Little Red Dot
- Peter
- Sep 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Singapore come from the Malay words meaning “Lion City” because in the 1400s somebody noticed a lion on the island where Singapore is now. However, as far as modern scientists know, lions have never roamed Singapore. But, you know, education in the 1400’s did not teach animal identification very well.
Despite the story to me the most important question to answer before departure is: WHY?
Why spend 3 months 27 days away from Mines and all my friends here?
Why spend 3 months 27 days a 20 hour flight away from Denver?
Why spend 3 months 27 days exploring a new culture?
Why spend 3 months 27 days finding new adventures abroad?
Why spend 3 months 27 days meeting new friends from around the world?
Why spend 3 months 27 days attending foreign festivals and events?
Why spend 3 months 27 days learning at Nanyang Technological University?
Sure, it is very far away, but it is an adventure of a lifetime. (Hire me as a study abroad marketer)
Most people just go to Europe, not Singapore, the literal second furthest destination from Golden that I could go to. South Africa is the furthest. But to me I feel Singapore offers the most. Europe and the US share the same origins and values, but Singapore is a wild mix of Western and Asian that I can explore.
To me the most important question to answer before arrival is: Why study abroad? It’s a choice that not many people make, especially at Mines. Each year only around 80 upper class students go on a semester abroad. And given that each year a new class of 1500+ joins that is only 5%. It is good too to note though that a few other students (150ish each year) go on summer abroad, research abroad and first year abroad. Still, accounting for those it is only 15%. And why Singapore? I was the first Mines student to apply and go to Singapore since 2019. To me it is a way to get away from my normal and to try something new, something daring. I see it as a way to both spend a lot of time exploring, facing new situations and views. Right now, I am questioning what I want to do with my life, for I could take the easy road, work for a defense contractor for the rest of my career (I am 90% sure I can get a job offer before graduation), but I don’t really want to do that, it does not have any bigger impact on the world.
On the other hand, it sometimes feels really daunting. Some days I want to call it off, for spending a semester at home, not having to face a daunting new world sounds a lot better. There is no need to form new friend groups, while maintaining my current ones. There is no need to perform to the level of a university that is top 30 in the world. But at the same time, I would miss out on all that. And to me that is what life is for, if we are just content, we will never improve, if there is not a wildlife to live then there is less point to life. If you have read the Scythe trilogy, the characters in this immortal world have not decided to focus on improving themselves, learning every language, but just end up drifting, filling time forever. So, as I have no responsibilities or jobs tying me down, I just have the resources and support network to help me along with my time abroad.
The next question is what I hope to gain? The most obvious is that I hope to be able to see more of the world. Exploring Singapore and SE Asia. I addition, I can gain friends from around both the United States and the world. Otherwise, I don’t really know what to expect, other than trying something new.
To me the summary of this is “Carpe Diem” (Seize the Day). My goal is to not say no to anything, to try everything to learn more about the world and myself.
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