit that initially, I was quite taken aback by the workload in school as Ive always had the impression that SMUs project and seminar based curriculum would be much more relaxing compared to the other universities. Still, the many hours spent after classes on projects with friends and school mates are pleasant memories that will remain with me long after I graduate, as they were often more fun and laughter than just work and gloom. This is especially true for me since most of my friends and project mates are from the Music Interactive Club (MIC). I am thankful that the SMU culture allows us to bid for the same classes together, as I am somebody who nds it hard to warm up to new people unless we share a common interest. The friendships formed [in MIC] will de nitely last all the way till I graduate and even after I start working, as not only are these friends fun loving, but they also give me much needed help and encouragement when I face problems with my assignments or work. Of course, all this is only possible in a small and tightly knitted community like ours, which is why Ive never looked back since coming to SMU. notice, I havent talked about school work yet. However, as tiring as it may seem, I feel that lling up my day with activities that I love makes life really meaningful and hence, Ive never really felt tired at the end of any day. Rather, I feel accomplished. Moreover, these activities help to drive me and boost my morale when it comes to dealing with the stress of my academic life. Even though I believe that academics should be a priority in a students university life, it should not be the ONLY thing.

My typical day in SMU will be

My day starts o with morning classes, followed by practices for MIC or external performances in the afternoon. After which I will head down to Echomusic School for lessons with vocal students and nally, I will jam with the band in the evening.

My Interests/passion
Listening to music of all genres, singing, and teaching vocals. I also enjoy mah-jong, pool and bowling.

I spend most of my time on campus doing

Playing Left4Dead 2 or Facebook-ing on my laptop. I will also be doing research for new things to teach or share with my students.

How do you manage your academic life, CCAs, personal commitments etc.?
Basically, every single day is like a roller coaster ride for me. Besides having to juggle my teaching responsibilities, performances for my CCA and music school, I still have to nd time to jam with my band, which basically means that I always plan my daily schedule carefully or risk having activities clash with one another. And if you

My Philosophy
University life is not just about academics. So work hard but play even harder.

>Our Say: Regular student by day and amboyant rocker by night, Neo is a rare breed of SMU student whose life doesnt revolve around the endless pursuit of grades. Instead, he lives life for himself, and through his passion for music ensures that he enjoys every minute of it. Our suggestion? Take a breather and rock out to his tune. You know you want to.
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 ISSUE

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Elvia Goh Sin Tze,

School of Business, 2008

SMU students with multiple CCAs are a dime a dozen, but very few students can say that they have set up their own club. Elvia Goh is one such student whose passion and zest for Chinese orchestral music saw her setting up the SMU Chinese Orchestra (SMUCO), a club that caters to all lovers of traditional Chinese music and instruments. She has also represented the SMU Womens soccer team in local tournaments and is on the management committee of the Whampoa Community Centre. My SMU Life so far
SMUCO, SMUCO and SMUCO. It was de nitely not something that I expected before I entered university. However, ever since the decision to set up SMUCO, my SMU life took a 360 degree turn. I realized that university life is not solely about academics. I often wonder whether spending so much time on SMUCO was worthwhile, but I guess I would never have learnt and experienced so much if not for it. The feeling of bringing an orchestra onstage and expressing our passion for music through each performance is inexplicable. More importantly, in SMU, where everyone is driven by their own respective interests and dreams, it spurred me to pursue my own in Chinese orchestral music. I am glad I decided to pursue my dream as it has made my SMU Life more ful lling than ever. In fact, it always warms my heart to see Chinese music enthusiasts coming together to share Chinese orchestral music with the SMU community and beyond. SMUCO has opened my eyes to many possibilities and shaped me into who I am today. I have met many people along this journey and built strong and lasting bonds with other passionate musicians. The memories of my journey till now have formed a meaningful and signi cant chapter of my SMU life and are de nitely priceless.

My Interests/passion
Sports and of course, MUSIC.

How do you manage your academic life, CCAs, personal commitments etc.?
Despite my overwhelming CCA commitments as the Founding President, I have been blessed with understanding group mates that try their best to accommodate my tight schedule. On my part, I always try to prioritize di erent tasks and deadlines, depending on their importance. This allows me to e ectively juggle the tasks at hand and still have time for other personal commitments. Most importantly, having the support and encouragement of my beloved family and friends has certainly helped me too.

My typical day in SMU will be

Rushing to lessons, grabbing snacks (skipping meals) and heading to SMUCOs practice room.

I spend most of my time on campus

Project and CCA meetings and of course hanging out with awesome SMUCO people!

My Philosophy
Live your dream and passion always try to exceed the expectations people have for you.

>Our Say: How many of us can say we have the word Founder written on our CCA transcripts? Setting up and sustaining your own CCA requires an incredible amount of e ort and tenacity, and Elvia is de nitely an all-round warrior who has her priorities fully sorted out. This musical maestro dares to pursue her dreams even if it means having to make a few sacri ces, and her ability to bring her own passion to the student body and beyond is nothing short of amazing.

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