Had there been world enough and time, I would have spent more of it at Tembusu College. Tembusu is the place you go, expecting to learn from fellows teaching, and wind up learning equally from students. Watching students’ ideas germinate and grow across the years, with ample opportunities afforded by the college, is the greatest delight. There will always be someone—student or fellow—invested in the bringing-forth of your ideas.

The seminars in Tembusu College were the cornerstone of my development as an inquisitive and interdisciplinary thinker. Beyond the classroom, there is a space for everyone and everything. I sailed on a ship, planned a vertical marathon and ran a café during my time! It is a place housed with many possibilities for meaningful experiences, growth, and friendships for a lifetime.

Tembusu College has played a key role in developing my critical thinking skills. From a carefully designed curriculum that challenged my thought process, to distinguished visiting professors, and renowned international scientists as my neighbours, this environment enabled me to develop my mental models of the world around me, and build the fundamentals for my career and personal growth.

My time in Tembusu College was a key highlight of my NUS journey. The conducive living and learning environment fostered both academic and personal growth, offering ample opportunities to explore my interests. The interdisciplinary courses greatly enhanced my learning. The vibrant student community and student groups made my student life truly fulfilling and the skills I gained prepared me for the professional world.

I was gravitated towards Tembusu College as it was a space for ambitions and home of possibilities. An interdisciplinary mix of passions and ideas, it was here where my dreams of being a Documentary Storyteller took root. My learnings and interactions within Tembusu profoundly enriched my understanding of the human experience, providing a bedrock for my life's journey and curiosity.

Being able to live with intelligent, compassionate, fun-loving people really changed my life. Tembusu had the perfect blend of hardware (facilities, functional spaces) and software (project leaders, supportive community) to make magic happen, all the time. It was a place where we could be free to explore who we wanted to be, and it shaped us to become better versions of ourselves.

Staying in Tembusu College for the first half of my undergraduate education proved to be the right choice! Experiencing pre- and post-covid era hostel life, the inter-disciplinary UTCP, joining interest groups and forging friendships with faculty and fellow Tembusians was challenging, yet it built in me resilience and a spirit of adventure which I will carry for life, such as embarking on a solo Seoul trip after completing my UTCP!

Tembusu College provided me with a holistic education, balancing breadth and depth of knowledge. I made lifelong friends and even started an interest group with an exchange student! The Senior Seminars have shaped my thinking, and the supportive community of peers and tutors made it an ideal space to learn, grow, and explore at NUS.

Tembusu College opened my eyes and mind to the world — from seminars on the impact of tourism on China’s cultural heritage, events analyzing the results of American Presidential Elections, to dinner conversations with international college mates on topics of migration and integration. Tembusu is a safe space where diversity is celebrated, and an oasis away from the stresses of school and life.