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Life isn’t always smooth sailing. For Lin Josua, a Year 1 Diploma in Sports & Wellness Management student from SBM, he had experienced sailing on stormy seas from the tender age of seven. Most kids that age have hobbies on land, but for Josua, the challenges of the sea are far more interesting.

He was introduced to sailing at seven years old when his parents enrolled him in a sailing introductory programme called GKA (Get Kids Afloat), where he spent one week during his December holidays learning the fundamentals of Optimist (a small sailing boat suitable for children) Sailing.

On the first day of training, he found an interest in learning the basics such as tying knots and steering a mock-up boat. On the second day, the kids were paired up, and each pair learnt to launch the boat and sail on water. For most of the week, the kids encountered stormy weather.

On one particular occasion, a 20-knot gusty wind blew at Josua's boat. He was caught off guard and got knocked over. He got a swollen bump on his forehead and had to be towed back to shore. After that, he wanted to give up sailing. But his parents encouraged him to continue and not let one bad experience deter him.

Thus began Josua's journey of entering the world of sailing. He began to love the sport. He credits his success to his religion and his parents. As a Christian, he is grateful that his beliefs had taken him through some of his darkest and toughest times. Josua has not looked back since and has high sailing aspirations. His goal is to represent Singapore in the 2013 World Sailing competition and the Olympics 2016.

The current sailboat Josua owns is a Viper 16 Multihull Catamaran.

He trains by himself and sails at the Changi Sailing Club with sailors from other nations. He also sails other classes of boats and catamarans. Certified with a Powered Pleasure Craft Driving Licence (PPCDL), he helps other budding sailors and also makes time to promote the sport by helping out in race events as a safety boat official.

You wouldn’t think this buff water-bound dude would have other interests, but in fact he does! Josua represented his secondary school Anglo Chinese School Barker in the Singapore National Snooker Championship in August 2009, and also holds a J H Kim Taekwondo Singapore Black Belt.

We interview Josua to find out more about his sport and what keeps him going.

Why did your parents encourage you to take up sailing in your childhood?
Sailing is an outdoor sport that instils independence, self discipline, life skills and character building. They wanted me to appreciate nature as well as overcome the challenges of sailing and weather elements. All these aspects cannot be found in a classroom.

Besides weathering storms, what other challenges did you go through when you first began sailing as a kid?
I fell into barnacles whilst launching my boat. Also, being very much smaller in size at seven years old, I struggled many times to "prop up" my boat when it capsized in stormy weather. Besides learning sailing skills, I also had to master the technique of racing and familiarise myself with the competitive nature of regattas.

What were the earliest fun and enjoyable sailing moments you had?
I enjoyed powerboat rides on my coach’s boat and catching crabs out at sea.

Is it difficult to cope with studies and sailing? How do you manage?
When I was younger in the Optimist and Byte National squads, I trained five days a week. Back then, I had to rush straight to the National Sailing Centre at the East Coast after school. I had lunch during my car rides there. On weekends, I missed a lot of family outings and fellowship after church service in order to train. Now that I am training myself on the Viper 16, I have more flexibility to arrange my training schedule.

How has NYP accommodated and supported you in your sailing and studies?
I appreciate NYP for its good sports management lecturers and facilities. NYP is also supportive of my training needs. In fact, my lecturers permitted me to be overseas for about a week during the school term for an international competition. For the modules I missed, I could contact the various lecturers personally if I had any questions.

Josua receiving the NYP Student Talent & Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award in 2013 for his outstanding non-academic achievement

What opportunities did sailing give you?
I have travelled to Pattaya in Thailand, Nice and Le Pouliguen in France for international competitions. I enjoy meeting new sailors, making friends from other countries and learning on a broader global platform. The experiences and exposure I got from sailing in other countries and conditions have greatly benefited and enriched me.

What is your training like during non-competition periods?
I work out three to four times per week in the gym and do cardio training and practise sailing on weekends. Before a competition, I train four to six days a week.

Have you set any benchmarks or goals?
My personal benchmark and goal are the Olympics.

Any upcoming sailing events?
There are upcoming local club and national regattas. I hope I can find enough funding and qualify for the World Championship this year.

How do your parents feel about your achievements so far?
My parents are thankful that I have come a long way and they continue to believe that the best is yet to be. Above worldly achievements and success, what matters most to them is how I live my life and show my faith in God.

What is most rewarding about sailing to you personally?
The joy and tranquillity of just being out on the seas, facing challenges and overcoming different conditions. Of course, winning is rewarding too!

By Julian Abraham Chua

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Julian Abraham Chua is an NYP graduate from School of Business Management (SBM). His passion for writing was ignited when he completed an overseas UK writing course and started contributing to the portal while he was still a student on the campus. He has since written for various magazines and publications including Straits Times, SG Entrepreneurs, Spin Asia, TimeOut Singapore, NTUC lifestyle, Campus magazine and SPCA newsletter. Besides writing, he adores soccer, has his own online business Stationaire and performs with his metal band Grottesca around town.

In conjunction with NYP’s Campus Expansion, staff and students from NYP’s School of Interactive & Digital Media (SIDM) are designing decorative hoarding installations for five new campus sites. These hoardings will give a glimpse of what the new facilities have to offer, and as part of the hoarding designs, we wanted to illustrate the wide variety of food which can be found in the new campus sites. So when the design team needed suitable photos of local food, Chef Andy, Chef Nicholas and Chef Vangeline from the School of Chemical & Life Sciences (SCL) stepped in to help!

COMMS Photographer Cheng Hong Ong sets the stage at the SIDM photography studio.

The result was a collaborative food photo shoot by SIDM, SCL and the Communications Department (COMMS). The one-day photo shoot featured ice kacang, laksa, wanton noodles, a salad and a bowl of yoghurt with fresh fruits diving in.

Enjoy the behind the scenes photos!

No props here. In case you are wondering, all the food in the photos is real.

Chef Nicholas (seated) and Chef Andy (standing) preparing the food.

Chef Andy prepares the bowl of yoghurt for the diving strawberries.

The strawberry makes a big splash in the yoghurt.

Chef Nicholas working on a stylized spoonful of laksa noodles.

Quite possibly the most beautiful spoonful of laksa we'll ever see.

From left: Khin Wai, Sii Inn, Chief Executive Director (PA) Mr Yam Ah Mee, Khai Woon and Pavani.

The floats getting into position before the parade.

Singapore’s annual Chingay Parade is typically filled with performances by multi-ethnic groups, and this year’s parade was no exception. The theme for this year’s event was “Fire in Snow” and the audience was thrilled with a variety of dance items and fiery displays.

A series of woks lined up and lit up!

The Chinese Opera Troupes in action.

The Community Development Councils float.

The pre-parade segment was as interesting the main event as motivators were stationed at every section waving their pom-poms and singing along to a unique selection of songs like “Top of The World” by The Carpenters and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. The audience consisted mostly of families and elderly couples. There were also several tourists who were very eager for the parade to begin.

When the Indonesian team came out we were in for a surprise as firecrackers were brought out and set off. Since the theme was “Fire in Snow”, there was plenty of fire, but where was the snow?

The audience was showered with what seem like snowflakes from afar but was actually foam. Finally, the night ended with a magnificent display of fireworks.

By incorporating multi- ethnic dances and foreign acts, Chingay symbolizes how Singapore is multi-cultural society with the individual performance encapsulating the culture of each ethnic group. This is important in ensuring that Singaporeans do not lose their identity even as we become more globalised.

This year’s Chingay also made a splash in the Singapore Book of Records for the most number of Ukulele performers, the biggest snow scene created within a 360m area and the most number of people cooking on mobile stoves.

Speaking of records, we also met NYP’s very own robotic snake, Ana the Snake, at the F1 Pit Building. Ana was crowned Champion in the Open category of the Singapore Robotic Games 2013 and was developed by students from NYP’s School of Engineering and School of Interactive & Digital Media.

Made of 13 sections and powered by 24 motors, Ana is two metres long and is designed to look and move like a real snake. To prevent the motor from absorbing too much heat, the motor only maintains intermittent contact with the ground. The colour blue was used because 2013 is the year of the water snake. Its smooth and natural motions were impressive and we learnt from the students that creating these motions was quite a challenge, but they clearly pulled in off. Thumbs up to Team NYP!

Team NYP gives us a demonstration of Ana's capabilities.

After the parade ended, we mingled with invited guests at the post-event reception room. The reception area was filled with people and there were plenty of interesting crockery and food made available to guests. The setting resembled an English tea party, where one would sip tea and have biscuits.

The beverage counter served as a reminder of simpler times.

The gastronomic delights were simply irresistible. It was a buffet with a great variety of dishes such as fried shrimps, stir-fried noodles and shitake mushroom with cheese. They also served yummy desserts and jasmine green tea.

It was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had so far. Attending Chingay 2013 was an interesting and enriching experience and we want to thank the People’s Association for inviting us to this event!

By Pavani Jeyathasan Krishnan, Year 1, Diploma in Accountancy and Finance and Chua Khai Woon, Year 2, Diploma in Banking and Financial Services.
Photos by Chua Sii Inn, Diploma in Business Enterprise IT , Year 1

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When Pavani is not attending lectures or tutorials, you would probably find her browsing through books at the Library. Other than reading and writing, she also enjoys foreign films and television shows.

Khai Woon is a Year 2 student pursuing a diploma in Banking and Financial Services. Watching movies and reading are among some of her hobbies. Above all, she enjoys listening to music and likes writing. She is also a member of the NYP Symphony Orchestra. She believes life should be unpredictable; because that is the only way it will be exciting.

He has ignited in his students their passion to be nursing professionals, and is even able to “make things fun when the going is tough”. These are what some students say about lecturer Alan Lim, Assistant Manager/School of Health Sciences in Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).

Alan recently made his debut on Youtube in a Ministry of Health (MOH) video on the Nursing profession. The video chronicles Alan’s life as a nurse and a nurse educator, and highlights why he decided to take on the nursing profession. He also shared why he decided to teach at NYP.

Said Alan in the video, “Teaching enables me to share my knowledge, skills and passion for caring. Imparting knowledge to the younger generation, so that they can become more responsible nurses, is my goal.”

During the filming, Alan’s biggest challenge was to remember his script. “The script is based on my interview with MOH and what I said,” said Alan “It was a challenge to remember my lines.”

Even though he spent two full days filming (up till midnight on one occasion), he felt the effort was well worth the while and was pleased with the way the video turned out.

Said Alan, “The video was very well done. I hope that it will inspire more people to take up nursing and impart the knowledge that nursing has its rewards.”

He further quipped, “Yes, I think they did a good job. They even managed to hide my wrinkles.”

Watch Alan Lim’s video below, or find out more about the nursing profession here.

On 19 January, a total of 117 participants in 39 teams gathered at Marina Bay East for an exciting race. It was time again for the Synergy 2013 – NYP Adventure Race, an annual race spanning approximately 20 to 25km island wide consisting of various mystery challenges.

The race is open to NYP staff, student and alumni, as well as the public, and is a true test of teamwork and endurance. Since its inaugural race in 2007, Synergy - NYP Adventure Race has never failed to thrill, challenge, and bond participants.

This year’s race consists of 11 checkpoints:

Start point: Kayaking and running (Marina Bay East)
1: Urban navigation (Tanjong Rhu Promenade)
2: Mystery team challenge - Walking on pebbles (Katong Park)
3: Team cycling (East Coast Park)
4: Tunnelling, Rope Ascend, abseil, rock climbing (OBS @ East Coast Campus)
5: Team biathlon (East Coast Park)
6: Mystery team challenge - spot YOG athletes picture (Youth Olympic park)
7: Mystery team challenge - Take photo at specified structure (Gardens by The Bay - South)
8: Mystery team challenge - Memorising Braille (Promontory @ Marina Bay)
9: Mystery team challenge – Teams to carry 4 10L jerry cans along a designated route (Asian Civilisations Museum)
10: Navigation (Fort Canning Park)
11: End point (*SCAPE)

Organised by NYP’s Adventure Club (ADC), the Race consists of numerous physical and mental challenges, such as rope ascending, running, kayaking, mystery challenge, teamwork, cycling, navigation and abseiling. Simply said, the various challenges are what makes it unique.

Every Synergy - NYP Adventure Race is different from the previous race and SYNERGY 2013 – NYP Adventure Race is no exception. Besides a fresh race route, the organisers also tested the efficiency and effectiveness of each race team.

There was also a couple of unexpected “firsts” in SYNERGY 2013. First of all, there were many more participants, including participants from the other four Polytechnics and some Junior Colleges. Furthermore, it rained throughout the entire race day, a first in SYNERGY’s history. This made the race even more challenging for the participants, who had to endure cold temperatures and fatigue.

Nevertheless, participants still persevered. Not forgetting, they learnt the true meaning of teamwork, especially when they argued during difficult moments, but still manage to solve the problem as a team.

As you may know, “synergy” means “the interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the individual”. It’s a powerful word that describes the Race.

On top of everything, we know that experience is the best teacher. Life is like a race and we must finish it with our best effort. Otherwise, life will pull you down. The sense of satisfaction when you complete the Race is a feeling that words simply cannot describe.

So, what can we expect for Synergy 2014 - NYP Adventure Race?

You have to wait and experience it yourself. Adventure is always mysterious.

Here are the highlights of Synergy Adventure Race 2013:

One of our NYP teams trying to navigate through the park

Participants preparing their bikes before the long cycle to the next checkpoint.

A team walking over foot massage pebbles as part of the team challenge.

Working together to carry 4 10L jerry cans along a designated route

Participants running in the rain.

Participants searching for a specific Youth Olympics athlete, amidst thousands of photographs.

By Sharilkhairi, Year 1, Diploma in Business Management

Shahril Khairi is a Year 1 student from Business Management who loves music, history, other cultures,writing and travelling. Some say “Active” is his middle name because he enjoys adventures and keeping fit. He loves eating and judging food and has a strong interest in The Art of War and strategy games even though he enjoys peace. He is a guy who enjoys the bright side of life.

Many of you may be just as lost as I was on my first day of school. No doubt, you want to walk around the Campus to familiarise yourself with a brand new environment.

Some questions you may start asking: “What can I do around here?” or “Where can I go to get my photocopying done?”

When you’re new to the school, these sound like tough questions to answer, isn’t it?

My NYP friends and I strongly agree that our Campus is quite a cosy and comfortable place to be in – either to study, meet new friends or just to chill. So, why not just keep calm and read on, because I’ll be telling you the best spots in NYP to mug away, satisfy your taste buds, take a chill pill or get your adrenaline pumping!

The Campus Library

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the Campus’s very own two-storey library. The newly renovated space is not just meant for you to hit the books.

Frankly speaking, the NYP library is by far the best library I have ever been to. I have never thought I would end up spending most of my time there. What’s not to like about it? First of all, there’s a quaint little cafe on the first floor of the library, selling all sorts of yummy food and drinks from hot brewed coffee to lasagne and even chips! The comfy chairs there are to die for.

Secondly, there are plenty of photocopiers located around the library meant for student use. Whenever the queue for the printing shops around the Campus is too long, make use of the ones in the library. It will save you a lot of time.

Lastly, the NYP library is home to a mini-cinema. Pick up a movie from the wide range of DVDs and Blue-rays available on the shelves, insert the disc into the brand new DVD player and hit the ‘play’ button. If the library doesn’t carry your favourite movie yet, you can even bring one from home. Bring a couple of friends, dim the lights and be amazed by the wonderful sound system installed.

Food Galore!

There are two important things to consider when it comes to dining - the taste and price of the food. Fret not, you can enjoy a variety of cuisines from NYP’s four bustling-with-life canteens: the North and South canteens, the fast food canteen and Koufu. My personal favourites are Subway and McDonald’s at the fast food canteen, the Malay rice stall in the South canteen, as well as the prata stall at the North canteen. These are the ones with really long queues so be sure to start queuing early!

Also, there will be an exciting new restaurant – L’Rez - slated to open soon for business at Block F. L’Rez will be run, managed and served by NYP’s very own Food and Beverage Business students. I can’t wait!

Relaxation Spots On Campus

Trust me when I say that NYP students are so privileged to have for themselves a couple of new spots to unwind – solo or with friends. There are the beautiful gardens and koi ponds on campus grounds around the North and South canteens, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, a secret garden (that’s what I call it) at Block P, Level 3. The garden at Block P is eco-friendly and also a beautiful place to study at. The garden is just so serene and peaceful, which makes it a good place to sit around and have a good chat.

Besides the garden, you may also want to check out the small pavilions along the fish ponds, where you can sit and relax.

Sports, Sport, and more Sports

For all of you gym-a-holics, there are many sports facilities that are open to students. There are just so many to mention, but I’ll just do a selected few.

There is a full-length rock wall in the Indoor Sports Hall open to NYP students on Fridays. If you ever need more information, you can always visit NYP’s Adventure Club clubroom in Block F and ask away. There’s also a new volleyball sandbox, located beside the running track at Block F. Forget about Sentosa’s beaches and just practice here! Plus, there’s also the school gym Body Watch, which is run and managed by the super-fit students from the Diploma in Sport & Wellness Management. Finally, there’s an awesome swimming pool – perfect for a dip in the hot weather.

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Be sure to check out all of these places I mentioned with the new schoolmates you met during Orientation 2013, and have a rocking good time!

Watch your step and be mindful of where you’re going though, for the school is currently undergoing major renovations. In fact, new and much cooler facilities will be up and running when the campus expansion project is completed.

In the meantime, happy exploring the NYP campus!

By Shahrilkhairi Bin Mohamed Haini (Year 2), Diploma in Business Management

Shahril Khairi loves music, history, other cultures,writing and travelling. Some say “Active” is his middle name because he enjoys adventures and keeping fit. He loves eating and judging food and has a strong interest in The Art of War and strategy games even though he enjoys peace. He is a guy who enjoys the bright side of life.

Thinking of starting your own business? Do you worry when you think of the planning and preparation involved? Don’t fret! Help is here.

Our reporter, KELLY LIEW, spoke with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) graduate Siti Khairunissa, who shares with us her experience of starting her first business venture. Khairunissa started 90s The Candy Studio with two of her friends, Lim Yi Jun and Goh Guo Hua Robin, from NYP’s School of Business Management (SBM). The trio, who graduated with the Diploma in Business Management, runs two stores, located at Bugis Street and Scape Underground. This business venture is unique on two fronts: it offers sweets from yesteryears, and it hires hearing impaired staff.

(From the left) Khairunissa, Robin and Yi Jun

I've visited both your candy studios and am amazed by the variety of sweets that you sell. How did the idea of starting a sweet store come about?
As my partners and I were born in the 90s, we decided that we should sell something that was close to our hearts. We did not want to settle for a typical store, selling items which could be found anywhere. Since retro sweets are hard to find nowadays, we decided to bring the sweets such as Hiro Choc cake, Magic Dust Lollipop and Ding Dang back to people and share the happiness of having sweets that were available to us in the 90s.

How long did your plan take to materialise?
We settled on the idea in June 2012 and got started right away. We sourced for suppliers, designed the store, shopped for necessities for the next one and a half months. By early August, we signed our lease with Bugis Street management and started renovations. Our first store in Bugis Street opened its doors on 10 August 2012. The budget? Each of us forked out less than $1,000 of our own savings for the business.

Why choose Bugis Street and Scape Underground for your stores? That’s because NYP collaborates with both Bugis Street and Scape Management to give opportunities to young entrepreneurs like ourselves to start businesses. So, we had a head-start. Also, these two locations are ideal to reach out to our target customers.

How has business been?
We have been busy! Even on weekdays, we see a good flow of traffic in our stores. Sometimes on weekends, it gets quite crowded. We not only have teenage customers, but many adults also come to our store to seek their childhood treasures. We have since broken even and are seeing profits every month.

Look at the variety of retro sweets!

How has NYP helped you in this business venture?
The NYP curriculum, especially its Teaching Enterprise Project (TEP) and internships, has given us insights on how to operate a successful business. On top of that, we received support from our lecturers from SBM during the planning and preparation phase of starting up 90s.

I admire the concept of hiring hearing impaired staff. I met one of them – Alvin – at Scape and I wouldn't have guessed. How has working with them been?
Working with them has been a new and positive experience. Prior to that, we did not know the sign language. We got used to writing to them as an alternative means of communication. We were glad that our hearing impaired colleagues - Alvin, Azhanie and Ida - did not let their disability hinder their training. Through working with them, we have learnt not to take things for granted and have learnt to see things from their perspective.

Would you advise other businesses to also involve the disabled community in their running?
Certainly. I would encourage businesses to adopt social enterprise strategies and work towards the integration of people with disabilities into mainstream society. I found that customers’ appreciation towards their work gives them a sense of accomplishment and builds their confidence. Through small gestures like these, people with disabilities can maximize their potential and this helps them to be self-reliant and independent.

Do you think that entrepreneurship is something that is in your blood? Or is it something that can be learnt?
Anyone can learn to become an entrepreneur. I feel it is not one’s background but one's determination that helps you to get what you want.

As an entrepreneur, I am constantly learning new things through my day-to-day experiences. If someone aspires to become an entrepreneur, I believe there is nothing that can stop him. The sky is the limit! Being your own boss is an experience that is invaluable. To my juniors who are thinking of starting a business: GO FOR IT!

What are your plans for the future?
We, at 90s, hope to expand our business by being a provider for corporate events and parties. Other than selling our candies through our stores, we hope to also reach out to more customers by providing our products for private events. We are also working hard to do more networking, build our contacts and seek more opportunities for the business.

On a more personal note, Yi Jun and I are pursuing our degree in business management while Robin is working towards expanding his second business, JNR Entertainment, which provides entertainment services for children's parties.

Finding sweets that reminds me of my childhood make me feel like a child all over again!

You can support Khairunissa and her partners by visiting 90s The Candy Studio at the new Bugis Street and SCAPE Underground.

90s The Candy Studio

4 New Bugis Street

#03-121

Singapore (188868)

90s + JNR Entertainment

SCAPE UNDERGROUND

2 Orchard Link Unit B7

Singapore 237978

By Kelly Liew, Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Mid-Wifery) graduate

Kelly loves reading and cooking. She also likes to spend time with her friends, engaging in relaxing activities. Her friends describe her as unpredictable, spontaneous and inquisitive.

He’s Taiwanese-American, has impressive vocals, is amazingly talented, and shot to fame on YouTube.

Jason Chen first debuted on YouTube five years ago, covering the song “The Look” by Ryan Tedder in front of a webcam in his dormitory room. He has since risen to stardom and has been touring the world, mesmerizing fans with his dulcet vocals.

Jason has certainly come a long way. Today, he works in a refurbished studio with a much better video recorder. He is currently working on his second full-length English album titled “Never for Nothing” and a Chinese mix tape 节省钱。His first album, “Gravity”, won over many fans (garnering over 7.7 million views) with his successful hit single “Best Friend”.

What’s interesting about this 25 year-old singer is that he doesn’t only cover English songs, he makes a good effort to keep to his roots and also sings Chinese songs such as “Tong Hua (Fairytale)” by Guang Liang and “Ting Hai” by Zhang Hui Mei.

What’s even more interesting is that he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in Business Economics and Accounting, but decided to take on singing as a career.

I had the most awesome experience meeting Jason for an interview during his tour of Singapore in March 2013 and also went for his solo performance at Hard Rock Café!

For our readers who have never heard of your music, explain your sound in a few words.
I sing a lot of pop songs, love songs, sad songs… And I do a lot of mainstream music.

Which song in your YouTube channel did you enjoy recording the most? Why?
I think it would be my cover of “Just a Dream” by Nelly. This was the first-ever video that I did with someone else and it was with Joseph Vincent (a Filipino American musician). It did really well (over 8 million views) and I had a lot of fun recording that song.

You’ve done a lot of performances around the world over the past couple of years. Do you still get nervous before performing on stage?
I don’t get nervous because I’ve been on stage since I was really young, playing the violin. It’s more that I feel awkward, because when I have both hands free, I’m not quite sure what to do sometimes.

Your Chinese album is called “jie sheng qian” (save money). So, do you like to save? What are your saving habits like?
I’m not stingy, but I do like to save. I don’t calculate (my expenses) down to the dollar, but I’m pretty much living the same way I did when I was still doing accounting. I’m one of those people who would look at the prices when I order food or buy clothes. I would be very conscious about how I spend my money. Of course, there would be certain things I would be more willing to spend on, especially if it’s going to help my branding or if it’s going to allow me to produce a very nice music video. But I won’t buy a nice car, eat super-expensive foods or buy branded clothes.

JASON’S SHOWCASE @ HARD ROCK CAFÉ

Jason’s showcase was held at the Hard Rock Café at Cuscaden Road. Although it was located in the heart of Orchard Road, my media friends and I had trouble searching for the place as it was quite a distance away from malls along the main road. Despite that, the turnout was great. The cosy performance area was soon fully filled with excited fans waiting for Jason to come out on stage. Best of all, the venue was air-conditioned! I knew this was going to be a great performance.

The showcase started with everyone moving to the beat of the mashup of “Just a Dream” and “Payphone”, originally sung by Nelly and Maroon 5 respectively.

Jason then proceeded to sing “Back at One” by Brian McKnight, serenading the entire audience with his smooth and cool vocals.

“AutoTune” was up next, a favorite, judging by the increased volume of fans screaming and cheering. The song showcased creativity and wit, and Jason floored the audience as soon as the first verse started. His voice had been artificially layered with Autotune effects throughout the whole song and I must say it was not bad at all. I didn’t think he could pull this off that well in a live setting. That being said, his ingenuity in song-production is one of the many reasons which really made me feel that the soreness from standing throughout the whole two hours was really worth it.

A Bruno Mars cover came next. Jason covered “When I was your man” with vocal prowess, belting out a high note in the bridge, which made everyone clap their hands.

Jason even demonstrated his proficiency in the Chinese language, doing a rendition of Tao Ze’s “Pu Tong Peng You (Ordinary Friends)” and Wang Lee Hom’s “Bu Zhi Dao De Shi (Things you don’t know)”. His almost pitch-perfect vocals and the familiarity he exhibited with these songs certainly delighted the Chinese fans.

Next, he sang a rendition of Justin Bieber’s “As long as you love me”.

“Best Friend”, a popular original, was up next. In this song, he mixed it up with another classic from N Sync - “God must have spent a little more time on you”. The piece demonstrated the versatility of Jason’s ability and vocals, and fans loved it just as much.

Jason then sang a song from his new album called “Hide and Seek” (about how we can never find the perfect person). Although it was a completely new song, I could see that everyone was enjoying the song, with some jumping enthusiastically when Jason sang “I’m searching for you” repeatedly as a lead-in to the chorus. The crowd sang in unison, like a well-rehearsed choir group, which impressed and touched Jason.

Finally, Jason thanked all his wonderful fans for supporting him on YouTube by belting out his newest single, “Thank You”, which was going to be on his new album “Never For Nothing”, releasing in April 2013.

Besides the song renditions, we also got a glimpse of Jason’s views on Singapore. When asked what his favourite Singapore food was, Jason replied: Hainanese Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab. Jason also said Singapore was the cleanest country he had ever performed in.

This was the first time Jason had ever sung twelve songs consecutively on tour. Let’s hope he comes back to Singapore again soon with a greater repertoire of new songs!

*photos by official photographer Jinha Kim

By Ho Khin Wai, Year 3, Diploma in Banking & Financial Services
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Khin Wai is an NYP Year 2 Banking and Financial Services student from School of Business Management (SBM). He started writing for NYP Portal in 2011 out of interest and was soon "addicted" to it. He has also written book reviews for Straits Times YA Classified. Besides writing, he loves singing and has performed for various events in NYP under NYP Soundcard.

To our dear freshmen – welcome to our Yio Chu Kang neighbourhood! Do you know that Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) has been operating at its Yio Chu Kang campus grounds since 1998? How much do you know about this area?

Try taking this mini-quiz to find out. You may just discover something interesting you didn’t know!
1. Is Yio Chu Kang a Single Member Constituency?
Yio Chu Kang was a Single Member Constituency (SMC) from 1980 - 1991 and 2006 - 2011.
In the 2011 GE, Yio Chu Kang SMC was absorbed into Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which comprises of Ang Mo Kio, Teck Ghee, Kebun Baru, Jalan Kayu, Seletar Hills, part of Serangoon North, the western portion of Sengkang and a western portion of Hougang.

2. Name a secondary school in Yio Chu Kang with a long history.
The best example I can think of is Yio Chu Kang Secondary School (YCKSS). The school was opened by then Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew in 1965 in response to the needs of the community. Back then, Yio Chu Kang was still a rural fishing village but the school started as an integrated English and Chinese school nonetheless. The school started humbly and shared facilities with Pei Hwa Public School. YCKSS’s first cohort had only 37 graduates.

In 1982, YCKSS moved to its current site and was outfitted with modern facilities.

My drawing of YCKSS

NYP is also close to schools in the vicinity like Anderson Secondary School, Mayflower Secondary School, Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, aand Presbyterian HighSchool. :)

3. Is Yio Chu Kang Road the longest road in Singapore?
Okay, this is a tricky one.

According to Google, Bukit Timah Road is the longest road in Singapore. But upon closer inspection, you will see that this includes Upper Bukit Timah Road.

Without Upper Bukit Timah Road, the entire length of Yio Chu Kang Road is 9.4 km, while the Bukit Timah main road measures 9 km. So Yio Chu Kang Road is either the longest or second longest road in Singapore, depending on how you look at it!

4. Can you name a cemetery in Yio Chu Kang?

The Japanese Cemetery Park is located at 22 Chuan Hoe Road, off Yio Chu Kang Road. It is the largest Japanese cemetery in South East Asia and is the resting place to more than 900 Japanese who lived in Singapore. If you visit the cemetery, you can even find the grave of the first Japanese resident in Singapore, Mr Yamamoto Otokichi.

View Larger Map

5. When was Yio Chu Kang MRT built?
Yio Chu Kang MRT was built in 1987, and was the northern terminus of the North-South line till 1988. For those who take the MRT to school, did you know that?

(Pssst! Did you know that NYP always provides a free shuttle bus service for students? So awesome right? Check out the details here!)

I hope you enjoyed the mini quiz! As NYP-ians, it’s fun to learn more about our surroundings.

I hope the info you gleaned here would inspire you to explore Yio Chu Kang when you have the time.

By Kelly Liew, Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Mid-Wifery) graduate

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Kelly loves reading and cooking. She also likes to spend time with her friends, engaging in relaxing activities. Her friends describe her as unpredictable, spontaneous and inquisitive.

Fusion 13 - NYP’s School of Interactive & Digital Media graduation show was held at the Pit Building where the School’s student works from all its six courses were on display.

The students were given a booth each, and they used their booths as an artistic outlet to express themselves. Some were flamboyant with splashes of colours while others were more toned down and monochromatic.

Each student stood by their booth, eager to show their work to visitors. All of them had thick portfolios and copies of their beautifully-designed résumés and namecards for potential employers or new acquaintances.

One of the first students I met was Syafiqa An-Nuriyah. The final year student, who is all set to graduate this May, took me through her impressive portfolio and patiently answered all my questions.

I was impressed by all of her works and discovered that some were created out of her own initiative. Even though the works were created during the course of her study, they look like they were created by seasoned professionals. Impressive!

Beatrice Mak, another student I met at the show, told me that her three friends and her designed the Fusion 13 website in just three months. They worked independently around the clock, developing not one version but three, one for mobile phones, one for iPads and one for desktop computers. Before meeting Beatrice, I seriously thought that the website was produced by an external company. Clearly, I was wrong, it was produced by these super professional students!

It took me a good three hours to visit the entire show but it was truly worth it – seeing what our students could accomplish was a real eye-opener. At the end, I literally went home with enough namecards to last me a lifetime.

I may just hire one of them to help me redesign my blog! :p

By Nur Mirrah Amit, Year 3, Diploma in Mass Media Management

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Mirrah is a Year 3 Mass Media Management student who, as her mother had reiterated, “reads all the time!” She consumes as many as three books a day in her spare time, and enjoys classics and romance novels by authors such as Mari Mancusi, CS Lewis, and Sophie Kinsella. She aspires to write for political science magazines like Time and Newsweek in the future, and also has an interest in fashion writing.

(From left) Hoo Chang Sheng and Lim Min Kuan

These two friends were out to just have fun and learn new things, but Hoo Chang Sheng and Lim Min Kuan ended up winning anyway. They led their teams to the first and second places respectively in the recent inaugural Plugfest International Programming Competition 2013.

Plugfest 2013 was organised by Google Developer Group and IEEE Computer Society. The competition aims to encourage the use of cloud and mobile technologies by budding software developers.

It is heartening to know that five of our NYP teams from the School of Information Technology (SIT) took part in the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) category and that all five were shortlisted for the final round!

I had the pleasure of meeting up with the two winners earlier this week. They shared a strong camaraderie, which left a lasting impression on me. I was also impressed by their ingenuity and creativity. Their win was certainly a feat as both teams managed to outdo our local universities.

Chang Sheng’s team had built an app called iGoNYP to help fellow NYPians to navigate around campus, and Min Kuan’s team created an app called Paperless Parking Coupon which allows users to pay their parking charges electronically.

All participants were required to use publically available government data to build web applications for their mobile devices.

iGoNYP, an interactive mobile application which enables users to navigate their way around campus.

In an interview, Chang Sheng and Min Kuan, spoke about the challenges they faced during the competition and also gave their personal perspectives on life.

How did you come to participate in this competition? Was this your first competition?

Chang Sheng: My project supervisor, Ms Cally Ng, recommended that I join this competition. She encouraged me to try it out to gauge my skills in mobile development.

Prior to this, I had participated in other similar competitions and had some experience with the requirements of the competition because we were also using publicly-available data.

Min Kuan: This was not my first competition. Previously, my team and I emerged as second runner up during a 32-hour “hackathon” called Isobar Create. It was held at the Microsoft Office, where we had to devise applications using Near Field Communications (NFC) technologies, which allow people to connect with one another in close range.

Min Kuan and his team mates at Isobar Create

What inspired you to create IGoNYP?

Chang Sheng: We wanted to showcase NYP. The main purpose of the app was to allow users to learn more about the array of campus facilities. We wanted to give something back to NYP because the school has given so much to us.

What were some of the problems faced along the way?

Chang Sheng: We used the Android development framework, Eclipse, and it was tough because we created everything from scratch. We needed to develop the app from the consumer’s point of view, and that required quite a bit of lateral thinking.

Min Kuan: We had to consider the amount of battery consumption and how much space the application will take up. We also had to take into account what the consumers would want, and how to make it more effective for their use. The user experience is extremely important.

When you embarked on this project, you knew that you’d be up against strong contenders island-wide. Did you think you had a good chance of winning? Why?

Chang Sheng: I participated in this to have fun and learn new things, not to win. In the course of this, we made friends with other teams, and had a chance to find out what was being taught in other schools. We also got to learn new ways of presenting our ideas.

Min Kuan: We went there to see how things would turn out. We learnt many things about our competitors, such as the teaching styles adopted by their schools. It wasn’t just about winning. The event gave us a new perspective on how we could present our ideas in a way that would allow people to understand them.

Why do you think our teams did so well in this competition?

Min Kuan: Good applications were produced during our Final Year Project (FYP). We also realised that NYP gave us many opportunities to develop our skills. Throughout the event, we had sound advice from our mentors as well.

Q: What advice would you give your juniors when participating in future competitions like this?

Chang Sheng: Look at the journey, not the difficulties. You should take part in competitions to showcase your ideas and not just to win.

Min Kuan: Look at what you will learn from the journey. Participate in more competitions to learn more and improve your skills.

What are your plans for the future?

Chang Sheng& Min Kuan: We plan to read Computer Science in a local university.

Using five words, describe yourself

Chang Sheng: Passionate, innovative, helpful, conscientious and outgoing.

Min Kuan: Matured, a leader, kind, motivated and efficient.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Chang Sheng: Read up on the latest IT news.

Are you a perfectionist?

Chang Sheng: In some areas, yes.

Min Kuan: I try to meet the personal standard I set for myself.

What’s one thing you’d like to try?

Min Kuan: Skydiving maybe? I like adventure.

Chang Sheng: I’d like to try anything that is thrilling

What is your philosophy in life?

Chang Sheng: I believe in the sharing my knowledge with others

Min Kuan: I believe in being open, because you benefit more when you share.

Why did you choose to study IT (Information Technology) in NYP?

Chang Sheng: I chose IT because I was interested in it, and wanted to learn more about the different IT technologies.

Min Kuan: I studied IT in ITE. That’s where I found my interest in IT. To me, IT is not a stand- alone industry, it also plays a supportive role amongst different industries. I feel a sense of achievement knowing that what I do can benefit people.

By Chua Khai Woon, Year 2, Diploma in Banking and Financial Services

Now that the first week of school life is over, welcome to the real world where In-Course Assessments (ICAs) and tests will start to roll in. If your dear lecturers have yet to wake you up with your very first ICA to kick off the new semester, fret not! They will do so soon enough.

Alas, if you think that poly life is already draining the life out of you, wait till you meet the five different types of people you are bound to meet during your group projects for the next three years of your life. This handy guide will help you to identify just who they are, and how to better work with them.

The Gan Cheong Spider

Excuse my use of Cantonese but I cannot stress enough about how there WILL be someone within the group who WILL care more about the project than the rest. The famous Gan Cheong (Cantonese for ‘hurried and anxious’) spider, usually the girls, will end up setting deadlines for every single task. From what I have seen, the Gan Cheong spiders are usually the ones who end up leading the groups too. They take charge of every single detail and ensure everyone abides to the schedule as well as protocol. While most people in the group (maybe even you) will end up secretly disliking the Gan Cheong spider, you should be thankful that you do have one in the group. In the end, it is the Gan Cheong spider that you can rely on to keep the project going.

If you are a Gan Cheong spider, congratulations, as it is better to have at least one Gan Cheong spider than none at all.

The Free-Rider

by Nixter

Ah, the infamous free-riders! Frankly speaking, because I am such a Gan Cheong spider, I despise free-riders. Bottom line is that I totally do not think that they deserve the grade everyone else (who did contribute) did. C’mon, who hasn’t met one of these? I think we all have and as a fellow senior, here’s a piece of advice: tell your lecturers.

I know that it sounds like a really sneaky move, but believe me, it’s necessary. Between you and me, you don’t know how many times I’ve rattled on my fellow free-riders and marked them down in my peer appraisals. The good news is, most of them would have woken up by end of Year 1 and genuinely put in effort in their later years.

The Yes-Man

There can be more than one of these within a group. Although they are a charm to have (considering they say yes to almost anything), they suffer too. At the end of every group meeting, they will always go home with a load of tasks to do. Sure, they lighten up everyone else’s plate, but they sometimes take on more than they can handle. If there are two people you should appreciate in a group, it should always be the Gan Cheong spider and the humble Yes-Man.

The Slacker

By Horia Varlan

Do not confuse the slacker with the free-rider for there is a difference. While the free-rider does not do any work at all, the slacker does, but at a price. The slacker will attempt and complete all pending work sloppily or at the very last minute , which often infuriates the Gan Cheong spider. Submission of report is due the next day at 5pm? The slacker will email them to you at the last minute. Need to rehearse for a presentation which begins at 9am? The slacker will come late with cue cards not done. Worst still, you may find yourself having to go through the slacker’s work because it looks untidy and incoherent.

The Shy Guy

Coming from a course where almost everyone is very loud, you may think there’s no such thing as the Shy Guy. However, putting my course mates aside, I am sure there are a handful of the shy guys or girls all around campus. Just because a person is shy, it does not mean he/she is not able to perform well during group ICAs. On the contrary, most of them are able to produce work of quality that rarely brings the group down... unless there’s a class presentation aspect to the project. In such cases, rehearsals are always a good method of preparation and help to build up the shy person’s confidence. Perhaps that is why my course mates are hardly ever shy anymore because we have had so many class presentations to prepare, and now speaking to big groups come naturally.

See if you can, spot these types of people in your next group project and learn how to deal with them. Also check which one of these personalities suits you best. The Gan Cheong spider in me advises you to do it fast, so you can be better prepared to face the reality of group projects in many more cycles to come!

For freshmen, happy working on your first projects!

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Written By Nur Mirrah Amit, Year 3, Diploma in Mass Media Management

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘raw’ and what would define a graduation show as such? These questions intrigued me on many levels.

When something is described as raw, it often conveys the need for additional process to reach its finished state or, as the event’s website put it, “products that lack the final touch of finesse.”

However, for the organisers 'raw' also suggests freshness; products at their peak brimming with potential. Based on this definition, ‘raw’ was a perfect description of this year’s graduates from NYP’s School of Design (SDN).

Unit 13: RAW was the graduation show for SDN that ran from 8 to 10 March 2013 at the National Library. I went there on the last day and was greeted by damp but relaxing weather. The juxtaposition of the rain and the warmth of creativity and passion that exuded from the exhibition gave the show a magical quality. In addition to the invited guests and industry partners who attended the event, many passers-by who sought shelter from the rain were treated to a wonderful showcase.

The exhibition was divided into three sections - Industrial Design, Space and Interior Design, and Visual Communication with blue, red and orange representing each theme respectively. Not only were there detailed explanations and illustrations, but the creators themselves were present to address questions and explain their works. This gave visitors the opportunity to pick the brains of these budding graduates.

The locale and the presentation of the works exuded a sense of meticulousness and attention to detail.

There was excitement in the air with constant murmurs and discussions between curious visitors and the proud students who were showcasing their works. From the conversations I had with the students I could tell they were very enthusiastic about their products and highly confident that their creations would make it big given the right opportunities.

I find this showcase really inspiring: how many of us would have the confidence to display our works in public? Definitely not me.

Unit 13 wanted to give visitors a feeling of freshness. To this degree it succeeded, and to me there was never any doubt these graduating students are full of potential.

(Photo Credits: Unit 13:Raw Facebook page)
To view even more photos, check out our gallery on facebook!

By Mattheaus Choo

Your new life in poly is always exciting and brimming with new things to learn. Therefore, having a bag with all the possible items you will need is very important. In this guide for our freshmen, we give you a glimpse of what you need to bring to campus: from your basic needs to the things needed for you to do well in your tutorials and exams.

The Basics

Water bottle

Having a water bottle which is at least 500ml is important so as to keep ourselves hydrated throughout the day. We definitely don't want to see any of you students fainting or having heat stroke!

Stationery

From highlighting notes to scribbling important information somewhere, its important to have stationary with you every day in school so make sure you have pens and highlighters to take notes and highlight key points in lessons.

Paper

What is the use of having pens if you don't have any paper or an exam pad to write on? Always have some on standby, just in case your lecturer gives you some out useful study tips. Definitely not a thing to miss out on to gain a good GPA!

School related items

Student pass

This is a must to have with you all the time. You will need this for many uses: such as opening doors, boarding the shuttle bus and getting your attendance marked

Course Notes/Textbooks

A lesson is definitely incomplete without your learning materials. Always remember to pack the right books and notes needed for the day and not add unnecessary weight to your load for the day.

Planner/Diary

Being in poly isn't just fun and games. There is a time for work and a time for play. Having a planner or diary, so as to keep track of your time and remind yourself of your daily appointments and lesson timings is a good habit to have.

Electronics

Laptop and charger

With everything now being digital, the more we should have a laptop with us for our projects and course works, not forgetting, of course, the all important charger so that we never run out of power!

Earpiece/Headphones

For music lovers just like me, this is something I can never leave home without. Be it on the train or waiting for the bus, music keeps me going through a long day.

Hard drive/USB sticks

Something small and portable that is useful for fast file transfers and storage.

External charger for phones

Our phones have become such an important tool in our everyday life. For heavy phone users, this is for sure a God given blessing!

Extras

Sweets

Feeling sleepy in lectures or having bad breath? Well, any sweet will do, to help you through that long lecture or remove that unpleasant breath.

Jacket

Just a precaution for those who feel cold easily in air conditioned places. Have a jacket on standby to keep yourself warm. You don't want to run out of a lecture while your teacher is touching on important concepts you need to master!

Tissue packets

Especially for the people who regularly visit the toilet. For sure you don't want to enter a cubicle and discover that there isn't any toilet paper.!

Plasters

Life is full of unexpected events. Thus, being prepared with some plasters in your bag is something you might want to consider.

After reading through is article, you would probably get a rough idea of what you might find useful in poly. Get your bag ready and get set for a great start as you begin your journey as an NYP student! Wishing you all the best and good luck to your future endeavours!

Written by Theophilus K E

Ever had a long break in between your lectures or tutorials and want something different from your usual staples of chicken rice or fried noodles?

If so, you have to check out Charco's! Located just four bus stops away from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), they serve authentic Australian spicy grilled chicken, juicy tender ribs, kebabs, burgers, sinful crème potatoes and other mouth watering sides. All food lovers will LOVE the wide variety of dishes they have. To all my Muslim friends, Charco's is Halal certified.

1/4 Portuguese Chicken with 3 sides (seafood, chicken avocado and potato) at $10.20. The thick crabmeat slices are really tasty!

One of my favourite dishes is the Portuguese chicken. This dish is slowly grilled to perfection and the sauce contains several secret spices. As you bite into each morsel of the juicy chicken, you’ll also be treated to an explosion of flavours from the special marinate on the chicken.

1/4 Portugese Chicken with chips at $7.80. Look at the amount of fiery goodness on the chicken! The red sauce at the back is yummy too!

Other than chicken, Charco's also serves seafood. Its fish and chips is as good as it gets; the dory fillet is encapsulated with breadcrumbs and fried to perfection. As shown in the picture, it is served with a generous amount of chips beautifully dusted with cayenne pepper, fresh coleslaw and a dollop of tartar sauce. If tartar sauce ain't your thing, Charco's also provides as much BBQ sauce as you want at the cutlery station. Yes, you read it right!

Fish & Chips with fresh coleslaw and a dollop of tartar sauce at $10.60

Fish & Chips with crème potato and peas at $11.80

While the prices of the chicken dishes are relatively affordable, we ‘chickened’ out when it came to the price of the ribs (lamb ribs cost $12.80 and beef ribs cost $13.80).

Nonetheless, we heard they serve one of the best ribs in Singapore! We will have to try it to be certain!

For now, with our student allowances, sticking with the chicken is a better choice.

Charco's is a stall under the Mr Teh Tarik franchise, a popular coffeeshop chain . Although I feel that their customer service can be improved, their food will satisfy your tummies. So it’s all good!

It’s also very easy to order your meal. Decide what you want to eat, proceed to the cashier and make your order! Voila! The stall will give you a number tag and you will have to wait for a few minutes before getting to enjoy a taste of heaven.

Charco’s!

How to get there?

1. Walk out from the sports complex gate to Avenue 9 and board bus 265
2. The bus stop is near Sakura International Buffet restaurant
3. Alight four stops after and you will see a petrol station, walk further down and you'll see Charco's!
*Estimated journey duration: less than 15 minutes

By Farihin Joehari, Year 2, Diploma in Mass Media Management

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Farihin Joehari, has a penchant for cooking and wishes Nigella Lawson was his wife. He has a love-hate relationship with food and is a massive movie junkie! He loves going on escapades with his pals and might have a knack of whining too. He also enjoys going to concerts to be left in awe.

I love NYP. Yes, I am serious.

And I love it even more when I get to enjoy the fun and laughter of student life, especially when TV stars visit the campus.

The film crew of Hey Gorgeous!

On the 2nd of May, our Campus welcomed the TV crew and hosts of reality series Hey Gorgeous.

The hosts for the show, Ben Yeo, Dasmond Koh and Romeo Tan, attracted quite a crowd the moment they stepped into the NYP atrium at 8:30am. I was privileged to accompany them in their quest to find gorgeous guys and girls to represent NYP in the school edition of their programme.

Romeo, who graduated from NYP in Digital Media Design expressed his excitement at returning to his alma mater, “Wow! So many things have changed.”

After a short briefing at the atrium, the crew set out to find the attractive people in our midst.

I followed Romeo and Dasmond to their first stop which was the entrance near the MRT. Dasmond told me he thought that it was nice that NYP is next to the MRT. He could see himself going for a long lunch between long breaks if he were a student here.

Krystle was invited to join the three hosts at the atrium during the afternoon.

Ironically, as the two artistes approached the walkway, the crowd walking to the school dispersed to avoid them. What shy people we have in NYP!

Despite the dispersing crowd, the duo spotted freshman Krystle. The tall and slim School of Business Management (SBM) student was confident in front of the camera, and left a positive impression on the hosts.

Krystle was later invited to join the three hosts in a programme challenge at the atrium that afternoon.

Another gorgeous girl spotted by the hosts.

After winning over two more pretty girls to be part of the show at the entrance, the hosts moved to the air-conditioned Koufu food court to continue their search. That was a clever decision in the 32°C heat outside. At Koufu, they adopted a more proactive approach - asking for recommendations from students.

Dasmond asking for recommendations from students at Koufu.

It is interesting that students dining at Koufu highly recommended fellow students from SBM. That got Dasmond and Romeo excited as they then knew where to go next. The film crew made a quick exit after speaking to several students.

The next stop was McDonald’s. Immediately, Romeo spotted a cute girl in a polka- dotted top. She was eating with her friends when she got pulled up from her seat to join the hosts.

The surprise she felt was obvious. After agreeing to attend the programme challenge in the afternoon, she finally returned to her amused friends.

What could she have said to excite the hosts?

I think Dasmond was attracted to her long hair.

The film crew then went around asking for recommendations again before moving to the classroom blocks to try their luck.

I was excited when they wanted to visit the nursing labs at the School of Health Sciences (SHS), a place I frequented when I was a student in NYP.

There, we found many classrooms filled with students practising their nursing skills. The celebrities peeped through the glass windows of the labs in the hope of spotting photogenic student nurses. They even asked for permission to enter a nursing lab to see how the lesson was conducted.

I never felt prouder to see non-medical professionals interested in the work of nurses.

A lecturer showing Romeo and Dasmond how to take blood pressure.

Visiting the nursing labs must have reminded Romeo of his student days. According to Romeo, his secret hideout in NYP used to be his editing labs where he and his peers would camp overnight to finish their projects.

Romeo’s standing broad jump

After saying good bye to SHS, we arrived at the Sports Complex. Spying the standing broad jump mat, Romeo immediately exclaimed, “I am really good at this.”

He was then challenged by Dasmond to try it out. This attempt to relive his track and field days received some screams from the fans around us. Who doesn’t like sporty boys?

When we got to the swimming pool, there were only four guys swimming there. They were on a break in between their lab lessons. Jokingly, Dasmond asked the boys to swim over from the other end of the pool. The guys obediently did so and impressed the hosts with their boyish looks.

The boys at the pool

Nursing student Yobez Koh stood out among his peers and was made to come out of the water to show off his six-pack abs in front of the camera.

I must say I think he is a real talent. Not at all shy, Yobez posed for the camera confidently and quickly agreed to join the challenge later.

A tip-off did come soon after that! The film crew received news that someone handsome was to be found in the design lab.

We quickly rushed to the School of Design (SDN) and found the guy! Alfred Low had just finished his lesson and was stopped by Romeo just before he left class. This tall, dark and handsome guy was just what they were looking for. When asked what special talent he possessed, Alfred said calmly, “I draw.” Oh... I love artistic boys.

Alfred being spotted after his design lesson.

After selecting their gorgeous people in NYP, the film crew took a break and prepared for the challenge at the atrium. Fans and supporters crowded the atrium like it was Open House once again.

Were you there?

Trying out the challenges

The six finalists of NYP were challenged to walk from one end to another balancing table tennis balls on small rackets.

The game tested their ability to remain composed in difficult situations. I was glad to see that they remained calm and smiley even when they failed in their first few attempts.

Want to find out who made it to the Semi-Finals of Hey Gorgeous? Catch the show, scheduled to debut on the 27 May at 8pm on Channel U.

Or watch this space for updates!

(from left) Ben Yeo, myself, Romeo Tan and Dasmond Koh

By Kelly Liew

Kelly is a nurse who graduated from the Advanced Diploma in Mid-Wifery. She loves reading and cooking. She also likes to spend time with her friends, engaging in relaxing activities. Her friends describe her as unpredictable, spontaneous and inquisitive.

Third-Year Diploma in Visual Communications student Sandra Tay wanted people to have a lasting memory of her design. Thus she created a three-dimensional poster entirely in cardboard. Her creation won her the first prize in a green poster design competition organised by the School of Design (SDN).

Participants were encouraged to design posters with the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) in mind. For Sandra, her use of cardboard as a medium expresses her own belief in the 3Rs. Her poster showcases a crinkled cardboard tree filled with different forest animals.

Sandra Tay receiving her prize from Mr Koh Swee Guan, Director of Estates Management and Environmental Management Representative

“As teenagers, we all know what the right thing to do is. We just need the impetus to act,” said Sandra. “I hope my design will give people something to remember.”

The competition attracted submissions from students throughout the school. Students exercised creativity in their designs, using interesting facts and figures, motifs, and metaphors to emphasize the need to save the earth.

Second-Year Industrial Design student Tey Chin Ting had hand-drawn a tree resembling a woman and touched it up using green, grey and blue watercolours.

Tey Chin Ting receiving her prize from Mr Koh Swee Guan, Director of Estates Management and Environmental Management Representative

“The woman-tree represents mother-nature and shows us that global warming is progressing and we have little time to act on it,” she said.

Chin Ting was one of the 12 prize winners at the prize giving ceremony held on the 8th May 2013 at the NYP Library.

"The Green Poster Design Competition organised by SDN garnered strong support and enthusiasm from the students and helped to increase environmental awareness. The entries received showed exceptional thinking, creativity and originality,” said Mr Koh Swee Guan, Director of Estates Management and Environmental Management Representative (EMR) and Guest of Honour at the prize giving ceremony.

An exhibition called Saving Gaia was also launched at the event. The exhibits consist of clay tiles featuring fauna and flora made by design students as part of their General Studies Module – 3D Forms and Appreciation, and will be available for viewing till the 28th June 2013 at the NYP Library Lifestyle Hub.

Check out the students' designs below.

Life in poly is exciting and full of learning opportunities. To get the most out of your experience, your bag should be stocked with all the items you need - from the basics to your guilty pleasures.

In this issue of 'What's in your bag?', we take a look at The Write Stuff's Deputy Editor, Mirrah, to see what she carries.

The Basics
Planner & Notebook

Studying in poly isn't all fun and games. Having a planner or diary to keep track of your appointments and lessons is a good thing to have. Without it Mirrah feels like a “lost sheep”.

Mirrah likes to scribble down important notes and information, so a notebook is easier to keep maintain than lots of scrap paper.

Make-up box & Wallet

These items were bought during her recent trip to the UK. Mirrah likes to look good, so she changes the contents of her make-up box regularly. Mirrah's make-up box is constantly evolving. Her staples are lip balm, loose powder and lip stain.

Mirrah's wallet contains passport photos, appointment cards, name cards and other items she may have an occasionally need for.

Card purse

Since she started her internship, Mirrah carries this purse with all her daily needs like her ATM card, IC, ez-link, some loose change and small notes. She carries this with her at all the time so that she knows her valuables are always with her.

Umbrella

Mirrah's commute from home to work or school is fully sheltered, so she mainly uses her umbrella when she goes to town, because it always seems to rain when she goes shopping!

Glasses with case and cleaning cloth

Even though Mirrah wears contact lenses, she prefers to wears glasses for work most of the time because she spends a lot of time in front of the computer.

When she does wear her contacts, she will bring along her glasses as a back-up in case she loses her contacts or feels like taking them off.

Carrying a case also gives her easily access to a cleaning cloth. A must-have for those who wear glasses!

Electronics
iPod 5th Gen 16 GB

This was a present from her dad for her 19th birthday, which came just in time to replace her Creative Zen MP3 player that died on her. Thanks to its great camera, she uses it to take high definition photos and videos. Most of her games and music are on this device, and this self-described 'music addict' carries this with her everywhere she goes.

iPhone 4 16GB

Mirrah used to be a huge fan of Nokia and Motorola. But since she started using her iPhone, she can't imagine using anything else. She uses her phone for tweeting, checking Facebook, What's App, Instagram and checking emails. The other applications on her phone are barely used. But the alarm clock and notes function on the phone are apps she can't live without!

Written by Theophilus K E

Chang Sheng presents his award-winning app, iGoNYP

Hoo Chang Sheng brought glory to NYP when he emerged as Champion for the Plugfest International Programming Competition 2013. He has also developed a crowdsourcing application for SLA/ Restroom Association (Singapore) called LOO Connect, which has been launched on Google Play.

LOO Connect let users rate the cleanliness of toilets and locate clean toilets certified by the Restroom Association (Singapore).

So how has life been for this Year 3 Diploma in Information Technology Student after the competition? I met with Chang Sheng to see what he’s been up to.
What have you been up to lately?I’m currently waiting for the graduation ceremony to be held in May. In the meantime, I’m working as a Development Technologist in the School of Information Technology (SIT) developing mobile applications.

iGoNYP is an interactive mobile map application that gives the user more information about NYP.

What triggered your interest in IT?
During my secondary school days, a friend helped me to configure my computer and did some tweaking which sped up the system. I was amazed by how a small tool can have such a great impact on the whole system. I started doing research on the tools available. From then on, my curiosity in IT grew into an interest, which subsequently became my passion.

What made you want to pursue an IT course in NYP?SIT has a strong reputation. I was interested in information technology, and I was confident that NYP could provide me with a good education.

Has your life changed since winning the Plugfest International Programming Competition 2013?There haven’t been many changes in my life. The lecturers are proud of me for putting what they have taught me into practice and winning the competition.

Let’s talk about your other big project, the LOO Connect. How did the opportunity to develop LOO Connect come about?I was serving an internship with SLA and was given this project.

How did you come up with the idea for a crowdsourcing, location-based app?LOO Connect was previously available on a web platform but it can be enhanced with location-based features. With my specialisation in Geospatial & Mobile Innovation, I applied what I had learnt in this mobile application and implemented the location-based feature, which is becoming more and more popular in today's apps.

What kind of work was involved in developing LOO Connect?Part of the work required understanding OneMap's crowdsourcing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and how it communicates with OneMap’s help desk in enhancing and improving the existing framework.

Did you have to learn new technologies?Yes, I learnt more about crowdsourcing technology and how to develop apps for the Android ecosystem.

What was the biggest challenge faced when you develop the app?The biggest challenge was becoming familiar with OneMap’s APIs while ensuring that the app’s design is user-friendly and aesthetically attractive.

Why are you passionate about mobile application development?I am impressed by how a small application on a smart mobile device can be so useful and bring great convenience to our lives.

I understand that you like to keep yourself updated on the latest IT news. Where do you get your news from?
I used to read magazines, but you need to wait for a month before the next issue is released, so I switched to the internet. I usually visit American websites because most of the latest technology is developed there, so they will have the latest updates as well. Some of the websites I usually visit are www.lifehacker.com and www.addictivetips.com.

How do you unwind?I like to watch drama and movies, preferably mysteries or crime-related genres. I also like to read non-fiction.

Are you involved in any CCA or any school events?Yes, I was in Aikido where I held the position of Logistics Officer. I was also involved in Campus Road Run and SIT event s such as Open House and iStudy. I joined iStudy because I like to share my knowledge and provide some help to my juniors with their assignments.

With projects and competitions to handle, how do you manage your social life?I am a friendly and outgoing person, but I tend to keep my social circles small and stay with the same cliques. So I don’t have much of a problem managing my social life.

Where is your favourite hangout place in NYP?I like to go to the library with my friends, or sometimes we will book a discussion room at SIT Level 4 where we work on assignments or hang out.

You mentioned you are an adventurous person, is there anything you’d like to try?I like fast-speed and thrilling activities, a bungee jump sounds appealing to me.

What are your plans after poly?I will be going for National Service, and hope to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Computing after that. I have been offered Computer Engineering by National University of Singapore and Computer Science by Nanyang Technological University and SIT.

With my passion in mobile applications, I hope to become a professional mobile application developer one day.

Can you give some advice to the current students in NYP?Time management is very important if you want to juggle your commitments while enjoying your poly life. For SIT students, doing research to upgrade oneself and being updated with the latest news in the IT industry is essential, as technology changes quickly. You may encounter obstacles along the way, but take them in your stride and enjoy the journey!

By Chua Sii Inn, Diploma in Business Enterprise IT , Year 2

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Sii Inn is a Year 2 Business Enterprise IT student who enjoys detective fiction and mystery novels. She enjoys picking up new skills,learning new things and feels that food is the most primitive form of comfort. She also loves to indulge in the best entertainment and appreciates idiosyncracies, theatre performances, martial arts and piano melodies. Her dream is to go on a backpacking journey around the world to meet people from all walks of life and understand their cultures.

Hello my friends! Today, I will be exploring some of the General Studies Modules (GSMs) in NYP. Despite being all under the same roof, most of us will be taking GSMs which are different and unique.

In NYP, GSMs help to complement your core modules and let you explore subjects outside your main discipline of studies. You get a more enriching and all-rounded education this way.

Have you ever wondered what GSMs each NYP School has to offer? There might even be a particular GSM you would like to take but are unaware of! Well, I belong to the School of Chemical and Life Sciences (SCL) and I would like to introduce to yousome of the GSMs my School has offered me.

To start the ball rolling, here are five popular SCL GSMs which first year students can consider taking – French Language, German Language, Japanese Language, Maximizing Microsoft office and Creating Games with Microsoft PowerPoint.

Langue Française (French Language)

Eiffel Tower’ Paris, France. (Adapted from clipart)

Bonjour! (“Hello!” in French) This is the most highly-anticipated GSM in SCL!
In this module, students are introduced to basic French words and expressions. . Throughout this French module, students will learn about the interesting culture in France, the French alphabet, conversational skills and other fascinating facts! I am pretty sure that after this enriching journey, students would have also learnt much about the nation.

Deutsch Sprache (German Language)

‘German Flag’ (Adapted from clipart)

Nächster! (German for “Next!”) Are you curious about what is being taught in this module? Well, students will get to learn about Germany and the German language They will be learning how to introduce themselves and converse with each other in German. In addition, students will also be able to talk about the food they enjoy eating and learn how to order food in German. Doesn’t this sound fun?

日本語 (Japanese Language)

‘Sakura Flowers’ Japan (Adapted from clipart)

こんにちは! (Pronounced as “konnichiwa” and it means “hello!” in Japanese)
Moving on, I am proud to say that this is the GSM I am currently taking! It has been an enjoyable module so far. We have been introduced to the different writing systems in Japan, which include: Hiragana, Katakana and Romaji. We are also taught commonly used Japanese greetings and expressions. Also, in the near future, we will learn to converse with one another in Japanese. This may just come in handy one day, we never know. I also look forward to the day I can watch anime (Japanese animation) without subtitles.

Maximizing Microsoft Office

Microsoft logo (adapted from clipart)

In this module, students are given the opportunity to learn how to maximise the tools in Microsoft Office. They are taught the basic to intermediate techniques of optimising Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. Who knows? When students have completed this module, they will be experts in handling Microsoft Office and impress us all during projects and assignments. If you think this module is not going to be particularly useful, think again! Like the saying goes, “Knowledge is power!’

Creating Games with Microsoft PowerPoint

Computer Games (adapted from clipart)

Doesn’t the word “games” pique your interest? In this module, students are introduced to the creation of games using Microsoft PowerPoint. The types of games they will be learning to create are: Memory games, Spot-the-difference games and Board games. In my opinion, this is a really appealing module that allows students to experience something new and fresh!

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I sure did enjoy my journey exploring these five different General Studies Modules! I hope you did too! I’m now interested in finding out what GSMs other Schools have in store! And I will do that.

Before I end, I would just like to say: Don’t dread your GSMs, enjoy them! You gain valuable knowledge with every lesson. Every GSM has its own perks, so look on the bright side and appreciate them.

For SCL, I understand there are more exciting GSMs in store for me when I go to my second and third years. For example, there’s a photography GSM and a ‘food culture’ GSM where you appreciate the different types of food of various cultures. There is even a GSM on ‘nature reserve walks’ where you get to go on trips to nature reserves.

I can’t wait.
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Written by Anyssa Prisicilla Kengsley, Year 1, Diploma in Medicinal Chemistry

Having a strong interest in chemicals and medical research, Anyssa feels that studying chemistry is much more enjoyable than it looks. She strives to become a successful researcher in the future. Apart from this, she also likes writing in her free time, especially romance and fantasy stories. She finds joy in jotting down her thoughts and expressing her opinions in words.

He was Weathering Storms at Seven Years Old

Behind the Scenes: Food Photography

Chingay 2013 “Fire in Snow” - Event Coverage

Nurturing the Next Generation of Nurses

Synergy 2013 – NYP Adventure Race: Winning is not the only Indicator of Success

The Freshmen’s Guide to the Best Spots in the NYP Campus

Seeking Childhood Treasures in this Candy Store

Jason Chen Live in Singapore 2013

Kelly’s Mini Quiz on Yio Chu Kang

Fusion 13: Multi Dimensional

Plugfest 2013: The Attitude Makes IT Different

The Freshmen’s Guide to: 5 Types of People You Are Bound to Meet in Projects

Unit 13: Raw

What's in Your Bag Theophilus?

Charco’s – Spicy Grilled Chicken Goodness

A Day in NYP with Three Gorgeous Stars

Students Use Design to Deliver Meaningful Environmental Messages

What's in your bag Mirrah?

Hoo Chang Sheng: Pride of NYP and an Up-and-Coming Mobile Application Developer

Looking into Five Desirable General Studies Modules