'Pleased to meet you, Mr. President.'

By Kelly Tay

Year 4 English Literature majorand University Scholars Programme student


DISTINGUISHED VISIT: Pleased to meet you, Mr. President


LIGHT-HEARTED MOMENT: Kelly (in blue) with other USP students sharing a laugh with President Nathan, onlooked by NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan (second from left) and NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye (second from left, standing) I was part of the University Scholars Programme (USP) community that had the good fortune of meeting and speaking with President S.R. Nathan on 6 April 2010. Together with NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye and USP Directors, we shared with President Nathan USP's focus on multidisciplinary inquiry and beyond-the-classroom learning, gave him a tour of our Writing Center and learning exhibits from various overseas programmes, and sat down to an informal discussion session with him at USP's student lounge, Chatterbox.

Throughout the visit, the President showed immense interest in USP, and was especially curious about the kind of jobs USP students attained upon graduation. He offered the helpful suggestion of creating a systematised approach in tracking students after graduation, so as to investigate where they have since landed up. This stemmed from his desire to find out exactly how USP's multidisciplinary training stands students in good stead to tackle the challenges of the workplace, as he noted that careers in Singapore today tend to streamline professionals into strict categories and specialisations.

I was also struck by President Nathan's penchant for relating personal anecdotes, which was both intriguing and disarming. The President regaled us with stories from his childhood and personal experiences and also put forward his thoughts on more sobering topics, such as poverty in Singapore. He urged USP students to apply our classroom learning to the real world, emphasising the need for critical thinkers in addressing often hidden problems in society.

Perhaps the most memorable moment was at the close of the visit, when a student asked the President why he did not live in the Istana. In short, President Nathan's candid reply emphasised his acute desire to live like a real person, which the official stature of the Istana would not allow. Surely this plea for ordinariness is understandable, coming from the man whose portrait hangs on more walls than one is able to count.