The Beginning of a Journey

My first time to Singapore was a couple of years ago, when I visited for a student conference. From the moment I landed at the magnificent Changi Airport, I felt amazed by how a place that was developing not so long ago, became such a beautiful and appealing country in such a short span of time. Throughout my trip at that time, I experienced things that were beyond my expectations. 

It was fascinating to see how a small country became a tourist haven. The seamless blend of various cultures and traditions, and the tremendous respect and appreciation that people have for each other’s differences made me fall in love with the country. As a fan of traditional architectures, it gave me immense satisfaction to witness mosques, Buddhist temples, churches and Hindu temples all at one place. When it comes to food, I was also able to enjoy a variety of dishes and cuisines without having to look too far.

After the student conference, I was taken on a trip to NTU with our first stop being The Hive. With its unique architecture shaped like a beehive, I never expected to see something like that in a university campus. It was very interesting to learn that it was purposely designed to promote open learning and collaboration. At the Administrative Building, we got to see how nature and technology met hand in hand at this beautiful campus. We were then given a talk on how they make the campus buildings sustainable and smart over time, which really sparked my interests as an engineering student. At the end of my trip, I had one clear resolution: To come back to this wonderful campus for a longer stay at some point of time.

The perfect opportunity came two years later. I not only got the chance to visit this wonderful country and campus again, but to actually study here for an entire semester. I was fortunate enough to receive the TF LEaRN scholarship for a semester of immersion at NTU. Apart from the generous scholarship, I am really thankful to Temasek Foundation for giving me the chance to make new friends and networks from all over Asia at a place like Singapore, a melting pot of cultures. Looking forward to an amazing experience.

- Penned by Aaron and Larry