The TF LEaRN Friendship Day was a special occasion where the TF LEaRN scholars from NTU, NUS, SMU and SUTD met up to interact and have a day of fun. The event took place at the Lee Kong Chian School of
Medicine, NTU Novena Campus on 12th September, 2019.
The event began with an introductory speech by Mr. Gerald Yeo, Senior Director of Temasek Foundation. Mr. Yeo gave a hearty and passionate welcome as he called upon scholars from all the countries and universities, followed by an elaborate introduction of Temasek Foundation. It was indeed an eye-opening and informative session as we got to know about the immense amount of philanthropic work done by Temasek Foundation to build capabilities in communities of Asia and beyond.
Next up, a couple of TF LEaRN alumni provided us with meaningful
insights of how they made the most out of their 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity. They made us realize that studying in a foreign country
is not just about adapting to a new environment or culture, but also to forge connections, to learn and understand the local society and their habits. Most importantly, the experience is also an opportunity to befriend fellow peers from a different nation and mindset. It is indeed an invaluable asset to have friendships and networks from various parts of the world.
The morning session ended
with high tea, after which a facilitator team from CISV Singapore hosted a series of interactive activities. We were grouped into teams randomly, therefore each team had a good mix of scholars from all four universities.
First up was a series of various physical games and puzzles for each team to cooperatively complete within a limited time period. It was indeed a unique experience to work alongside people whom I barely knew, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, as we tried to finish as many puzzles as possible in a fun and intense process. During lunch, we bonded and got to know our team members personally, and I enjoyed the conversations with them as well.
The final activity of the day was for each of us to design and paint a T-shirt as creatively as we can. We illustrated designs that symbolised various nationalities and depicted ideas of friendship, love and togetherness. Even within our own groups, there were so many different designs and ideas -- each idea shaped by our backgrounds and cultures.
First up was a series of various physical games and puzzles for each team to cooperatively complete within a limited time period. It was indeed a unique experience to work alongside people whom I barely knew, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, as we tried to finish as many puzzles as possible in a fun and intense process. During lunch, we bonded and got to know our team members personally, and I enjoyed the conversations with them as well.
The final activity of the day was for each of us to design and paint a T-shirt as creatively as we can. We illustrated designs that symbolised various nationalities and depicted ideas of friendship, love and togetherness. Even within our own groups, there were so many different designs and ideas -- each idea shaped by our backgrounds and cultures.
The day was indeed a great success and provided us with a good chance to connect and exchange valuable ideas with fellow TF LEaRN scholars from the other three universities. Despite all of us hailing from different places and backgrounds, the opportunity to bond through activities like these really helped us to build friendships and to learn about one another.
We look forward to meet our newly-acquainted
friends in other future occasions, and hope we will support each other throughout our respective journeys of
pursuing success in life.