Working on campus helps students develop skills and gain memorable experiences

In his time at Yale-NUS College, Tavis Tan (Class of 2022) has found himself learning about the ecology of stick insects, curating a Valentine’s Day exhibit at the College library, and even getting invited to a party at the High Commission of Singapore in London.

None of these experiences came about in his capacity as a student, but rather from his various Student Associate (SA) positions at the College. He has worked as a ​SA for the College’s Life Sciences Insectary, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Library, and as a Research Assistant for Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong – for the latter, he worked in London with an officer from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau who extended the invitation to the party.

At the College, students like Tavis often take on a variety of paid SA positions, ranging from administrative support to research assistantships, from photography to peer tutoring.

Tavis Tan’s (Class of 2022) many Student Associate roles gave him a unique variety of experiences. Image provided by Tavis Tan.

While giving students the opportunity to earn an income, these positions also provide them valuable work experience, training and opportunities that may be hard to come by outside of the campus.

This holds true for Lynn Drescher (Class of 2023), whose SA stint as an Associate Ambassador for Alumni Affairs and Strategic Events (AASE) was her first foray into the working world. Tasked with organising College events, which include hosting and engaging with VIP guests, this role has allowed her to gain valuable professional skills.

“I used to be a rather introverted person, but this role has encouraged me to be more outspoken and more confident in asking questions,” Lynn shared. “I have also learnt a lot about formal communication, networking, and organisation and management skills.”

However, the skills she gained are not the only thing that Lynn values about her position. Equally important to her are the experiences she has had. For instance, Lynn, who is from Germany, had the chance to interact with the German ambassador to Singapore at an event hosted by AASE.

Lynn Drescher’s (Class of 2023) work as Associate Ambassador for AASE has helped her develop valuable skills and have interesting experiences. Photo by Ashbel Chioh.

For other students like Muhammad Naeem Shehryar (Class of 2023), these roles give them opportunities to work independently and creatively on projects that contribute to the College community. Shehryar’s role as a Student Associate for the Intercultural Engagement Office gave them the chance to craft and conduct an eight-part workshop series – their personal project – almost entirely on their own. Titled, “Foundations of Social Justice”, the workshop became part of the College’s Residential Curriculum and covered topics like identity, community accountability, and generative conflict practices.

“My then-programme manager, Sahar Kazemini, gave me a list of topics to work with, and I had free reign moulding that list into what I eventually produced. We would meet weekly to read over and talk about the content I produced,” Shehryar shared.

“This is primarily what made this experience so rewarding to me. I had to think deeply and critically about pedagogy and engage fully with the logistics of designing a curriculum,” Shehryar said. “Following that, I had almost complete freedom in designing the next four sessions of the workshop.”

Muhammad Naeem Shehryar (Class of 2023) designed a workshop series as part of their work with the Intercultural Engagement office. Image provided by Muhammad Naeem Shehryar.

Being a SA is also another way of becoming better acquainted with the place they live, study, play and work at. Since his first year in the College almost four years ago, Tavis has taken on more than eight different SA and Research Assistant positions. But while his roles have afforded him many unique experiences, what he appreciates most about his jobs are the opportunities to interact with the College staff.

“People always ask me why I do so many jobs. For me, I realised that one aspect of Yale-NUS that is always overlooked are the staff, and we, as students, often do not know them as they are all in different offices,” he explained. “A good way to get to know them is to be a Student Associate. It exposes you to a lot more on campus.”

Similarly, Lynn greatly values the deep relationships she has formed with her co-workers and the collaborative nature of her work.

“It’s a relationship of mutual trust, where I am given important responsibilities like organising the flow of events and communicating with guests. I think this trust makes me feel safe and motivated to do my best,” she said. “The joys of working together, laughing together, and the relief and gratitude after a successful event mean a lot to me as well.”

Shehryar agreed with Lynn’s sentiment: “I am grateful for the love I have experienced along the way, and the people who took a chance on my ideas, and—I think most dearly— the people who trusted me to do what is best, in a way that is truly inclusive.”