The NOC experience – Dispelling Rumours, Discovering Facts

Chrissy Phoong | yoke.xi@nus.edu.sg
theridge news
A NUSSU Publication

Back in August this year, the ridge news reporter, Chrissy Phoong, left for Sweden to embark on a one-year National University of Singapore Overseas College (NOC) programme.

In the midst of settling in, she writes back to share with us her experiences leading up to the trip and about life over at Sweden.

photo credit: Chrissy Phoong

Here I am, in Sweden!

Making my way out of the large metallic revolving doors, I was greeted by a cool 20°C draft. I could barely believe I am really in Sweden!

Sweden is a nation of many facets. It is the land of the Vikings, Odin, Thor and Valkyrie. The land that gave birth to ABBA, IKEA, Ericsson, Alfred Nobel and the Ice Hotel.

And here I am, in the heart of the country – Stockholm, the first European Green Capital.

The welcome sign in Arlanda airport said, “Välkommen till Stockholm,” and it marks the start of my one-year journey under the NOC programme.

Applying for the NOC Programme

The NOC is a university level unit programme that caters to academically-inclined students with an interest in exploring entrepreneurship.

Application begins with the filling of an online form, to be accompanied with two recommendation letters.

Next, I had to get through two interviews conducted by the NOC office and at least one more by the hiring company.

Once hired, there was still getting my Visa and residence applications, module mapping as well as the final CAP review to get through.

Prior to my application, I have heard of how students found the application a hassle because of the citizenship criterion, rounds of tough interview sessions and the need for a strong co-curricular activities (CCA) record.

But I discovered these to be largely untrue after sitting through my own interview with the NOC office held in February.

I found that foreign students are not necessarily disadvantaged compared to Singaporeans.

Although good grades or an active CCA record do increase your chances, it is more important to demonstrate the certain attributes during your interview.

They are: a passion for learning, dedication and most importantly, the commitment to continue to contribute to NOC even after your return to Singapore.

Packing My Luggage for Sweden

Packing was not as nerve-racking as the application process but it was no piece of cake either.

I was venturing into unfamiliar territory completely unaccustomed with the Swedish lifestyle, dress sense and weather. Having a luggage weight limit of 30kg meant that I needed serious strategizing.

Thankfully, I have found an infallible strategy when it comes to packing clothes – stick only to the basics.

In fact, there is no need to bring too much along because you can shop for them in Europe. I am constantly blown away by how well-dressed the Swedes are. I have also learnt that black leggings are a must-have for the ladies.

Another tip: Forgo bringing along your electrical appliances as you can get them there.

No matter how important your electric iron or hair dryer is to you, I would not recommend bringing them along. This is because their voltage requirements will probably be incompatible with the local voltage supply anyway.

I learnt this lesson the hard way. Two days into my arrival at Stockholm, I had lost two travel adaptors to voltage supply incompatibility issues as I attempted to use them with my Taiwanese portable stove. I have given up since.

Instead, I recommend that you save your luggage weight quota for bringing your home-made, local spices and cultural gifts over to Sweden instead.

Now, that is something you cannot find in Europe.

photo credit: Chrissy Phoong

A Completely Different Culture

When I finally arrived in Stockholm on the Aug 13, 2009, my enthusiasm had grown to the extent that my batchmate, Huy, had to warn me not to get too excited.

Paraphrasing anthropologist Michael Winkelman’s four stages of cultural adaptation, he warned, “Chrissy, you’ll only get more culture-shocked (later).”
True to Winkelman’s words, I am still learning to adapt to my new environment.

One way Sweden is different from Singapore is her keep-right traffic rules. Even on escalators, Swedes would keep to the right to allow those in a hurry to pass by on their left.

Another interesting fact about Stockholm is how liberal they are with their pets. Pets are allowed in shopping malls, restaurants, elevators and even onto public transport.

It is such a pleasant sight to see well-trained and obedient Labradors and German Shepherds weaving noiselessly through the crowd in the busy Tunnelbana train stations.

photo credit: Chrissy Phoong

The NOC Experience Still the Highlight of Stockholm

But with all the thrills I am getting from the serene lifestyle and beautiful architecture here, nothing beats the anticipation I felt when I met my employer for the first time on Aug 18, 2009.

To promote entrepreneurial involvement, the NOC programme places greater emphasis on internship performance and business case reports than theoretical modules.

Hence, technically speaking, I am first and foremost a full-time intern at my employer – biofibers company Organoclick AB. And secondary to that, I am also a part-time student in the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).

Collecting my thoughts

When you are in NOC programme, you are among a fraternity of highly motivated people with similar goals of advancing themselves for future success.

One of my seniors, Edmund, had this to say about NOC, “Every day here is a learning experience. Be it about the Swedish culture, the environment or the people… heck, you’d even learn about yourself in the process!”

My exact sentiments too.

Medical Tourism: A Rising Industry

John Perez | j.perez@nus.edu.sg
theridge news
A NUSSU Publication

Singapore has proven itself as a fantastic tourist destination. A clean and safe environment coupled with a superior infrastructure and cultural diversity, it has attracted many visitors worldwide.

Of late, however, it is the collaboration between Singapore’s medical and t industries that is taking the country by storm. Positioning itself as a medical tourism hub, Singapore now serves close to 200,000 foreign patients every year, said Express Health Management.

Medical tourism defined

Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the crossing of national boundaries to obtain medical services and health care,” medical tourism has been on a popularity rise for many reasons.

Firstly, medical procedures can be cheaper by up to 50 percent in Singapore. A heart valve replacement in the United States costs $60,000 while one done in Singapore is only $12,500, according to Focus Singapore.

The second reason is efficiency. Countries like Canada have waiting lists stretching to 16 weeks for non-emergency surgeries such as cataract removals. In contrast, most medical tourism packages here include immediate visits to doctors.

But speed and savings are not the sole reasons for the increasing popularity of medical tourism. Many people simply want the best healthcare possible.

“My uncle comes to Singapore for his kidney dialyses because of the country’s excellent healthcare,” said Ryan Wee, a second-year Engineering student.

The National University Hospital as part of the medical tourism industry

Given the rising popularity of the medical tourism industry, it is no surprise that the National University of Singapore sees her fair share of medical tourists.

In fact, the National University Hospital has an International Patient Liaison Centre to cater to any foreigners who fly over for medical purposes.

In addition to the usual offerings of healthcare services, NUH also provides accommodations, airport pick-ups, language translation, flight reservation and visa extension services, all of which are part of a range of additional services that the hospital offers to its visitors.

Living by its philosophy to provide seamless, accessible, effective and affordable care, there are special phone lines created to cater to the foreign visitors from countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and China.
To make their visitors feel welcome and taken care of, advertisements, brochures are printed in over four different languages. And with the extra miles NUH goes for its visitors, it has built up a strong track record amongst its foreign patients.

In 2007, Vietnamese Mr. Phuong Khanh, was admitted for blood clots in his brain as well as cardiovascular problems. Vietnamese hospitals referred him immediately to the NUH as his age made surgery more difficult. The procedure went well and Phuong Khanh recovered.

“My father is really grateful to Professor Lee and all the other doctors and nurses at NUH because he has been treated so well. Everything was explained clearly and it made us confident. Even the nurses made sure he understood what he has to do to keep healthy,” said his daughter when asked about NUH’s medical services.

Another notable case is that of Mr. Alain Chaloux who suffered back pains for six years.

Tired of the long medical waiting list in his home country of Canada, he flew to Singapore and was able to meet with a doctor within a few hours of his arrival. He was treated swiftly and efficiently and is now sure that the pains are now behind him.

“Everything was perfect from the time we got off the plane in Singapore. Professor Wong explained everything to us, which made us feel confident and the nurses took excellent care of him,” his sister Ms. Julie Chaloux said.

“We will certainly recommend Singapore to anyone frustrated with the long wait for medical care in Canada,” she added.

Spotlight on Singapore

At present, Singapore’s annual revenue for medical tourism alone is three billion US dollars every year.

Three government agencies, the Economic Development Board, the Singapore Tourism Board, and the International Enterprise Singapore, have been quick to pick up on the trend. And capitalize on the growing medical tourism industry.

There are now about a dozen internationally accredited hospitals in Singapore, with many equipping themselves with international patient centres.

Singapore’s efforts to establish itself as a medical hub have paid off as the WHO ranked Singapore the sixth best health system in the world. In addition, Singapore has made a name for herself internationally in the fields of cardiology, ophthalmology, oncology, and dental services.

In this regard, Singapore’s Parkway Hospitals lead the country in its efforts to develop the medical tourism industry.

Three of its hospitals, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and East Shore Hospital, were among the early few healthcare service providers to receive the ISO-9002 International Quality certification in the Asian region.
But medical credentials are not the sole focus of the Singapore government. The tourism aspect is an integral factor as well.

Along with many medical tourism packages come offers for hotel stays as well as recommendations for recreation and shopping. Many of Singapore’s landmarks, like the Merlion or Sentosa, are also heavily advertised to prospective patients.

It is apparent that the phenomenon has penetrated various sectors of Singapore society and as technology, medicine and international connectivity continue to evolve, it can only grow further in popularity. Medical tourism continues to be a symbol of growth, opportunities and the sharing of skills and resources across national boundaries.

When the Student Becomes the Teacher

Fabius Chen | fabiuschen@nus.edu.sg
theridge news
A NUSSU Publication

In conjunction with Teachers’ Day, theridge speaks to three individuals who have experienced being both student and teacher – at the same time. They share some of the challenges they have faced, their most memorable moments and some of the important lessons they have learnt whilst assuming both roles simultaneously.

photo credit: Ou Meimin

Ms. Ou Meimin

Having won the Department of Communications and New Media’s Excellent Teaching Assistant Award in her first full year on the job, there is little doubt that Ms. Ou Meimin is revelling in her dual role as student and teacher.

Currently in her third year as a teaching assistant, she is also working on her thesis, which investigates the level of information disclosure of Singaporean youth on Facebook and whether parents teach their children about online privacy protection.

According to her, one important lesson she has learnt is that for most of the part, education is a two-way street.

“We, the teaching staff, also get to learn a lot from our students in the course of our interaction,” she said.

“This in turn gives me a better appreciation of classroom dynamics when I’m in one of my graduate classes.”

Having said that, managing both roles often leaves her longing for more time, especially when there are only so many hours in a day.

She quipped, “I catch myself wishing that there are more than 24 hours in a day, especially when students start e-mailing me more often as project deadlines – which coincide with crunch time for my own papers – draw near.”

“Colleagues tell me that I do not have to respond to all my correspondence right away but even if I choose to sleep on it, the e-mails and the work will still be there.”

All things considered, however, her experience as a teaching assistant has left Ou pondering a career in teaching full-time.

“There’s a great sense of fulfillment at the end of each semester when I see the progress of my students from their first tutorial to the end of the module.

“Also, the interaction with students and the exchange of ideas on teaching and learning with my colleagues is definitely an attractive option,” she concluded.

photo credit: Ang Hui Fang Andie

Ms. Ang Hui Fang Andie (on the left in picture)

Teaching her first class at the age of 23, one observation Ms. Ang Hui Fang Andie made was that “some of the students were the same age as me.”

And observations are something she should be rather proficient at, considering her Masters project – gathering ecological information on the banded leaf monkey – is based largely on field observation work.

“That semester was especially significant as it was my first time as a teaching assistant but everything still went pretty smoothly,” she shared.

Now in the second year of her Masters programme with the Department of Biological Sciences, Ang acknowledged that the most difficult part of being both a student and a teacher is managing one’s time.

She said, “I have to balance the work of a student, which involves attending lectures, studying and going out into the field, with that of a teacher, where I have to read up on topics beforehand and planning how to teach a lesson effectively.

“I do not wish to compromise any aspect of my field work or my teaching and so, being able to manage my time well is crucial.”

What she does enjoy, on the other hand, is being safe in the knowledge that her efforts are not for naught.

“I take pride in knowing that at the end of each practical session, the students have learnt something interesting and that they appreciate the help I have afforded them,” she stressed.

She also believes that being both a student and a teacher at the same time gives one a much greater of appreciation of the intricacies of each role.

“You begin to understand what both parties expect out of each class,” she explained.

“There is a misconception that teachers have to be able to answer any question but it is actually more beneficial when there is an exchange of ideas through the posing of questions and discussion of possible answers.”

photo credit: Chia Meng Tat Jack

Mr. Chia Meng Tat Jack

Having been awarded the Harvard-Yenching Institute Fellowship, Mr. Chia Meng Tat Jack will be leaving for Harvard University in September to study East Asian history.

But even as he prepares to embark on this exciting new challenge, the 27-year-old – who graduated with a B.A. (Hons) from the Department of History in 2007 and completed his MA thesis earlier this year – has fond memories of his time as a teaching assistant in NUS.

Over the course of three semesters, he taught two modules: HY2229/SSA2204 – Nation-Building in Singapore and GEM2005/HY2243 – Film and History; whilst working on his Masters thesis at the same time.

Looking back on the experience, he stressed that it was as rewarding as it was challenging.

“The biggest challenge was time management,” he said.

“It wasn’t easy juggling my time between my courses, research, writing and teaching responsibilities.

“However, I am very grateful to have had the privilege of teaching many outstanding students who have, in turn, also taught me many things.”

According to Chia, his love for teaching was cultivated by those who taught him in his younger days.

He explained, “I’ve been fortunate enough to have wonderful and inspiring teachers throughout my education.

“It makes me realise just how important teachers are and therefore, when I take on the role of a teacher, I will give my best to my students.”

His best was enough for one of his students who described him as “a very effective tutor who is able to bring a seemingly ‘dead’ subject like history to life” – a comment which he singled out as one of his most memorable teaching experiences.

“I was very touched when I read this comment,” he said.

“I certainly hope I can continue to ‘bring history to life’ and inspire more student to fall in love with the discipline.”

A musical treat for jazz enthusiasts

Hashani Samaraweera | hashani.samaraweera@gmail.com
theridge news
A NUSSU Publication

photo credit: Tay York Chun

Tze : Trio Plays

University Cultural Centre Theatre

19^th August 2009, 8pm

Jazz, a genre I turn to whenever I need a soulful and soothing musical treat to my ears. The art of jazz is best enjoyed live to enjoy the full flavor because jazz is all about feeling and improvisation. On a cool Wednesday evening, I had the opportunity to treat myself to a feast of jazz at Tze : Trio Plays, a jazz piano trio concert led by composer/jazz pianist and NUS Piano Ensemble alumnus Toh Tze Chin, showcasing a unique blend of jazz and film score. As an experienced composer and music director, Tze has created music for full-length feature films, animation, documentaries, commercial pop, east-west fusion albums, theatre/musicals, dance productions, Chinese orchestras and string quartets among others. Accompanied by veteran drummer Tama Goh, who is well known in the local music scene and Felix Phang on acoustic bass, the trio looked all set for an evening of music. With as minimum stage decorations as possible, with only the three musical instruments on stage and the stars of the night – the musicians themselves – all in casual wear, and an air of tranquility all around, I knew this evening was going to be all about music. With smooth flawlessness, the trio serenaded the audience with seven musical pieces.

photo credit: Tay York Chun

An original piece by Toh Tze Chin, Bebop Blues was a fluid and emotionally engaging piece. While the piano played a catchy melody, the drums enhanced the piece with its sharp and bright timbre. The bright notes of the cymbals added an air of vibrancy to the tone colour. A crisp sound was added by the drum beats, coupled with the unique musical variations created by the cymbals. The rhythm was soothing with the engaging base drum pulse, and a distinctive variation was also created by haunting effects created by cymbal vibrations. I’ll Remember April, a smooth and clear melody, displayed interactive plays between the piano and drums. The bass added a distinct depth to the music throughout the performance with its soft and dark timbre. Another original piece, Passing the Morning was a very “happy piece” as explained by Tze himself. Starting off slow, it gradually picked up its tempo and pitch, and I could see members of the audience swaying and nodding their heads to the beat. The cymbals and snares added a clear crisp effect to the music. The texture felt almost tangible as the harmony between the instruments seemed very compatible and pleasing.

My favourite piece for the evening was at the very end, when the audience encored for more and was treated to a rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star by Leigh Harline. You could actually hear the collective sighs of the captivated audience members as the familiar tones of the piece filled the theatre hall. The familiarity and the harmony of the three instruments blending together created a warm relationship between the audience and the performers.

What interested me most was the chemistry between the musicians. It was so apparent that there was a deep understanding between them, and it definitely enhanced the musical experience to the listeners because a warm rapport was created between the audience and the performers due to this. With this in mind, I asked Tze whether the chemistry between his fellow musicians is effective in creating a relationship with the audience, when I had an opportunity to pose a few questions to him after the performance. As Tze points out, “the most absorbing and intriguing thing about playing improvised music like jazz is, it’s a lot about finding a certain direction with those your are performing with”. To him, the “beauty of improvisation” is that it may happen “naturally, quickly or sometimes as a pensive search” and the fact that you may never know where the music might lead you to. This keeps the audience engaged as the musicians’ “story-telling takes twists and turns, moved by passages of sadness or hope, or cheered up by quirky light tales”.

To me, the whole musical experience was a communal one, where the audience and the performers were not separate but actually joined together by the “cinematic jazz journey” created by the talented trio. As Tze aptly explained, “music is something intangible, but what it says is often beyond words or even pictures”. It was as if the work of art metaphorically produced a sort of bonding agent between the creators and appreciators to create a sense of magic in the atmosphere.

Tze can be contacted at mech@starhub.net.sg and his film score and jazz/improvised music can be found at:
http://www.myspace.com/tohtzechin
http://www.myspace.com/tze39sjazzimprovisations

NUS parties hard at Jam Fest 2009

Audrey Ng | audrey_a@nus.edu.sg
theridge news
A NUSSU Publication

Sept. 1, 2009
Rocking bands, free booze, a deejay, clubbing tunes and a big dance floor – all these were made freely available on the grounds of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Multipurpose Sports Hall, more commonly known as MPSH 1 – the dreaded place where students sit for their examinations every end semester, was transformed into a clubbing venue on Aug 29, 2009 for the NUS Jam Fest.

Organized by the NUS Student’s Union (NUSSU) Freshmen Orientation Central Committee (FOCC), Jam Fest 2009 saw students from different years and faculties at the party.

Claiming itself to be “the only free on-campus college party” free for all NUS undergrads, Jam Fest 2009 was a highly anticipated event and showcased a huge turnout rate with students of all ages and faculties thronging MPSH 1.

With free drinks and popular bands like The Goodfellas and Jack and Rai featuring EIC, along with other bands like Slingshot, LGF and DJ Andrew T from the Butter Factory spinning his tunes late into the night, Jam Fest was most certainly a night to remember for the NUS community.

Project director of the event, Alvin Tan, said that his main goal was to “create an event which our student population could enjoy and remember.”

Several students whom theridge spoke to said that they enjoyed themselves and felt that the event was a success.

Divy Kishor Tiwary, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student declared: “NUSSU has really found a killer way to get people together.”

“The event was a great way to get people socialising over drinks, music and dance,” he said.

The Goodfellas, a local band that plays regularly at Timbre, was a hot favourite with the crowd, playing popular favourites like Lady GaGa’s Poker Face and the Wondergirls’ Nobody getting everyone to move up to the front and start dancing, warming up the crowd for the rest of the night.

“I think it was rather successful with the large crowd, well-known local bands jamming and free drinks!” said Seet Hui Tze, a freshman from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) who attended the party with her orientation group mates.

The timing of the event could be another draw factor. Seet commented that the timing of the event was good because it was held in the third week of school when most people are still relatively free from assignments and midterms.

“The music was pretty good especially when they were able to reel in Goodfellas and EIC to get the crowd going, though I personally wasn’t very fond of the Mandarin songs” she added, referring to a couple of songs played by the band LGF.

Fourth-year Communications and New Media major, Valerie Oon said that Jack and Rai, featuring EIC, “were great” but felt that the music could be more metal and that she didn’t particularly like the Mandarin songs.

Tan said the event boasted a turnout rate of about 2000 participants and by 10.30pm, all the drink coupons that limited each student to four free drinks had been given out.

Despite the drinks being gone early, many students nevertheless had a good time.

Zheng Junyi, a Computing student in his fourth year and a resident of Raffles Hall, said the music got really good after 12am and such events helped promote inter-hall bonding.

“Given the close proximity from school, it is extremely convenient, and most of us would go together in big groups,” he added.

Bright Ong, a third-year Geography major said “NUSSU have proved themselves worthy of a student union who are worth their stuffing” and thinks that more parties on campus would liven up mundane college life.

Oon agreed that “NUSSU should totally do more of such events!”
Well, it appears that NUSSU is thinking along the same lines too.
“We hope to have this event again next year, of course with efforts to better plan and execute it,” said Tan.

FASS Vice-Dean Appointed New NMP

the ridge news
A NUSSU Publication

Associate Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, also vicedean of NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Science, was among the nine Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) picked to voice non-partisan, alternative views on national issues in parliamentary debates.

She received her letter of appointment from President S R Nathan on 16 July and was sworn in before Parliament on 20 July, where she took her oath of allegiance in the House.

Said Professor Straughan, “It is a tremendous honour to be nominated by NUS, and an even greater privilege to be selected to serve. The greatest privilege that comes with this appointment is having a voice in Parliament, the highest level of policy discourse in the
nation.”

“With this privilege comes a tremendous responsibility, so I will have to broaden my scope now and be more aware of and involved in areas of social life that are outside of my own research interests.”

Professor Straughan has raised several issues concerning the family and youth that she intends to tackle during her two-and-a-half year term as an NMP.

Four of these include: children of inter-cultural marriages being forced to give up their Singapore citizenship; an overemphasis on children today on academic excellence; ways to engage youths other than via the Internet so that they do not become disenchanted with the system, and problems that arise from Singapore’s strong reliance on private insurance
for our health care needs.

“As more Singaporeans marry foreigners, we will have more children holding a dual citizenship. I think it is important that we find a way to help them hold on to their Singapore citizenship as well as the citizenship of the other parent. Otherwise, if we force them into a decision, as a nation, we will inevitably lose our homegrown.”

This issue of dual citizenship is something especially close to her heart. Married to an American, her two sons now enjoy both United States and Singapore citizenships but will have to renounce one when they reach 21 years old, according to the current regulations.

Her older son, 17-year-old Robbie, has been perplexed over the issue for the past two years. He feels deeply rooted to both his cultural heritages and is upset at having to give one up. He has told his mother that asking him to give up one citizenship is like making
him give up half his identity.

On the issue of hallmarks of excellence, Professor Straughan feels that we have become more demanding on our young today.

“Children in Singapore typically focus disproportionately on academic achievements,” she said, “and all this attention on moving up the academic pyramid is not necessarily healthy.”

“We train all our children’s attention on achieving in this one area. What happens when they find that they cannot move up? What does that do to their selfesteem and self-confidence?”

“There must be goals and aspirations that do not include obtaining a degree – simply because we can’t meet the demands for higher education at this point. So as a society, we have to develop a broad-based platform for recognizing achievement and talent.”

Professor Straughan would also like to see more avenues for Singaporean youths to engage in social discourse. She feels that unless they have opportunities to voice their opinions and formulate proposals, they will not be able to learn how to contribute meaningful discourse on national platforms.

“This way, youths would also be less reliant on the Internet for voicing discontent,” she said. In response to some not very constructive and meaningful Netizen’s discussions online, she commented, “I wish to see a society where our youths are not afraid to put
a face to their suggestions and feedback.”

She also added that it upsets her to hear comments that Singaporean youths do not speak up.

“Here at NUS, I love teaching because I meet bright young minds in the classroom who are eager to engage in academic discourse. NUS students are an awesome lot! They are warm, respectful, interactive, and so bright!”

“I think when we take the time to engage each of you students as individuals, the gems surface. That is why I strongly believe that when the conditions are conducive, our youths will stand up and want to be counted.”

“It is okay to not sound polished or effective when you speak the first few times. Communication skills improve with practice. What’s important is that we must allow opportunities for youths to speak up, for they are the next generation of leaders for our society.”

Professor Straughan’s final concern, which she feels very strongly about, has to do with social inequality and medical sociology.

As Singapore move towards a strong reliance on private insurance for our people’s health care needs, she feels that there must be a regulatory body that looks into ensuring that no one is left in the gap.

She said, “Right now, it is up to private insurance companies to decide if they want to insure an applicant. We know of people who have been diagnosed with chronic ailments but are systematically rejected by all the private players.”

“Now, just because you have cancer does not mean that you should not be insured for hospitalization. What if the cancer patient breaks a leg? That has nothing to do with his cancer, and yet private insurers will categorically label him as belonging to the high
risk group and deny him coverage.”

“This is not right and not healthy for Singapore. We need regulations that prevent indiscriminate exclusion of deserving Singaporeans from the insurance system.”

Professor Straughan was among the nine successful candidates whittled down from a list of 46 who have met the criteria of having rendered distinguished public service, brought honour to Singapore, or distinguished themselves in their fields.

She has been involved in various people-sector committees including the Expert Panel, Medical and Dental Board of Health Promotion Board, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport, SingHealth Women’s Advisory Council and the inaugural National Family Council.

In addition, she also chairs the Social Development Unit Accreditation Council, sits on the Board of Council for the Third Age (C3A), a pro-elderly organization, and is a Family Research Advisor on Family Research Network.

Her passion for family issues is not entirely accidental. Her own family has always been very supportive in all her endeavours, including her recent NMP appointment. Said Professor Straughan, “I am blessed with a wonderful family, and a lot of what I manage to achieve has to be credited to their strong support.”

“My husband is my best friend, always there for me no matter how grouchy I get. To have someone to partner me in this life journey—through good and challenging times—is a tremendous blessing. That is why I strongly endorse marriage and family formation.”

“My sons are both wonderful boys! Robbie, in JC (Junior College) 1, is so mature and responsible. And Tim, in Secondary 2, remains mummy’s baby. From when they were very young, my husband and I have enjoyed a healthy, open communication with them. And they talk a lot! Sometimes, my husband and I don’t even manage to get a sentence in! But that’s healthy. It’s in speaking to one another that we solidify our bond as family.”

“Growing up, I lived in a 3-room HDB apartment with my family of six members. My mother worked very hard as a nurse to provide for us. Neither of my parents received tertiary education but I was very blessed to secure a place in an excellent school – CHIJ
Victoria Street.”

“Though my home environment was not totally conducive for learning, my school was. I was from a lower middle class family, but my classmates were from middle class and professional backgrounds and they all aspired to be doctors and lawyers. So I learned to dream. And I grew aspirations that eventually took me to the US for my graduate studies.”

“But even now, I can still recall, for instance, my maternal grandmother who looked after me in my growing up years – how every day, she would watch out for me from the ninth floor kitchen window as I was returning from school. Running across the road from the bus stop, I would see her little head just peeking over the window ledge.”

“Family is so important. My family did not have much financially but they loved me and cared for me. Eventually, this spurred my interest in studying family sociology on the academic front.”

As an NMP now, her job is to look at societal issues as an independent observer and an active stakeholder. She feels that not having to follow any political party’s agenda allows her to contribute meaningfully and freely the “independent, neutral, non-partisan views”
that the Parliament seeks.

“I also think that the NMP scheme will help ordinary Singaporeans play a bigger role in decision debates at the national platform,” she added.

“For example, if not for the NMP privilege, I don’t think I would have the opportunity to participate in Parliament. This is because I never envisaged entering politics. I am a happy academic.”