Mr Tan Te Juan

Residential Assistant Tembusu College National University of Singapore

Te Juan is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Psychology, and minoring in both English Language and Philosophy. Getting to know and understand oneself, as well as one’s relationships with other people, have always been things that intrigued him, and he sincerely appreciates being able to be vulnerable and having heartfelt conversations with his loved ones.

In his past three years in Tembusu, Te Juan has actively involved himself in a wide range of interest groups and activities. Serving coffee to other Tembusians during the early morning under Tembusu Coffeehouse, planning and organising house events in the evening for members of Ora House as a House Committee or Residential Team member, and mentoring students from Ulu Pandan Stars and New Town Secondary School through tMentors, he has truly immersed himself in what the college has to offer. In fact, he has even performed in a cockroach outfit before, something he would not have expected himself to be able to say years ago! He wishes to encourage others to try their hand at the many other different interest groups as well, and would be more than willing to speak about his enjoyable experiences in the other interest groups he has been a part of, but has yet to mention here in this writeup.

Continuing his role as a residential assistant, Te Juan hopes to be able to build a safe and welcoming space for all his residents to come home to. He believes in creating opportunities for everyone to be able to mingle and find their own people. Acknowledging that problems and conflicts might at times be difficult to talk about within their own social support circles, Te Juan offers to be a listening ear for all, whenever the need arises. Feel free to approach him to talk about your own passions and sources of happiness as well; he would love to hear from you!

The Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia. Its trunk is dark brown, with deeply fissured bark, looking somewhat like a bittergourd. It grows in an irregular shape from 10 to 25m high. Its leaves are light green and oval in shape. Its yellowish flowers have a distinct fragrance and the fruits of the tree are bitter tasting red berries, which are eaten by birds and fruit bats.