Ms Freya Keertikar

Residential Assistant Tembusu College National University of Singapore

Freya is a final year Political Science undergraduate. Her interest in history, current affairs and culture have led to her passion for the International Relations aspect of her major. Her experiences in volunteering as a storyteller for NLB and as a member of the drama club in JC have also made her continue to pursue her passion in Theatre in university.

In her three years in Tembusu College, Freya has been an active member of the community, with roles in tWild, as well as her position as House Captain in the Tancho House Committee in AY20/21 Semester 2. In the time spent in the college, she has taken part in a diverse range of activities that the college has made highly accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level or experience. As house captain, she was also privileged to meet and learn from the residents, as well as work with a committee to create as lively of a community as possible during the Covid period. 

She also spent a semester studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, where she had the opportunity to travel around Europe, both with friends and alone. Travelling solo in Paris, particularly, remains a key highlight. However, her fond memories of being welcomed back into the Tembusu community, even after having been away from the college for so long and meeting completely new faces, were what made her want to continue her journey in the College as a Residential Assistant. 

In her downtime, she is an enjoyer of artists such as Taylor Swift, as well Kpop groups. She is also a lover of Korean dramas, sitcoms, Italian food and anything matcha. She is always down to talk about Taylor Swift for hours, or even just to hang out over an iced mocha!

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.