Page 34 - 2023 eMag Final Draft

Did you face any troubles assimilating into your current country? Students aside, helping us with our “Singapore is reputed to be rather competitive,
Any culture differences from there and your motherland? objective was Professor Nelly Ng, a or ‘kiasu’. Should a student embrace such an
PhD recipient in quantum physics who is environment, or is it too much to handle?”

currently teaching in Singapore’s Nanyang
When first entering university, It was slightly hard for both alumni Technological University. Years ago, she Professor Nelly was unfazed by our query,
the two were aided by the Association of to live away from family at the start but studied at Kuen Cheng, where her passion stating it comes down to our desired pace

Malaysian Chinese School Alumni (for it didn’t pose much of a problem to them for Science and Mathematics were first in life. If you want to make it big, then
NTU of Singapore) and National Taiwan since they still video call their parents from ignited. A bookish student since youth, Singapore is your proving ground, but
University Malaysian Student Association time to time, though Ze An skipped out on her time spent with Kuen Cheng’s Math for those that prefer a more laid-back

(NTUMSA) for international students. calls for months before exams (sorry Mr Training Team only bolstered her love for existence, Malaysia is enough. Threading
However, both countries weren’t much of a and Mrs Ngew). complex calculations. Following a rigid further beyond in Europe, she supplied,
culture shock compared to others, especially study routine, she was able to dominate the demands a strong language proficiency
since there wasn’t a huge language barrier. As an additional (yet comedic) part UECs, eventually applying for a scholarship and keenness to learn, as the EU nations
of our conversation with the two, we spent to NTU, which she successfully received. typically mandate a foreign language

Though it was certainly harder for 10 minutes discussing the differences in Her reasoning was sound- the institute course in their regional tongue.
them to take charge of their priorities and toilet culture between Malaysia, Singapore wasn’t too far from her home nation, and
manage time, academics weren’t as hard and Taiwan. In Taiwan, there are no bidets they employed skilled faculty alongside She strongly supports student participation

for them during their first year since they’d in public toilets, which shocked Ze An as comprehensive facilities. in her lectures, a belief she thoroughly
learned most of the basics during senior 3. only toilet paper was provided instead. applied in our interview. Rephrasing
Studying in Kuen Cheng helped them get Unfortunately for him, his own disgust Much like Wen Xu mentioned, our questions back at us was a common
used to a more competitive environment, with using toilet paper without a bidet led Singapore’s meritocratically competitive occurrence, which really made us think!
though they noted that university actually him to only use his hostel toilet as it has a environment was stressful, but through Answering and asking questions is an

felt less competitive than high school. bidet. her burning passion and hard work, she essential part of learning in her classes. By

managed to graduate with honours. Once listing out the information learnt in the
she received her Bachelor’s degree, she day’s classes, a student could accurately
continued her research in Europe before gauge their comprehension of the material.
"I think Singapore is fine joining the NTU physics faculty. She This technique, one that she has been

as long as you have a remarks that she was lucky to have a clear using since secondary school, must’ve been

scholarship." passion in academics, but acknowledges rather effective, as she makes it mandatory
that many others can’t share the same in her lectures.
Wen Xu recommended, stating the obvious price sentiment, and recommends that they
difference between studying locally and abroad. should just pick something they’re skilled Throughout our interview, we were

at and don’t dislike. interrupted by soft mewlings in the
background of Professor Nelly’s camera.
“There are no parents to enforce a curfew, Turns out, she has a cat! A very cute one in
"Your stress tolerance or to make you practise piano 2 hours a fact, and while this has no bearing on the

must be high." day,” she stated. “You’re on your own two contents of the article, it would be a shame
feet. Whether you’ll stand or fall is up to if we didn’t share the bundle of cuteness
Ze An advised as he explained the difficulties in exam you.” She views university life as a stepping that is Truffles. You can check Truffles out
scope for university students. stone into adulthood, thrusting personal at truffelina.haw on Instagram for even

responsibility into the arms of budding more adorableness!
adults.
34 35