NTU Reminiscing

With graduation waiting just ahead for final-year students, writer Ashley Tay lists some things worth missing about NTU.

By Ashley Tay

In a month’s time, the class of 2014 will graduate and step into the working world. As the semester draws to an end, the graduating batch buzzes with excitement and fear.

But amid busy preparations to finish the last lap — completing the most dreaded Final Year Project, finishing reports and taking the final exam papers, these are some of the most poignant memories the class of 2014 will take with them.

Bus 179 rides in and out of NTU

PHOTO: ASHLEY TAY

Days in NTU usually start and end with Bus 179 rides in and out of school. It comes as no surprise that NTU has often been likened to Tekong and even Malaysia, because of its remote location.

The school’s ulu-ness (remoteness) was often made fun of. “Did you bring your passport to school today?” and “Can you see Malaysia from where you are?” were standard jokes that we laughed about.

A significant amount of time has been spent on a Bus 179/179A these four years.

Trying to board these buses during peak hours were the worst, wrestling through the crowd to get on board and being squeezed shoulder to shoulder with no room to breathe.

But thankfully, there were days when more than one bus comes along to whisk everyone away from school, and getting out of school is brightened in the company of friends.

Exploring food places in NTU

PHOTO: ASHLEY TAY

Long breaks were always something to look forward to. After all, they were good excuses to get out of our faculty buildings to get a good lunch before the next class.

By the end of final year, students have a well-worn mental map of their favourite places to eat in NTU and the fastest way to get there.

Those who say that NTU is a dearth of food choices should swallow their words. Especially when food options run the gamut, from McDonald’s to Korean cuisine from Canteen 13, to Yong Tau Foo at the Quad.

Hall life

PHOTO: ASHLEY TAY

Moving into hall was another monumental moment of university life.

Giddy with excitement from our newfound independence, it became a daily affair to be heavily involved in hall activities and to stay up late with friends. But slowly, a personal routine was formed to balance these new responsibilities and freedom.

Memories of life in hall were also interspersed with supper sessions at Ah Lian’s and late night conversations with roomies, and waking up 30 minutes before the start of class because we were ‘already in school’.

Staying in hall also meant making firm friends beyond the confinements of our specific faculties. Hall life definitely imparted valuable life skills — juggling hall activities and schoolwork taught us time management and staying away from home developed our independence.

Freshmen Orientation Camp

PHOTO: GOH YAN HUI

Freshmen Orientation Camp (FOC) marked a new beginning in NTU.

We were, at first, skeptical about FOC — no one really knew what the seniors would put us through during camp.

What made matters worse were the FOC horror stories that promised a terrorising initiation night and games that were way too dirty, in the physical and figurative sense. But most of us signed up anyway, despite our initial fear and reluctance.

And once FOC was all said and done, our concerns and worries soon became insignificant. Leaving without a voice and surviving the five days with less sleep than ever became fond memories of FOC.

It provided a platform for meeting new schoolmates, and these schoolmates became long lasting-friends who saw us through our university years.

Taking one more glance at these same friends during convocation brings back all these memories. We realise that although everyone isn’t the same person they were when they first entered NTU, the strong bonds we’ve forged will stay with us, always.