2007 ~ 2012 |
A NEW CAMPUS AND THE BIRTH OF SASS
The Never Ending Story (Ahh Ahh Ahh)
Lee Jun-Elle
Guest lecture (2018). ▶
In my first two years of university, all I could think
about was walking out of the front gates for good.
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I suppose the
world can be
less painful
when you
roll with the
punches –
saying more
OKs rather
than giving in
to KOs.
I went through a deep burnout phase and other
personal struggles, nearly failed every single unit that
I’d taken and didn’t quite care. One of my turning
points was when Turnitin turned me in and Dr. Sharon
Bong took the time to lecture me, about me. She was
right; what was I doing? (What I did do after that was
dart to the washroom for a proper sob fest).
I imagine that others endure(d) similar challenges
during university – not knowing what you’re doing,
wondering how to do better, what to do after, and
where it all fits…
Not many are as lucky as I am to have had the
chance to make immediate amends. In my case, I
still had my final year to turn myself around. I actually
read the recommended readings, joined a study trip,
participated in sport clubs, consulted my lecturers,
and ended up receiving the Dean’s Recognition
Award. What!
And then there’s more. After a few years in the
working world, I took on a Masters in SASS, did more
readings, joined another study trip, climbed walls, and
up in life… Rocky soundtrack kinds of things.
It’s easy to flaunt successes like – see, I rose from the
ashes, you can too, my dear phoenix. It’s also easy
to remember the lowest points along the way – when
you simply can’t see beyond Misery.
I suppose the world can be less painful when you
roll with the punches – saying more OKs rather than
giving in to KOs. And that’s not about accepting
whatever comes your way (impossible for SASS
graduates not to question everything, anyway) but it’s
about being proactive.
I’m grateful for the lecturers who knocked sense
into me, and who looped me in with other motivated
individuals, keeping the momentum going.
Such a turn of events… I began my university years
dreaming of the moment I could leave.
I’ve long left, but the university is still with me.
Here are some images of my artwork, work, and
myself, commemorating this forever relationship with
SASS.
It started with this mural in the Student Lounge that is
no more. The walls have been broken, literally.
Then Dr. Andrew Ng reached out to me for this mural.
It’s still there!
The period of doing my Masters in SASS is among
my fondest memories, a lot to do with the support
and enthusiasm from Dr. Yeoh Seng-Guan, who was
also my research supervisor. As thanks, I drew him his
favourite philosopher/theorist.
◀ SASS Mural (2015).