Bhatt Paras Krishna who recently graduated as the Valedictorian felt that it was a humbling honour to have spoken on behalf of the Computer Engineering graduating cohorts of 2020 and 2021 as the Valedictorian.
Here is an excerpt – “Graduating in the throes of a pandemic was a strange experience for our cohort. We could hardly be physically present in school over our final year, and we could not have a graduation ceremony in the flesh to say one final physical goodbye to our friends. The residual feeling is a mix of longing over the lost physical interactions, and gratitude for the fact that despite the challenges, we found the support necessary to allow us to graduate in time and move on to the next big chapter of our lives.
We all have our stories of personal motivations, trials and how we chose to overcome them. For me, I can recall having experienced bullying and social isolation in my younger years. Later when I joined NUS, I had to face the sudden unexpected passing of my breadwinner father in the first semester, August 2017. This loss was a pivotal moment in my life , one that forced me to walk on the difficult road of healing whilst juggling my responsibilities as son, brother, friend, and student. I found support in family, friends, faculty and students, and I owe my graduation to these people.
There are many similar stories of hardship all around us. As one example out of many, with the onset of the ongoing pandemic, some of us had to endure isolation, financial uncertainty, and especially for our international students, the loss of loved ones. The reasons for our challenges may be different, but I urge us all to embrace change, to find meaning in our personal challenges, and perhaps most importantly, to be kind to others. I know that without the kindness of erstwhile strangers, I wouldn’t have made it here; your acts of kindness may just be what someone else needs to make it through the day.
Allow me to pay forward that kindness and support, and offer some tips to those who are planning to, or are, studying in the ECE department at NUS,:
- Make full use of project-based modules like CG1111, CG1112, CS2113 etc to network and make friends with your fellow batchmates. I made some of my best friends at NUS through these courses. Looking back as an alumnus, I can confidently state that the friends and connections made through these courses are my best takeaways from NUS!
- Our professors and faculty are remarkably understanding of your difficulties, and are willing to help you if you reach out to them. I recall how at the end of my first semester, I missed the deadline to SU because I was still dealing with the loss of my father, which happened four months prior. Understanding this, the staff allowed me to place my SU options well past the deadline.
Another example I can recall was when Professor Sangit stayed back with me for a full hour after my CG1111 class to explain the lesson taught that day, when I was late to class due to important family matters. There are too many other examples for me to list, but the key takeaway is to be unafraid to reach out for help if you need it.
- Make friends with our non-teaching staff too! For example, I am forever grateful for the boundless kindness and support of Uncle Jalil from DSA lab whenever I had to make circuits in project-based modules.
- It is OK if you need to take some time off and skip a couple of lectures, especially if you are facing difficult times. I did this and it did not hurt me too much. However, it goes without saying that you must take personal ownership and keep yourself up-to-date with what is being taught.
- NUS has a vibrant campus life; be sure to take part as per your own capacity. For instance, my experience as a Peer Mentor and Cluster Leader in my hall added a lot of colour to my NUS experience, and allowed me to pay it forward and help fellow students.
- If you are facing financial difficulties, lookout for study loans, bursaries and scholarships offered by NUS and external organisations. For external scholarships, you can refer to websites such as Brightsparks.
- Do try for NOC/Exchange if you can! As a alumnus of the exchange program, I can attest that It is a fantastic experience, and totally worth it.
- Grades are not the be-all and end-all; aim to build your skills. In the professional world, these skills will be far more important over the long run.
- Do not always be afraid of becoming uncomfortable, as there is such a thing as enjoyable discomfort. I say this remembering a moment when I was working with a couple of my NUS friends late into the night, and through sleep-deprived eyes one of them said ‘Hey, I hate this, but I love this!’. Indeed, what we were doing required us to get uncomfortable, but we learned a lot and loved it too!
- Last, but not least, do not be afraid to step outside your domain. For instance, I participated in the NUS Medical Grand Challenge despite not having any prior medical knowledge, and it proved to be a great experience.
After all is said and done, I would like to end on two notes. Firstly, to all those about to embark upon another semester at NUS: all the best! Secondly, to all those who have graduated this year in such a difficult time, congratulations! Here’s to hoping that you live a life full of happiness, love, and friendship.“
