YB FINAL V12 online

Thank you
for
making this happen
SB Yearbook 2017 would not have been possible
without your support. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank our advisers for the
guidance and members of the team for their
undying commitment towards the SB Yearbook.
Please take the time to read through this small yet
special memento that we have created for you to
keep for many years ahead. We hope this issue
will inspire you to achieve excellence in whatever
your dreams may be.

DIRECTOR’S M ESSAGE
2016 has been a very eventful year for SP Business School.
With the new Skillsfuture initiative, Polytechnics and ITEs
have been beefing up our engagement with the industry to
develop good enhanced internship programs so that our
students have opportunities to apply their classroom learning
in the workplace. To create alternative pathways for the
graduating students, many sectors such as Retail, Logistics,
Accountancy, Hotel Operations and Hospitality have
launched Earn and Learn programs that allow graduating
Polytechnic students to work and upgrade their skills. SP
Business School is also appointed the Sector Coordinator
for the Human Resource sector, and we are working very
closely with key industry partners to develop talents for the
HR sector. These are exciting times and you are in the middle
of the changing economic landscape that opens up many
opportunities for your careers.
At SP Business School, it has also been a year of student
achievements. Many student groups have participated in
and won national and international level competitions, such
as the Business China Youth Showdown and the Singapore
Logistics Association Challenge.
However, what makes a difference to many of you are the
special memories that you created with your friends and
lecturers in SB this year. The various camps, community
service projects, overseas immersion programs and outreach
projects like Open House events, that dotted the 2016
calendar created much laughter, stress and tears for you,
and these are memories that you will take with you after you
graduate from SB.
In this Yearbook, you will find nuggets of stories and photos
that capture these moments, that when you look at them after
many years, will still bring a smile to your face. Continue to
excel in your studies and eventually career, but also continue
to create these special moments in 2017 that celebrate
friendship, leadership and bonds that are equally important
in this fabulous journey of life.
Tan Yen Yen
Acting Director, SP Business School

EDITOR’S MESSAGE
It is another closure for the SB Yearbook once
again. It was a challenging year as we strived
to improve on the content of the yearbook
to ensure that readers remain fascinated and
engaged while reading this special memento
of 2016. The team wanted to ensure that this
yearbook does not only focus on SB events
but also on students who excel in nonacademic
pursuits. The theme for our
publication is thus: “Unity in Diversity”.
Every individual comes from different
backgrounds. It is only possible for an
individual to challenge himself/herself and
pursue his/her dream with inspiration
and support of his/her peers. As you read
though the yearbook, reflect on what your
inspiration is and whether you have realised
your dream.
It shares the same ideology as our projects;
we want to clear every project in hope for A
at the end of the semester. This could only be
possible with the motivation to excel and
help from project mates, all of which may
originate from different backgrounds.
At the end of the semester, having tried your
best in all your modules, you should applaud
yourself for the grades attained.
I do hope this Yearbook 2017 will help
you find your direction in life. Let our
interviewees inspire you to challenge
yourself, realise your dream and bring it to
fruition. If a lecturer who is featured in our
Yearbook challenged herself, why dont you
do the same?
My team would like to express our
appreciation to the advisers who supported
us. Without their support, this yearbook
would not have been published.
To my ardent journalists,
photographers and designers who
supported the committee members
throughout 2016, your undying
effort in the successful publication
of Yearbook 2017 have not been
forgotten. We acknowledged your
effort in making time to contribute
despite juggling your school and
external commitments. I hope that
you are proud of the contributions
you have made to this publication.
Last, I would like to express my
heartfelt gratitude to my
committee members who stood by
me. Your dedication has driven the
yearbook to a greater height.
To SB students, I hope you will
enjoy reading this memento made
exclusively for you. Remember to
never stop dreaming and challenge
yourself. We will face successes and
setbacks, but never ever let a
setback stop you from realizing
your dream. On behalf of SB
Yearbook team, we wish you all the
best in your future endeavors.
I would like to end off with a quote
from Hillary Clinton, “Never
doubt that you are valuable and
powerful and deserving of every
chance and opportunity in the
world to pursue and achieve your
own dreams”.
Best of luck,
Joseph
Editor of SB Yearbook 2016/2017

EXCO
Ashwin Raj Singh
Yap Xuan Hong
(Ethan)
Aloysius Chew
Rachel Chiu
Ser Junjie Joseph
Natalie Salim
JOURNALISM
Gabriel James
Teng Hau Wei
Yap Xuan
Hong (Ethan)
Ashwin Raj Singh
Syed Muhammad
Ahmad Jailani
Cheston Fong
Shuan Rong
Daniel Jeremy
S/O Jafaredeen
Anica Ong Li Teng
Wasimah Sanofar
Fatimah
Aw Yong Zi Ying
Angelica Joy
Timpug

PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexander Nicholas
Ong
Aloysius Chew
Nixon Ooi
Shen Rong
Xin Rui Goh
Ng Hui Yi
Rachel Chiu
Nur Qistina Binte
Mohd Zaini
Stacie Low Hui Min
DESIGN
Ho Yu Hui
Yap Li Sing
Daphne
Natalie Salim
Shirlyleen Ng

Director & Deputy Directors
(L → R) Tang Kah Heong, Tan Yen Yen (Director), Wong Mei Shan, Lee-Tan Lin, Wan Seng Keong
School Management Team
(L → R) Back row: Aznan Abu-Bakar, David Wong, Loh Yew Hoe, Amos Tan, Neo Chip Chuan, Randy Ng,
Andrew Tan, Mark Johnson, Philip Tan, Robert Tan
Middle row: Angela Koh, Christina Chua-Hwang, Jacqueline Tan-Thoo, Winnie Woot, Wan Seng Keong, Wong
Mei Shan, Alison Ho
Front row: Tang Kah Heong, Au Soo San, Tan Yen Yen (Director), Emma Tapang Meyer, Lee-Tan Lin
Absent: Andre Han

(L → R) Back row: Mark Ho, Caroline Ng, Richard Mok
Office Administration
Front row: Rizalia Bte Jasmani, Au Soo San, Lai Woan Jinn
External Relations
(L → R) Back row: Lu Geok Lan, Audrey Lai, Goh Kok Min, Olivia Koh
Front row: Howard Yap, David Wong, M Thiyagarajan

Academic Support
(L → R) Back row: Sin Mun Wah, David Chee. Keith Lee, Mark Johnson, Peter Lee, Chan Kok Wai, Tai Fatt Weng
Front row: Tan Yeow Huat, Jeremy Liu, Edwin Seng, Charmaine Lim, Tan Soon Ting
Teaching & Learning
(L → R) Back row: John Foo, Neo Chip Chuan, Ng Eng Poh, Chew Suan Chin
Front row: Bernard Boey, Agnes Ching, Augustine Goh

StuDent DevelopMent & ServiceS
(L → R) Back row: David Tan, Ben Cho
Front row: Tang Kah Heong, Audrey Low, Christina Chua-Hwang, Lynn Lam
Absent: Adrian Aw
Marketing & Retail
(L → R) Back row: Veronica Wong, Adeline Ho, Sarah Lim, Mila Lim
Front row: Kenneth Lee, Amos Tan, Lucas Tok

Accounting & Finance
(L → R) Back row: Annie Cheung, Ronnie Hoh, June Yeo, Sharon Tan
Front row: Liong Sylvia Larkim, Philip Tan, Cheng Wai Fung
(L → R) Back row: Dora Ho, Roger Lee, Raine Chin
Front row: Kenneth Wong, Randy Ng, Andrew Gray
Entrepreneurship

CYO & Law
(L → R) Back row: Chow Kong Ming, Angela Koh, Pansy Tan, Sim Kian Ho
Front row: Ruth Rajasingam, David Cheong, Serene Wee, Chui Foong Hoe
Diploma in Accountancy
(L → R) Back row: Daryl Aw Wei En, Robert Tan, Ho Boon Yeow
Front row: Michelle Lee, Yeo Li Juen, Edna Soo, Lee Lai Mun

Diploma in Banking and Finance
(L → R) Back row: Tan Kiang Khiang, Tan Heok Foon, Janet Fok, Christopher Cheong
Front row: Kenneth Tai, Loh Yew Hoe, Ong Chai Lin
Diploma in Business Administration
(L → R) Back row: Diong Bee Chu, Susan Chiam-Lee, Winnie Woot
Front row: Roland Soh, Tan Lii Chong, Daniel Wong

DiploMa in BuSineSS innovation & DeSiGN
(L → R) Back row: Aznan Abu-Bakar, George Teo
Front row: Cynthia Lam, Steven Tan
Diploma in Financial Informatics
(L → R) Back row: Goh Chia Ming, Viki Tong, Ryan Tan, Molly Chee
Front row: Alison Ho, Ong-Lee Hung Yoke, Lee Kok Leong

DiploMa in huMan reSource MANAGEMENT with pSychology
(L → R) Back row: Jacqueline Tan-Thoo, Kelly Kan, Juliana Ong
Front row: Szetoh-Pang Li Lee, Christine Ying, Sheila Kee
(L → R) Loke Weng Yew, Andrew Tan, Gregory Chia
Absent: Andre Han, Lynn Zhuo
Diploma in International Business

Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management
(L → R) Back row: Lorraine Gan, Ronald Sathianathan, Steffi Oh
Front row: Farah Seet, Emma Tapang Meyer, Ng June Li

school events
- Do what is right, not what is easy -
NATALIE SALIM | HEAD OF DESIGN

SB ACHIEVERS’ FUNCTION
JOURNALIST | GABRIEL &
ZI YING
PHOTOGRAPHER | HUI YI, ALEX &
XIN RUI
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH &
XUAN HONG
To recognize undying effort to strive for excellence from top performing students, leaders and athletes,
prestigious awards were presented during the annual SB Achiever’s Function held on 10th June 2016.
There were over 200 award recipients invited to attend the event and these recipients met at least one of the
following criteria:
• Listed on the SP Business School’s Honour Roll for the last academic year
• Winners of external sports and academic competitions
• Elected Presidents of SP level CCA groups
The opening ceremony was graced by Acting Director of SP Business School, Ms Tan Yen Yen.
During her speech, she took the opportunity to congratulate award recipients for their achievements in the
past academic year. In fact, multiple award winners have proven the possibility to juggle and excel in both their
studies as well as CCAs. She challenged the audience to perceive the true definition of “Achievement” as the
attainment of success relative to yourself rather than others. With this perception, we will push our boundaries
to attain greater levels of excellence. In addition, she shared that the process of learning and overcoming
challenges make success even sweeter and advised the audience not to rush through the process, focusing only
on the final outcome. She ended her speech by reminding the award recipients to remain humble and grateful
to those who have helped in one way or another otherwise, they would not be sitting in the auditorium.
The audience were honoured to have Mr Cheng, an alumnus of SP Business School who graduated in 2001
to share his “rags to riches” story. Mr Cheng’s jovial and positive attitude made the audience laugh while
leaving us with an important message, “Always stick to your core values no matter what others say or do
otherwise. Remember your human values”. He ended his inspiring speech with a phrase – stay “PUSHED” –
Professionalism, Utmost Integrity, Sincerity, Human touch, Empathy and Dedication.
Top performer from DBKF, Constance Kua, shared her
inspiring speech on that eventful night as well. Her fear of
falling behind made her determined to start anew in SP after
her secondary school life. Her determination and perseverance
paid off and today, she is the top student of the DBKF year
two cohort. “Be consistent and make use of what you have
to succeed” was her key motivating factor in her remarkable
achievement today.
Last but not least, let’s not forget the undying passion from
our beloved lecturers. Ms Molly Chee was awarded The
Outstanding PTN award, Mr George Teo was awarded the
ICT-enabled Learning award and The Champagne Award, a
long service award, went to Mrs Lu Geok Lan who has been
lecturing with SP for over 30 years.

2016
We were privileged to have the following honour roll recipients and lecturers to share
their thoughts, inspirations and advices.
What was the key to your academic achievement? Any methods or interesting tips to share?
For me it is the consistency to always pay attention in class. I would say never to skip any tutorial lessons and
complete all tutorial homework. It is also vital to do well in MSTs as it will be more difficult to attain marks at
the end of year exams. – Yenny Antony, Honour Roll Recipient
Perseverance. No matter how hard life is, persevere on. Do not give up and one day your hard work will pay
off. – Ng Yin Yi, Honour Roll Recipient
I guess it is to always have social support in whatever you do and be optimistic. - Weing Kyi Phyu Thant,
Honour Roll Recipient
“I believe that whatever you do, do it well and do it to the best of your ability. However, if you find after trying
and you really just cannot, then you might have to look for an alternative that truly matches your interest and
expertise. Then, I believe will you succeed.” – Mrs Lu Geok Lan, SB Senior Lecturer
It has certainly been a proud and memorable day for all award
winners. It was a day to remember and one that will serve as
a motivation for the students in their future undertakings. To
excellence and greatness!

SB
SP Business School
4th
ANNUAL
GENERAL
MEETING
To recognise the efforts and leadership of SB clubs and chapters’
leaders and welcoming the incoming batch of leaders, the
annual SB General Meeting was held on 20th July 2016 at
the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre. About 200
students were present to witness the moment of glory for the
outgoing and incoming leaders as they take the stage to receive
the Certificates of Appreciation and Letters of Appointment
respectively. The opening speech was graced by Deputy Director
of SP Business School, Mr Tang Kah Keong.
He began with an appreciation note by recognising the efforts
of the students which have made a significant impact on the
school and the student population. The school has always
been supported by the students for the students and it is this
commitment that was able to make changes and add value to
the journey in SP. He encouraged the audience to cherish the
friendships and networks made throughout the entire journey
in SP. Recounting his first employment, Mr Tang highlighted
that experiences and life skills are as important as grades. We
may not remember what we studied after we graduate, but
the skills and experiences we learned will definitely stay with
us the rest of our lives. In addition, he further encouraged
the incoming batch of student leaders to forge a new legacy
and make SB better than it already is. He ended his speech by
congratulating and thanking all the outgoing student leaders
and welcoming the new batch.
The event also invited Ms Allison Lin, Director of the Forte
Organisation who shared her inspiring life story. Citing from
Steve Jobs, she shared how these values - clarity, resilience and
passion changed her early life. From a lost, emotional and driven
person she became a leader who found her goal in life and
worked towards success. Her life lesson for the audience was to
“lead yourself before you lead others”. Be clear of what you want
to achieve and stick to your values. Give up on a situation but
never give up on yourself.

Mr Xavier See, co-founder of Heritage Capital Asia and CEO of
PT Permukaan Tritunggal Indonesia, also gave the audience a
motivational speech on leadership this eventful night. Despite being
the CEO, Director and Co-founder of several companies, he sees
leadership as a work in progress. Leadership is an attitude, and it is
the desire to improve and execute that determines the type of leader
you are as a person. Using his personal experience, he advised
the audience that the best motivation is always fear. He ended his
speech with the last point: Be resilient.
After a round of refreshments, the event carried on with a speech made by the new president of SBMC Chai
Wai Rong, followed by the financial statement. Lastly, it came to the moment everyone was waiting for, the
award ceremony. Student leaders dressed in their best attires proceeded onto the stage with smiles of joy. The
audiences cheered to show their support. It was definitely a satisfying night for all the student leaders. The
event may have ended, but this marked the beginning of their yet another exciting and busy journeys in SB.
Let us take
flight and soar
towards greater
heights.

We were pleased to have SBMC incoming President, Mr Chai Wai
Rong, to share his thoughts with us.
What was the expected turnout for today’s event and were the responses overwhelming?
Today, the expected turnout was about 200 attendees comprising of both incoming and outgoing batch.
Last year, we only invited the leaders and the turnout was about 180 attendees. In addition, we decided to
open up the invitation to sub-committees too.
What preparations were needed in advance for today’s event?
Early preparations were needed for such a successful event today. We were required to write a proposal
one month prior to this event. There were unexpected changes and challenges along the way but we
managed to overcome it. There were 3 teams behind the scene – Events, Logistics and Publicity. They
have their respective roles to accomplish and I’m proud to say, they did it well.
Who are the main sponsors for today’s event and the reason for engaging this/these sponsor(s)?
EscapeHunt, OppaBBQ, StrictlyCases, BOUNCEINC, Teenage Magazine and Sixth Empire. It ranges
from fun activities to clothing activities to eating activities. It’s to meet what the students would want.
What is the objective of SB AGM and the goal for 2016/2017?
The main objective of the AGM is to appoint the new leaders stepping up and to give appreciation to
those that are stepping down. In addition, the goal of the club is to unite SB together, more than it has
ever been, for instance, SB Yearbook, SBA, Chapters and so on. We are trying to find ways to work
together to become more closely knitted than the past. We are already figuring out on ways to collaborate
with events. Hopefully something will pop out in the future you can see and we are all involved in the
development.

We were also pleased to have Mr Lim Yap
Kai, outgoing Vice President of DFI Chapters.
Describe your feelings on being assigned such a designation and now, passing it on to your juniors.
Holding this post brings me a sense of responsibility. It built up my passion over time, and knowing
that you managed to change and influence people in a positive way, you will feel satisfied. Right now
as an outgoing vice president, I will say I feel proud of my Chapters mates because I think they have
grown along the way and we have faced a lot of challenges together throughout these academic year.
Describe your most memorable experience while holding onto the previous designation?
Planning March and June Bonding Day. There were not much time for the team to plan and we have to
stay back till 9 or 10pm to rehearse and run through the logistics together. Albeit tired but it was fun
as we worked as a team together. There were also challenges as many ideas started popping out with
different availability to meet-up as a team. But the most important thing is to learn about each other’s
personalities, and getting to know each other better through this platform itself. Afterwards we have
pretty great bonding with each other.
Do you think your juniors have what it takes to challenge themselves by holding their designation?
As long as they learn to be an all-rounder, and manage their time properly and at the same time apply
their skill sets into practice and I think they will be doing fine.
What do you see in your juniors?
Personally, I feel these 2 important personalities - pro-activeness and confidence are required in my
juniors. We need people who are able to do things based on their aptitude as well as their attitude.
Last words for juniors?
Just work hard and do your course proud. For instance, especially to my DFI, I will just say that this
course by itself is very promising and you have to really cherish this moment and along the way you
will see very promising results.
JOURNALIST | ZI YING
PHOTOGRAPHER | NIXON, QISTINA & RACHEL
DESIGNER | YU HUI
EDITOR | JOSEPH

APSN DONATION DRIVE
JOURNALIST & EDITOR | JOSEPH
PHOTOGRAHER | STACIE
DESIGNER | NATALIE

Start your day right by helping the less fortunate whenever possible!
With a vision of developing individuals with special needs to their fullest potential so that they can lead dignified,
fulfilling and independent lives as integral members of society, APSN (Association for Persons with Special Needs) is
one of the key partners that SB Chapters CIP Collaboration group is working with.
APSN is dedicated to develop academic, vocational and social skills through a holistic approach to persons with mild
intellectual disability.
In the recent months, APSN held several fund-raising activities in SB and managed to hit their target of raising
$1,000 during each event. There were even instances where they exceeded their target with a surplus.
When asked the reason behind choosing SP Business School, Ufairah Akram, Corporate Communications Manager
of APSN, replied that Mr Roger Tan, Community Project Manager of APSN, is an alumni of SP Business School and
hence, the affiliation is strong.
Through this affiliation, APSN provided many CIP opportunities for SP Business School’s students for the past 1.5
years with events such as APSN Walkathon 2015 and APSN Flag Day 2016.
We were pleased to have an interview with Jarrel Ng, the former Chapter President of Diploma in Human Resource
Management with Psychology, to share his thoughts of this collaboration.
...
Do you think there is a need for students to be actively engaged in CIP activities and why?
CIP activities should be done out of passion and not for the sake of doing it. I believe that students should be actively
engaged in CIP activities as it exposes students to a new perspective on society and allows them to pick up new
learning points which students are unable to acquire in school curriculum.
How active do you feel that SB students are in returning back to the community?
The responses are overwhelming whenever there is a CIP activity conducted by the SB Chapters CIP collaboration.
When speaking to volunteers, they shared that they do volunteer work during their free time over the weekend.
What is your key takeaway from organising this APSN fund-raising activity?
I saw the determination and dedication from APSN beneficiaries in order to execute their fund-raising activity in SB.
Time and effort were dedicated by the beneficiaries to hand-make the cookies and accessories to raise funds for their
organisation. It was very heartening to see the less fortunate with such strong passion and vigour, going the extra
mile in order to give back to the society!
...
We look forward to the next collaboration with APSN and do support them whenever they have a booth in SB!
For more information on APSN or if you are interested to volunteer with them, feel free to visit their website at
www.apsn.org.sg

-- Incoming & Outgoing Exco of SB CIP Committee --
PHOTOGRAPHER | CHESTON
DESIGNER | NATALIE

DAC
ALUMNI GATHERING
On the Friday night of August 5, 2016, 120 past
graduates of Diploma in Accountancy (DAC)
took time off to attend the gathering of alumni
held at MLT 12. What was once a normal lecture
theatre changed into a lively atmosphere as
long-lost friends excitedly caught up with one
another as memories of the past were relived.
Receiving a goodie bag each, the event kicked
off with a corporate video and a mass Kahoot!
game where the alumni was challenged through
questions relating to past SP events and general
knowledge questions. Their instincts were tested
by choosing the answer carefully while being
efficient concurrently.
Next, SP’s very own Vocal Talents serenaded them with today’s popular
songs such as “Shut Up And Dance” and “I Do Adore”, before handing
the time over to the DAC course chair, Mr Robert, and the SB Director
for a talk about the importance of SkillsFuture in the current business
world. The main programme ended with a buffet reception, where
lecturers and past students had an unforgettable time mingling around
and taking photos.
One of the attendees who enjoyed this event graduated from the
2012/13 batch, who is currently studying in the US. His best memory
in SP is working with an engineering lecturer to develop a convenient
water-saving prototype. He recalled spending his June vacation
conducting research and survey. He shared with me that “it’s good to
catch up with lecturers and learn about SkillsFuture in the workplace”.
The lecturers, judging from their enthusiasm, clearly enjoyed themselves too. Mr Robert, course chair for DAC
and senior lecturer, shared that his students have been constantly progressing as relevant skills were taught to
them in SP.
In addition, the right connections are important to secure a job upon graduation.
He also shared that the future of business is rapidly changing locally and globally, and one factor is due to
advancements in technology. Citing two examples, Carpooling app Uber seized this opportunity to expand their
service and gained an edge in the private transportation industry and e-commerce has affected retailers as fewer
customers are willing to buy from a brick-and-mortar store, choosing to buy online instead.

DAC
ALUMNI GATHERING
ADVICE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS
“
Believe
in yourself, work hard and look
forward to your graduation.
” Alumnus
Mr Robert Tan
“
No
one knows what the future
holds. Understand global
matters, exercise critical thinking
and respond quickly to changes
in the business environment.
”
Mr Robert Tan wishes to thank the organizers for putting in a lot of effort to make this event a success.
JOURNALIST | JAI
PHOTOGRAPHER | NIXON
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH & ASHWIN

dbid visits
Dialogue In The Dark
PHOTOGRAPHER | ALEX
DESIGNER | NATALIE

SP
FINANCIAL FUTURES CHALLENGE
DBKF remains well-sought for as Singapore is
recognised as a financial hub. SP Business School’s
annual Financial Futures Challenge was held
for selected final-year Diploma students from
Banking and Finance in August this year, led by Mr
Christopher Cheong, SB’s very own Forex Trading
lecturer. Participants were required to apply their
knowledge learnt from their Forex Trading module,
such as how to make trading judgements, principles
of trading as well as risk management. The eager
participants kept phone lines buzzing across the
trading room as they called up other participants
over telephones to buy, sell and offer currency
prices.
“The purpose of this competition is to give the
participants a chance to know what it is like in the
real market conditions, where they meet the best
traders, and also to have a better appreciation for
Forex Trading, as well as to encourage them to
pursue this field. It also allows me, as a trainer, to
assess students who are best suited for this industry
so that I would be able to recommend them for
dealing, trading and broking jobs.” said Mr Cheong,
briefly describing the purpose of this competition.
“This competition is very relevant to real-life
experiences, as we use completely real market
conditions with live prices. The participants, being
the best of their cohort, are competent and come
pretty close to the top traders in the market. The
better half of the participants can even be deemed
‘industry standard’ as they are able to act quick and
apply concepts, principles and tips learnt in class,”
Mr Cheong added.
“I was bad at decision making and slower than
others in the first round,” said Cao Wen Qing,
“but I’m happy that I managed to pick myself up
and work faster during the next 3 rounds. I did
not manage to do too well in my first round due to
my slower thinking and processing skills. I learnt
from this competition that Forex Trading may not
be my forte, but I would be good at being a broker
instead. This competition has helped me
understand myself and my abilities better.”
The Financial Futures Challenge has generally
helped participants gauge how well they would
fare in currency trade in market conditions. It has
helped them develop and utilise thinking skills,
make better judgments and sharpened their wit, all
of which are necessary to be a competent trader in
the industry.
This competition also serves as a stepping stone
in the transition from life in polytechnic to the
working world, where financial trading is more
intensively practised and thus, the participants are,
on the whole, satisfied with the experience and now
feel more ready to apply the skills and have an idea
of how their concepts and tips taught during classes
can be practically implemented. The hands-on
learning approach has also helped them understand
the ins and outs of forex trading better as well,
preparing them for real-life work at the same time.
Contributed by Irfan
PHOTOGRAPHER | HUI YI
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH & ASHWIN

Freshmen
ORIENTATION PROGRAMME 2016
Fear and anxiety engulfed the freshmen as they commence their
tertiary education with SP Business School. Coming from different
secondary schools and backgrounds, it gave rise to awkwardness
between freshmen.
However, it was not a challenge to eliminate that tension with our
well-trained facilitators who played ice-breaker games with their
respective classes.
No doubt, it will be beneficial for the freshmen to take advantage
of the programme and know their classmates well as they will be
comrade in arms for 2 to 3 years.

Day 2 of FOP started off at SPCC with an introductory video and
Acting Director’s address by Ms Tan Yen Yen. The limelight was passed
to SP Vocal Talents who performed Acapella and their incredible
vocals; all without the support of musical instruments! Those vibrant
voices were applauded and praised by the audiences. In addition,
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu showcased some of their martial arts techniques
which focus on defensive moves that even those with small physiques
could learn.
Let’s not forget SP’s tagline – with SP, it’s So Possible.
One of our lecturers, Ms Audrey, shared with the freshmen
on various opportunities for students to discover their hidden
potential. With a blend of leadership training programmes and
over 120 CCAs, the freshmen will be overwhelmed with the
whole new learning experience here in SP!
We were fortunate to hear various opinions from freshmen
on their decision to choose SP. The popular opinions were
convenience with Dover MRT outside the school, a strong
reputation with recognition from various universities,
partnerships with reputable companies for internship
programmes and last but not least, the hype culture we have
among our students!

Sports-For-Life (SFL) programme was also shared with the freshmen
and they were highly encouraged to participate to ensure that their
fitness is not compromised. SFL features many sports ranging from
water activities to land sports. In case you were wondering why were
there so many students wearing the bright yellow SFL t-shirts, it was
given out when they tried the activities! What else can we say about our
freshmen? They are an active bunch of students who are spontaneous
and hyper!
Day 3 of FOP revolved around an amazing race featuring 25 different games for the freshmen who worked in teams to
fulfil the requirements. Winning was secondary to them. It was the bonds forged throughout the race that were more
crucial. One of the favourite games was Whisper Challenge which a player, while equipped with background music
playing on his headphones, was required to guess the sentence the other playing is trying to convey. Undoubtedly, funny
and incoherent phrases were heard by the player which sent everyone laughing hysterically. With smiles plastered on the
freshmen’s faces, it was without a doubt that this FOP satisfied its objectives of bonding the freshmen as a class.

EDITOR | JOSEPH
Social responsibility has always been an invaluable aspect in life. Day 4 of FOP allowed freshmen to contribute
to the community by participating in the annual SP Flag Day. Since 2004, SP students have been participating in
the President’s Challenge where the proceeds will be donated to a list of beneficiaries. “Instead of sitting around
and waiting for others to do it, why not myself? We can make a difference in someone’s life no matter how tiny
the contribution may be,” shared by a freshman who was required to travel to the East for his flag day. Feel free to
visit Instagram and search for “#SPCares2016” and you will see the smiles of all freshmen who unconditionally
contributed to the society.
FOP may have come to an end but the memories forged together as a class were unforgettable. We hope the
freshmen will enjoy their 3-year stay with SP Business School!
Let’s end off with a thought shared by a freshman - “It’s a miracle I was able to sleep at night throughout the FOP
because it was too fun!”
JOURNALIST | ANGELICA
PHOTOGRAPHER | ALOYSIUS & HUI YI
DESIGNER | SHIRLYLEEN

Leap Plus
Camp 2016

A personal leadership programme, LEAP plus participants undergo a 4 day 3 night camp in Kota
Tinggi and a four session workshop.
Upon entering the seminar, the close bonds of friendship shared by the participants were
overwhelming as if they had been comrades for life. The trust amongst participants was evident as
they held no hesitations in sharing their personal thoughts.
We managed to interview Paul, Y2 student in DIB to share his thoughts with us.
How do you feel about being able to participate in the LEAP plus Programme?
I really have to count my blessings as not many people have the opportunity to participate in this programme. I really
enjoyed the camps that I have attended. There was a camp in Kota Tinggi where I learnt about commitment and to
not give up easily despite the odds. I also learnt to ignore negativities surrounding me and remain positive instead.
Describe the experiences you enjoyed.
I enjoyed the trekking up Mt. Lambak in Malaysia. Albeit tiring, a picturesque scenery at the end of the trek was
worth every drop of my sweat. It reminded me of the idiom “The light at the end of the tunnel”. The time spent with
my peers was enjoyable as we went through the same hardship and experiences and hence, the close bonds we shared.
Which segment of the program do you like the most or most memorable?
The camp at Kota Tinggi was the most memorable. There was a segment during the camp which allowed us to
share all the negative things we heard from others and how we motivated ourselves to continue as a better person.
Did the program help you learn something about yourself? How has it changed you?
I learnt that I have the potential to be better so I told myself that I should work harder to live up to my potential.
What is one of the most challenging event you encountered during the programme?
Honestly, in my opinion it was the lack of wifi connectivity during the camp because our generation is too reliant on
social media.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fellow students?
Always have someone by your side! Everything is easier when you have someone to guide you along.
We also spoke with the trainers, Mrs Evon and Mr Weiqing, directing the workshop.
How long have you trained students under this programme?
About 6 years each on the main program. However, the LEAP Plus programme has only started this
year.”
What are your opinions of the events in this programme?
Do you feel that it helps to achieve the goals of developing SP leaders?
LEAP plus focuses on personal leadership where we teach the participants more on self-leadership and to instill
more confidence in themselves as compared to focusing more on team leadership in the LEAP programme.
What is the requirement for SP students to participate in this program?
The lecturers will identify eligible students and make recommendations. Students are also allowed to indicate their
interests.
Do you feel SP students have met your expectations?
I prefer to gauge them based on how much have they learnt from each session and implement it to bring them closer to
their goals. On a scale of 1-10, I would give them a 9.
What is one of the most challenging event you encountered during the programme?
The LEAP plus program requires a lot of self-commitment on the students but there is no way that we can ensure the
students would follow up on their promises. It is also hard to build trust and relationship to get the students to open up
and share more about themselves.
Over the years, what would you say is the most challenging part of the programme for students? Why?
I feel that the most challenging part is how the students portray themselves when they first enter the
programme and gradually begin to share more about themselves with other people. They would initially
adopt another facade instead of showing the real them. I feel that the nature of a business student
forces them to think that presentation and first impressions are more important than being themselves.
Is there anything you would like to say to us?
I sincerely hope that students will be inspired by the LEAP programme and have the courage to be
real. Have the commitment to pursue your own dreams and be the creative director of your own life.
To wrap things up, we would like to wish the students participating in the LEAP Plus program all the best in their journey
and to find success in all their future endeavors. With determination, you can do anything. With SP, it is So Possible.
JOURNALIST & PHOTOGRAPHER | CHESTON
DESIGNER | SHIRLYLEEN
EDITOR | JOSEPH

learning express @thคiLคภ๑
Learning Express is a two-week Overseas Social Innovation Project that provides
students with the opportunity to experience the natural world, learn new skills,
make new meaningful friendships and rediscover themselves through an out-ofclassroom
learning.
By bringing students from various disciplines to partner with overseas educational
institutions, the students will contribute to the community as they apply domain
skills and use Design Thinking Methodology to meet the needs of the local
community.
Some challenges that are posed to the students include clean water, alternative
energy, food production and healthcare. The students are also exposed to different
communities, cultures and norms. See what our fellow SB students have to say about
this exciting trip!
LEONG SHU JUN (DBA/FT/2B/02)
My desire is to gain more knowledge of the world beyond Singapore. However, it is
difficult for me to relate to the struggles faced by locals from other parts of the globe
just by simply reading. Thankfully, I came across the Overseas Social Innovation
Project programme which granted an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and
experience for myself how others are living. The experience I had was overwhelming.
For example, the houses rural villagers live in are simple and traditional. The villagers
lead a happy life – a life that could even be happier than us, metropolitans. The
villagers simply live by the belief of not taking things for granted. It was then I realised
how fortunate I am back home; the simple things that I take for granted. Through this
trip, I experienced their hardship and discovered the joys and sorrows in life.
Through this trip, my faith in humanity was restored. People took care of one another
like siblings despite knowing each other for a few days prior to the departure date. It
was fascinating to see how a team could bond so well together, forge new friendships
and motivate one other throughout this trip.
One key takeaway I got was to be thankful. I am thankful to my teammates who I
went on the trip with together, the Thai buddies’ for their endless help, the lecturers
for their guidance, the villagers for sharing their experiences and last but not least,
the organisers for giving us a chance to experience what one can never experience in
Singapore. If another opportunity arises, I would definitely choose to go again.

FELINDA TAN (DBA/FT/2B/04)
Spending two weeks out of my comfort zone, I ventured into rural Khao Kaew and
gained many new friendships, memories and insights.
On the first week, we bonded with the villagers and experienced the hard labour
by assisting in planting and harvesting of their crops. Life in the village was truly
an unforgettable experience as the villagers were not only hospitable, but helpful
as well. On the second week, together with the students and undergrads from
Chitralada Technology College, we brainstormed and applied our knowledge
in design thinking to produce innovative ideas to solve the daily problems
encountered by the villagers. Throughout the trip, we were fortunate enough to
immerse ourselves in Thai culture by visiting several historical sites and temples. I
am blessed to be given this opportunity to experience the village life and forge new,
everlasting friendships and unforgettable memories. I am now able to effectively
apply design thinking tools into future projects.
Thank you to Felinda and Shu Jun for sharing their experiences and insights!
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH

liplice
A MARKETING COMPETITION
JOURNALIST | WASIMAH
PHOTOGRAPHER | XIN RUI
DESIGNER | DAPHNE
EDITOR | ASHWIN

With variegated opportunities and events held in SP Business School, it serves as a platform for hidden
talents to showcase what it takes to be a SB student. If you have a knack or aptitude for marketing, this
article might pique your interest. Mentholatum Singapore Marketing Plan Competition Finals took
place on 12th August 2016. All Year 3 students who specialise in the Marketing Management option
from the Diploma in Business Administration were nominated for this Competition. These students
were tasked to create a one-year marketing plan for Mentholatum Singapore for the Lip Ice product
range. Three teams were nominated by lecturers to present in the finals.
They had to abide by rules such as not exceeding the S$100,000 budget and the fulfilment of marketing
objectives. The objectives were increasing the sales of Mentholatum Singapore and strengthening
Mentholatum’s leadership position in the industry.
It was no ordinary endeavour as the teams were limited to 25 minutes to present their idea and were
assessed on the quality of analyses, recommendations and oral presentations with an additional 5 to
10 minutes for a Q & A segment by the judges. There was also increased pressure for the participants
as they had to not only impress the marketing lecturers from SP Business School, but also the Guest of
Honour for the evening, Miss Lynn Yeo, the business director of Mentholatum Singapore.
The whole afternoon was filled with engaging attempts from the three finalist teams, namely the 5
Marketers, Concept Crew and Rainbow 6, to captivate the audience and the judges with their
proposed marketing tools programmes which they believe would change the face of Mentholatum
Singapore. Not only were the finalist teams able to propose feasible ideas, they also designed
advertisements that could potentially result in a positive change of consumers’ perception of LipIce.

They went the extra mile to create innovative prototypes of their suggested solutions and managed
to diligently answer all the questions that were posed by the Judges. It was an interesting afternoon
watching the finalist teams compete for the championship title with their various strategies to impress
the Guest of Honour, Miss Lynn Yeo and the Judges. Although all the teams performed exceptionally
well, there could only be 1 winner. 5 Marketers managed to clinch the championship title and won
150 dollars each with goodie bags filled with Mentholatum’s products. Concept Crew came in second
followed by Rainbow 6. In addition, the Best Speaker award was given to Julius Teo from Rainbow 6.
Various opinions of the event were shared. Joel Teo from Concept Crew mentioned that it was a good
experience and that he was grateful and honoured to participate in the finals of the Mentholatum
Marketing Plan Competition.
He also mentioned that “the competition was relevant to the marketing industry we live in today”.
Jeremy Teo from the 5 Marketers also said that “this competition was an interesting experience and
there were many take-aways from the whole process”.
Mr Amos Tan, a lecturer from SP Business School said that all three teams did an amazing job and “it
was good watching an integrative presentation about the various consumer trends and over the years, it
is significant to see the knowledge the students have about the marketing industry.”
In conclusion, it was a splendid afternoon of witnessing team spirit and innovative ideas from the three
finalist teams at the finals of the Mentholatum Marketing Plan Competition.

Interested to know what is behind the OCBC Innovation Lab?
Continue reading as our own DBID students reveal the secrets
for you!
On 1st August 2016, the DBID students visited the OCBC
Innovation Lab. Throughout the journey, excitement filled the
bus as they discussed potential sights to see. Upon arrival at
the building located in New Bridge Road, the trainer brought
them on a tour around their workshop – a place where
professional designers work to brainstorm and develop their
ideas.
The essential steps of design process – brainstorming,
prototyping and testing were illustrated by the trainers. This
process shows the care and pride that designers have in their
work. Real life examples of their works were shown to our
DBID students. For instance, do you remember the FRANK
outlet at Food Court 5? The store layout conceived by the
design team at OCBC Innovation lab. If you had visited some
of their bank outlets, the design of the chairs and such, those
were designed at the same place!
TRIP TO OCBC CENTRE
JOURNALIST & PHOTOGRAPHER | CHESTON
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH
Paying full attention, our DBID students pleased the passionate trainers.
The trainers were grateful to the students for being good listeners. One
trainer expressed that it was a good sharing session that enlightened the
students about industry-standard design. The trainers hoped that from
this session, the students could understand design better. When asked
for final advice for the design students, they encouraged the students to
remember to create great experiences for the users.
Likewise, the students felt that they have learnt something new outside of
their classes. A student noted, “This workshop shown me how I need to
learn more skills to present my ideas more effectively.” When asked how
he sees himself in the future, he said that he would be actively searching
for opportunities and seize those that present themselves. When asked for
a piece of advice for all SB students, he said, “Always be willing to accept
feedback from others. Focus on listening as we can learn things that we
have never learnt before.”

Parent’s Day2016
Surprised that Meet-The-Parents function is
still ongoing even in your tertiary education?
SP Business School makes it a point to host its inaugural Meet-The-Parents function without fail on 15th July 2016.
Unexpectedly, the crowd turnout at the registration booth was large and it was heartening for the event organisers
to witness such a sight.
The parents were privileged to be enlightened by Mr Tang
Kah Heong, Deputy Director of SP Business School, who
spoke about the ongoing liaison with the Government to
impart necessary skills for the students to be work ready.
A short tour around the aesthetic SP Business
School building with its state-of-the-art
facilities was conducted for the parents.
The smile on their faces was an indication
of how visually impressed they were.

In the meantime, PTNs were ready and prepared in the classrooms to receive the students together with them
and answered any concerns raised by the parents.
We managed to interview Shah from DAC together with his parent who attended the function!
Do you think this function is beneficial for you?
Shah: Yes, this function allows me to fully understand how well I have performed over the academic
year and get valuable feedback from my lecturer on my learning process.
Parent: Yes, I definitely agree on this. Through this function, I can gauge my child’s performance and
be updated on his learning process in school. Indeed, the credibility of feedback given by the lecturer
is definitely better.
What kind of advice would you expect for future Meet-the-Parents functions?
Shah: I would expect advice for each individual module by individual lecturers if possible as this will
help me to determine which module requires intensified effort.
Parent: I would like to know the teaching methods adopted by the lecturers so I can better understand
my son’s learning methods.
Were you able to listen to the advice of her lecturer and do forward planning?
Shah: Yes, they gave meaningful advice and I know clearly which modules need more effort,
especially those with higher credit units, to ensure a good GPA.
Parent: It is still early to do forward planning for my child but hopefully, he is able to secure a good
GPA.

We also managed to interview one of the many lecturers involved in this function, Mr Lim Cheng Chong.
Do you think such a function is successful in engaging parents and getting them more involved in
their child’s decision-making?
Yes, it takes two hands to clap in such important decision-making matters. Both the student and
parents must take an interest in the choices made by the student in order to ensure progressive
learning for the child in the future.
How do you think we can assist in ensuring each student to soar to greater heights?
We need to help them make informed choices after they finish their studies in SP Business School.
Ultimately, we are ensuring each student is work-ready. At the same time, we want them to realise that
the right career choice is very crucial.
From the responses gathered by students, lecturers as well as parents, it is
evident that this function is well-received by all three parties and hope SP
Business School will make this event a continuous one in the future.
JOURNALIST & PHOTOGRAPHER | CHESTON
DESIGNER | YU HUI
EDITOR | JOSEPH

SB Bonding Day 2016
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL, NIXON & ALEX
DESIGNER | NATALIE

Supply chain
competition
JOURNALIST & PHOTOGRAPHER |
ALEX & QISTINA
DESIGNER | DAPHNE
EDITOR | JOSEPH

Ever since it was launched in 2012, over 1000 participants competed in the annual Supply Chain
Challenge. It has received compliments from both the organizing committee as well as the Ministry of
Trade & Industry. The competition aims to enrich and nurture young minds from the polytechnics and
ITEs all over Singapore and equip them with the skills needed to work in the logistics sector.
The competition comprises of students from all 5 polytechnics as well as various ITEs, making it
extremely tense. We were pleased to announce 2 finalist teams from SP won both the first as well as the
first runner-up positions. Both the winning teams definitely did not expect themselves to be in the finals
as they came a long way since the start of the competition.
Albeit stressed initially due to pressure, they understood the fact that they could not let their lecturers
and mentor company down and now, Team SLS felt elated to emerge glorious.
Juggling between both the competition as well as their final-year projects in school, Team Jam needed to
meet their mentor company almost twice or even more on a weekly basis and that took a toll on them.
To refine and hone their presentation skills, they constantly stayed back in school before presenting
to the board of directors at their mentor company. This boosted their confidence when it comes to
presenting in school.
A member of the champion team, Team SLS, Nigel – a Year 3 International Business student shared
that they had to cover each other and request for extensions if they could not meet the deadline, which
depended on how well they were able to communicate and work with each other.

We also got a short interview with the chairman of Singapore Logistics Association, Mr Stanley Lim,
about his views on the competition.
Being in the logistics industry for almost 45 years, he believes that young people are very resourceful
as they know how to research and come up with different ideas that the adults could never think of.
The purpose of this competition is to induce students to work in the logistics industry. In the past,
they could only drive trucks. With the innovation of technology, the industry is moving away from the
physical concept of a labour-intensive job to a IT-supported industry.
Despite being in a very challenging industry, Mr Lim has seen it grow into a globalised industry which
uses the best and latest technology in the sector, where AGV (Auto-Guided-Vehicles) and drones are
also incorporated into the daily business operations which spiced up the entire industry itself.

Suzhou ITP
overseas internship program
“An eye-opening experience that allowed me to foster close friendships and
gain working experience,” Vanessa Liau from DBA described her short yet
fruitful enhanced internship trip to Suzhou, China.
This trip brought her out of her comfort zone, leading a life on her own
in an unfamiliar place. Albeit far from her homeland, she learnt the
importance of being independent, responsible as well as friendships.
Prior to her OITP, orientation period was short-lived and she started knowing
her peers on the date of departure. It was heartening to hear that the group
began to move together as one and care for one another when they reach
Suzhou.
Suzhou is a beautiful city with sumptuous local delicacies and picturesque
scenery. They happened to arrive at a transiting season from winter to
summer. Hence, they were able to witness the growing stages of the natural
greeneries. When you are in Suzhou, do not forget to visit one of their many
tourist attractions – 3 Great Kingdoms. Described by Vanessa as an interesting
expedition, the group visited one of the place where one of the generals lived
in. At that point of visitation, there was even production crews filming a short
scene.
Her attachment with Worldmark (Suzhou) has been one of the best
experiences that will be etched in her memory. She learnt valuable and
relevant working skills that will be beneficial in the future. For instance, to
obtain satisfactory results, be consistent in obtaining opinions and feedback.
The management team of the company hosted the group with hospitality.
During her internship term, she was given an opportunity to speak to both
Managing Directors of WorldMark (Suzhou). It was surprising to hear that
one of the managing director is born in Singapore and the other is a
Malaysian but completed his studies in one of the universities in Singapore.
They did not hesitate to share their life experience, China’s culture as well as
their thoughts when they first came to Suzhou.

One key takeaway from speaking to the MDs was his 3 beliefs that
is needed for an individual to be successful - Communication,
Impression and Presentation. “Being good in work but incapable
of communicating your idea to your colleagues means your idea
is nothing”. He also shared that we should not be afraid of getting
rejected but learn from the feedback garnered.
We should also be prepared for any meeting or interview that we are
attending in the future to leave a good impression as first impression
matters. Last but not least, presenting ourselves in a favourable
manner.
The first week in Suzhou was a total cultural shock for Vanessa. The
culture in Suzhou is not the same as Singapore - she witnessed
spitting and bag checks are required whenever we are going into the
subway line. They also have a habit of disregarding the traffic lights.
Therefore, crossing the road was challenging during rush hour.
The local delicacies such as the famous Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai
tasted different from those in Singapore. The number of night
markets, streets and buildings dedicated for shopping is way larger
than Singapore. The items are also relatively cheaper, causing the
group to purchase many items and subsequently, having a headache
because they do not know how to pack. Seems like a paradise for
those who want to shop till they drop!
In conclusion, this programme is an opportunity for young,
adventurous individuals to take the first step and venture of your
comfort zone and experience another country’s workforce and
culture. This is because, most of us are actually used to our comfort
zone and refuse to leave and face the hardships out there. The
experience, friendships forged, will probably be much more valuable
than over-worrying about the unnecessary.
We would like to thank Vanessa for sharing her experiences with us!
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH

University Of Newcastle (UON)
Business Plan Challenge
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH
With the initial thought of aiming for a certificate of participation, Cheryl and Javin
unexpectedly emerged as 1st runner up in UON Singapore Business Plan Competition.
Representing DAC, they registered for the competition as a two-man team to participate in this
competition with a theme of “Innovative Entrepreneurship for the 21st century” which aims to create
opportunities for youths and encourage them to become leaders in their space of interest, developing
compelling and smart creative concepts and ideas.
The duo attended a briefing on 20th May 2016 and submitted their marketing proposal 2 months
later. “It was tough at a certain point as we have to juggle with assignments and examinations,” said
Cheryl. Their hard work paid off when they were informed that they have been selected to be in the
finals!
“When we were shortlisted for the finals, we were taken aback as we did not know we could make it.
Being conservative, we told ourselves to aim for the consolation prize to bag back a $250 cash prize
each.”
Prior to the finals, Mr Robert Tan, who taught them Advanced Financial Accounting, stayed back
after office hours to brainstorm potential questions that could be asked by the judges. In addition, he
attended the finals which was held at Lifelong Institute at Paya Lebar on 3rd September 2016. He went
beyond his call of duty and sacrificed his Saturday to support his students.

With the duo’s hard work, they impressed the judges and clinched the 2nd position which rewarded
the duo a two thousand dollars cash. The judges even suggested the duo to bring this idea further by
engaging the NTU Incubator for their assistance.
“Maybe in the future we would,” said Cheryl.
Cheryl is not a result-oriented student; she focuses more on being productive and be at her ultimate
best so she will beat the rest of the factors that are hindering her progress.
What are some of the learning points that you can apply back in school?
Perseverance. Essentially, it is similar to other assignments you do in school. Take it as if you are
working hard for your grades as a source of motivation and work towards the goal of producing a
quality piece of work.
Teamwork. There may be times when you encounter conflicts and disagreements in a team.
Resolve differences with empathy and do not attempt to win an argument to protect your ego.
Any final advice/words for SB students?
Do something out of your school curriculum and step out of your comfort zone for you have
nothing to lose! You never know what you can achieve until you step out of your comfort zone. If
you are not going to lose anything, why not give it a try then?
With this, we wish Cheryl and Javin the best of luck for their future endeavors!
A huge thanks to Cheryl for sharing her thoughts and experiences!

the sporty ones
- The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow -
ASHWIN RAJ SINGH | HEAD OF JOURNALISM

NORMAN CAI
JOURNALIST | ZI YING
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL & NIXON
DESIGNER | DAPHNE
EDITOR | ASHWIN

School. Bowling alley. Home. Dull? Maybe not. Here’s what I learned about
Norman’s journey, and how it has positively impacted his life thus far.
It’s 2pm and the 18-year-old bowler had just finished his intense training.
He sat composedly with styled hair and stylish glasses while his heavy
professional equipment bag laid beside the table. Gearing up for the
upcoming Asian Championships this weekend, the Business Admin student
looks ready and unfazed. This is a big deal for the national team bowler,
but it is not his first time. In 2014 Norman clinched Champion in NAG
U21 Masters (National Age Group Under 21) and B Division inter-school
bowling championships. Last year he was the second runner-up in the
Men‘s Open Bowling in Thailand. Here, Norman shares his experiences,
bowling inspirations and more.
When did you start playing the sport?
I started bowling in primary 3, but only started competitive bowling in
primary 5 and 6, towards the end of my primary school years which I
became more serious and was engaged in more serious coaching.
So you started out pursuing bowling as a recreational sport?
Yes, it started out as a CCA and a family sport. I found out that I
actually really enjoyed it, and hence I continued.
Is this sport popular? What do you enjoy about this sport?
I think as compared to other sports such as swimming and badminton, it
is not as popular because bowling is an expensive sport. The reason why I
prefer Bowling is because there is always an element of luck and of course,
skill level is also crucial for the bowler. The problem behind every shot
that we throw down the lane is that we can only hope for a strike even if it
was a good shot. Sometimes, you may still leave a pin on the alley. Hence,
it is very unpredictable but as long as we do what is required, that will be a
step for us to get there.
Which famous players do you admire? Why?
There is someone in the bowling fraternity, his name is Parker Bohn
III. I look up to him as I am a leftie. Similarly, he is also a leftie. He is
one of the most successful bowlers in the professional arena and even
though he is currently in his late forties early fifties, he is still bowling
and competing. He has actually been inducted into the wall of fame.

He has a lot of accolades to his name and people really look up to him. As
a leftie similarly to Parker Bohn III, I look up to him as well.
Do you follow them on social media?
Yes, I do, and also all the upcoming people too.
I know sport athletes like you have a certain style when you play your sport.
You must have seen your idols when they bowl. Did you learn their
techniques or try to adapt them according to your preferences?
I guess for bowling there is no one size fit sort of thing. It depends on your
bowling physique. Sometimes, your legs are longer so your steps will naturally
be wider. And, if your legs are shorter your steps will be narrower. Thus, your
style differs from people to people. There are also very successful people who
do not follow the normal way of bowling. But for me and those who are in the
national team, most of us have the standard styles of bowling and it has
worked out pretty well for all of us so far.
Are there pain points or frustrations you may have faced throughout your
journey as a bowler? How do you deal with them?
Yes, definitely. Like I said, there is an element of luck. Sometimes it is just not
my day. In bowling we have 2 types of shots: the good shot and the bad shot.
The good shot is when you feel you are doing everything right, you are putting
the ball on the line and your outcome is a strike, but the bad shot is when
everything is all over the place. On certain days I would feel I am making good
shots but I am not getting the strikes as much as I want them to, and I will get
really frustrated. I will start to overthink. I remember there was a tournament
which I was not doing very well but, I was making a lot of good shots. So,
there is an element of luck here.
How do you feel this sport has changed you as a person?
When I started bowling, I was an impatient person. Bowling has taught me to
be very patient as we need to slowly think about what to do and what is the
next step on from this. When we bowl, there are 10 pins on the deck and we
left a pin 7, in every bowler’s mind we know how to move from our standing
to get the strike in the next shot. Hence, bowling has taught me to be more
patient, keep myself calm and think through slowly and compose myself
before I make the next shot. It changed my attitude from an impatient and
impulsive person.

I know that for such sport, or basically any sport, you need a lot of support. Do you have any close
friends in the sport?
I think I do not have a closest friend, but I have a group of friends in the men's team whom I hang
out with a lot. We used to go out and have dinner to keep the spirits up. Right now we are training
for our Asian championships and we will be leaving on Saturday so we spend every day together. We
have training from 9 to 12 noon and we will go for lunch break and back to training in the evening.
Thus, we spend around 8 to 10 hours a day with each other. Through this period before the
tournament starts, we have this ‘pitting’ cycle which will last over 2 months. Throughout these 2
months, we spent every day with each other from Monday to Fridays, about 6 to 8 hours or 8 to 10
hours a day. Other than that, my parents are also very supportive of me. Bowling is not a sport that I
can survive on my own, as you know the equipment is very heavy and it is also very expensive. If I am
a soccer player or swimmer I could just bring along my shoes or swimming trunks and take the train
to training. But it is not an easy thing to do so when I am bowling.
Back to your bowling experiences, do you have any memorable times when you bowl?
I guess the funniest was a time in 2012. I was from Maris Stella and Maris Stella has always clinched the
second or third every year in inter-school competitions especially team events. The team events are one
of the more popular medals to go for. It does not only require a person’s effort but an entire team’s
spirit and determination. In that year our team was an underdog, but we actually won a gold. The
funniest thing was, we were not focusing on bowling, but instead we were cracking jokes with each
other, hyping each other up. It felt ironic to me, as being an athletic we should always focus on our
game and try to make the best of everything. But during that period we were just having fun and
enjoying the time of our lives, joking with each other and all of that. It’s funny as we are doing well not
thinking about bowling. It’s the bonding and teamwork that was so strong.
Is there anyone you compete with or someone you wish to surpass?
You may know Remy Ong, he is one of the top bowlers in Singapore and was a world champion once.
After he retired, he became our coach. We did keep in touch with him. Now he has retired from
coaching and has been bowling on his own. My dream is to become a world champion and he himself
has done it once. My dream is to surpass him and do even better than he had done. And I wouldn’t
say it is hard but it takes a lot of steel determination because he is not only a world champion but at
the Busan games, he won triple gold medals at the Asian games. It is already very hard to win a
bronze and yet he won 3 golds. On top of that, he is a world champion and a lot of other titles to his
name. Even internationally, people recognise him such as in the US and European arena. He is really
who I want to be and even better as I continue on my journey.
Since we are on this topic, you are always busy with bowling, so how do you balance your school,
family and sport?
Yes, it is difficult. I have training from Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 9pm. I will only be free after

training when I reach home at about 10pm. Hence, the free time will be dedicated to my family
members, friends or my school work. On weekends, we have rule off for selection and this means my
Sunday morning is usually occupied. On Saturday night, it is occupied with bowling as well. It is
stressful but I guess it is a good challenge to try and balance out everything.
Where do you place yourself in this sport, in terms of skill?
I think I am at the stage whereby I am able to leave my mark in the Asian Arena because the federation
has sent the 6 of us to the Asian Championships and this goes to show the amount of faith that they
have in us.
Let’s go back to when you first started. When you won your first competition, how did you feel?
I won my first competition in Primary 5. My coach was very good. He is one of the most renowned
coaches in Singapore. He does not only focus on the bowling aspect but also the values. When I won
my first bronze trophy, I was extremely happy and I went up to him and said I came in third but the
first thing he told me was, “there’s only one champion and you didn’t win.” That really knocked me
down. I guess it is also good, as it made you humble and understand that no matter how well you do,
there will always be someone better than you, and that it is who you strive to be. A lot of credit goes to
him.
Any final advice for new and budding bowlers?
We always have to remember that when things do not go your way, it is not always our fault, as there’s
always the element of luck. But it doesn’t mean that whenever it doesn’t go our way it is not our fault.
Sometimes it is just us. As a bowler, it is vital to be mentally strong and persevere to keep ourselves
cool if we are not bowling well. We need to keep ourselves cool, calm and think through what we must
do and take the shot to make it count. You never know what is going to happen.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Calm, Passionate and Responsible. Maybe not so much of responsible. I think respectful.
Wow. Living a life with many responsibilities is not easy. It is the values we hold true and support we
receive that keep us moving forward. Sometimes the element of luck is what we hope for. But just like
talent, luck is often a small percentage, and you probably know the rest. Let’s wish Norman the best of
luck for all his future undertakings and here’s a motivational quote for you readers!
“Luck will only get you so far, but faith will take you all the way.” -anonymous

Sports:
7 YEARS of
FLOORBALL
With 7 years of Floorball experience, Andres
Pang from DBA held the President position for SP
Floorball Team.
He even did a check to ensure that SP has
Floorball as a CCA before matriculation. His
passion for Floorball is truly admirable.
Since secondary 2, he has been playing Floorball
competitively. “In a Sports CCA, you need to be very
competitive as we are constantly fighting to be the
ultimate winner. I always strive to improve myself
as the standard is always increasing. Hence, I always
challenge myself to see how close I can get to achieving
it,” said Andres.
He does have an alternative to Floorball if SP does
not offer it as a CCA – Handball. It was his second
CCA when he was in secondary school.
Read on as we uncover personal insights from
Andres regarding his passion.

Do you see Floorball growing in popularity over these few years and possibly, in the future?
Definitely. In fact, Floorball is a safer version of Hockey in case readers are unaware. Anyone regardless
of age, physical condition or gender can grab a floorball stick and start playing the game! The game
is usually played indoors and the ultimate objective is to score a goal by directing the ball into the
opponent’s goal. Floorball is also a sport which demands less physicality. It is skill-oriented and played
on a higher intensity which is getting well-received by many people.
What are some of the life skills or values that playing Floorball taught you?
Success does not come knocking on your door without hard work. Floorball is a sport which require
a player to hone his skills and fitness in order to improve your chances on a pitch. The elite teams are
usually the one who put in additional effort in their training regime which gives them a competitive
advantage.
How do you maintain a balance between your studies and CCAs?
Understanding where my priorities lie is of utmost importance. Everywhere I go, my daily planner is
always by my side. In my planner, I will create a checkbox with the list of assignments and administrative
work I need to complete for my CCA. Additionally, I will categorize the checkbox further into urgency
level. At the end of the day, I will make sure that the urgent checkboxes are fully ticked.

What advice would you give to anyone out there who might be interested in playing Floorball
leisurely or competitively?
For those who are interested to play leisurely, get a floorball stick that is suited to your height. The
general rule is that a stick should end about 1-2cm above the navel when holding it up right. Any
length longer or shorter might affect the ability of a player to handle the ball.
For those who are interested to play competitively, fitness is crucial. In order to enjoy floorball or any
sports, fitness is important. By being fit, you would definitely enjoy the game more as compared to
those who is not fit.
Mastering the basics is also very important. Basics such as passing and stickhandling is often
overlooked by players. Without mastering the basics, it will be easy for the opponent team to punish
your team.
We hope Andres has inspired you readers to pick up a sports that you can truthfully call yourself an elite
player of that particular sport!
JOURNALIST | JOSEPH
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL & ALOYSIUS
DESIGNER | YU HUI

fashionistas
- The joy of dressing is an art -
RACHEL CHIU | HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Fashion with Dylane
Being classic and true to oneself has always been Dylane Wong fashion
style as it will never go out of trend.
When you wake up in the morning, do you find yourself feeling equally
somber as the rainy weather? That is what Dylane will wear accordingly to
the weather, mood and of course, the occasion. “I think it is just my
tendency to ensure I am comfortable with what I wear,” explained Dylane.
Read on as we uncover the truth to Dylane’s wardrobe essentials.
Why do you adopt the above mentioned fashion style?
I think it is my tendency to ensure I am comfortable with what I wear. I do
not like chasing trends and the latest style if I feel that I am not suitable for
it. I would prefer to stick to the classics which will never go out of trend.
For instance, denim. Denim has been around for the longest time and
people are still wearing it.
Looking forward, what do you think will be the next fashion trend?
Whatever Kanye West decides to design next.
When did you start to become more self-conscious in fashion?
It was during a trip to Japan with my family members when I was eleven.
Being surrounded by fashionistas in Tokyo, I enjoyed admiring their
fashion styles from afar as creepy as it sounds. My dad supported me to
shop more often as I frequently wore 3 same shirts from my wardrobe. He
is probably regretting his decision right now.
Which clothing category appeals to you the most?
Dresses! They are easy to complement and simple enough. It is the perfect
category for those days when you do not want to spend time thinking about
how to match your outfit.
What kind of colour theme would you go for?
Recently, I have been a huge fan of muted shades – tan, grey and dusty
pink. These colours are common in my wardrobe! For staples, I would go
for monochrome outfits.

Do you have a fashion designer whom you follow or idolize?
Not really! I pick up bits and pieces of outfit inspirations from social media websites – tumblr and Instagram. I would also
notice my surroundings and spot random people’s fashion style I see on the streets.
Which fashion brand would you patronize the most?
As a student juggling between studies and commitments, I do most of my shopping online. ASOS conducts promotions
occasionally and I can get good steals. My favourite brick-and-mortar store would definitely be Zara as it remains the reason
why I am broke most of the time.
How much money do you set aside for shopping for clothes on a monthly basis?
I do not set aside money because my purchases are spontaneous! If I do splurge, it would be on something I foresee myself
wearing a lot.
Which destination in Singapore would you recommend for people who want to go for affordable yet trendy clothing?
Online shopping is your best bet. Merchandises that you see in Bugis or local blogshops can be easily found on Taobao at
affordable prices.
Which brand do you use for both skincare and makeup?
I am not loyal to any skincare or makeup brands as I prefer to experiment with different brands till I find a suitable product!
Especially for skincare, you should look out for products that are suitable for your sensitive skin and within your budget!
Visit Sephora now and be shameless on their testers!
What kind of make-up theme will you recommend for school?
Be as fuss-free as possible because you will not be able to make it for school if you are fussy! Focus on the basics – filling in
eyebrows and concealing blemishes. Save the extra effort for your dates and Girls’ Night Outs!
ny final advice for troubled students who know nuts about fashion?
ry to spend less effort chasing after the latest style because it will be out of
ashion before you know it. Instead, be yourself and wear something to bring
ut your personality. Whenever you are in doubt, wear black. Most
mportantly, cutting and material make a huge difference so invest in a few
ieces that fit you perfectly.
o readers, be sure to stay true to yourself and do not blindly follow the
rend if it does not suit you! Most importantly, be comfortable with what
ou wear.
any thanks to Dylane for sharing with us her insights and tips!
DESIGNER | SHIRLYLEEN
EDITOR | JOSEPH

AMP UP YOUR STYLE QUOTIENT
With SB Fashion Column
Channel the fashionista in you with these
amazing tips
Featuring Qian Yu @curlsmakemewild
Smart Snappy Stylish
JOURNALIST | ANICA
DESIGNER | DAPHNE
EDITOR | JOSEPH

We require a little fashion inspiration every now and then, especially with
different trends emerging over time. While scrolling through our social media
websites, it’s easy to fall in love with the outfits others have put together.
However, when you finally look up from your phone, you look into your
wardrobe and realize you still have no idea on what to wear. While we all love
Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors, let’s be honest—most of us can’t afford those
designer wardrobes fashion influencers have at their disposal. Hence, we have
decided to interview one of our very own SB fashionista – Qian Yu! After
scrolling through her Instagram feed, there’s something about Qian Yu’s style
that we cannot put our finger on.
It’s the chic and modern tops that she includes in her daily outfits or how her
looks are the perfect balance of simple and stunning. Whatever it is, she’s a
good fashion inspiration for those who crave simplistic and feminine styles.
Now, let’s cut to the chase and find out more about her personal fashion style,
favourite colour themes and shopping tips!
Fashion style: Mostly monochrome with a touch of femininity or styling
Pantone colours
Qian Yu will usually go for a decent and feminine look for most days while
adopting a casual but trendy look for lazy days. Most of her apparels are
simple and minimalistic. For a little pop of colour, she recommends a
modern top with sophisticated or quirky designs. Otherwise, for a simple and
minimalistic look which she prefers, the monochrome theme will suffice.
Colour Theme: Depends on her mood of the day or during the time she picks
her outfit
However, it was when she came across Rose Quartz, one of the top unisex
colours from the Spring 2016 Pantone Fashion Colour Report that she has
been loving pink ever since. Qian Yu has also developed a love for natural
colours including Olive, Taupe, and Brown which has made her more open to
accepting different coloured apparels in her wardrobe.
Fashion Inspiration: Mostly from her Instagram feed or from popular fashion
Youtubers
Jenn Im (@clothesencounters) and Karen Yueng (@IAMKARENO)

Shopping Tips: Feminine edgy look that Qian Yu achieves with low-priced but chic items.
For physical stores, she recommends shopping at H&M for the clothes are affordable and trendy with a wide
range of basic apparels which she loves. On the other hand, Taobao is her go-to online shopping website as
there is an assortment of items and accessories which are all strikingly cheap. Although she lamented that it
might be a bit troublesome as Taobao is not local and description of products is in Chinese, it’s all worth it
when you finally receive your desired items!
Shopping budget: Qian Yu doesn’t mess around when it comes to budget-friendly style.
She sets a goal to only spend $50 on clothes for the entire month. But then again, we know that girls being
girls - exceeding shopping budgets are inevitable.
Let’s hear more about Qian Yu’s road to fashion, style motivation and shopping tips through our personal
Q&A session with her!
Why do you adopt the above-mentioned fashion style?
At one point in time, I felt that my wardrobe was quite boring and dull as it had too much monochrome
apparels. Hence, I decided to opt for a change in colour scheme and that was when I started researching more
about Pantone colors. Personally, I like to look presentable so I do not mind dressing up just for school.
When did you start to become more self-conscious in fashion?
I think it started when I entered SP Business School because it was when I started to watch and follow fashion
influencers. In Business School, I have observed that most of us dress up quite often so maybe, it was a little
bit of peer pressure. However, the most important part is that dressing up really helps to boost self-esteem.
Honestly speaking, I feel good as a whole whenever I dress up but when I do not, chances are I probably do
not feel as good.
Which destination in Singapore would you recommend for people who want to go for affordable yet
trendy clothing?
My top pick is Bugis Street as the clothes there are really affordable especially for students like us. However,
if you want something of better quality, there are always reliable fashion brands such as H&M, Pull & Bear,
TEMT, Uniqlo, Forever 21 and The Editor’s Market which can be found in almost every shopping mall across
Singapore! Be sure to secure what you like fast because the clothes change seasonally!
Are you a fan of cosmetics/skincare? Which brands do you go for?
Not really! For skin care, I only use facial masks which are mostly from popular brands such as Innisfree or
Nature Republic. I will also exfoliate my face once in a while to get rid of dead skin cells. For makeup, I only
apply lipsticks which I purchase from SilkyGirl.

What kind of makeup will you recommend for school?
Go for the natural look! Conceal those dark eye circles that you
get from 24/7 projects and assignments with a high-coverage
concealer. Also, make sure to fill in those brows while you are at it
and put on some lipstick for the final touch!
Any final advice for troubled students who know nuts about
fashion?
I would totally recommend watching YouTube videos such as
Fashion Lookbooks/ Style Videos! You could also get some
inspiration by looking at the outfits of fashion influencers or
beauty bloggers via their social media! Don’t copy their outfit
entirely but try to include your own personal style - just let your
creativity run when styling their apparels! Also, make sure to dress
comfortably! Someone else’s fashion style might not necessarily
suit you so wear something that makes you happy and allows
people to see who you are- a unique individual. Most importantly,
always remember this quote - Don’t dress for others, dress for
yourself!
Are you as inspired as we are? A big thank you for Qian Yu for
sharing and please check out her Instagram @curlsmakemewild!

artistically inclined
- Art is not what you see but what you make others see -
ALOYSIUS CHEW | VICE HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY

artistically inclined
sarah ng
JOURNALIST | ANGELICA
PHOTOGRAPHER | HUI YI
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH
Among her academic talent lies a seeker for answers and
a passion burning for the arts. Throughout my interview
with her, she never ceased to amaze me with insights in
her life as a whole. She has proved herself to be a real
encouragement after facing hardships in the past. She
conducts herself in a way that she is open to new ideas
and perspectives, and will pursue something she is
passionate in. I’ve had the pleasure getting to know this
young lady and the interests that are deeply rooted in her
heart.
Encompassed by her passion in music, she loves to sing,
given that the song is relatable to her. “Why listen to a
song that is catchy, yet holds no meaning?’’ With this, it
was only sensible that I asked her to sing a song close to
her heart. She sang the song “Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran and
delivered it like a true performer would. Her voice gave
me the chills, that even though I asked her for a small
demonstration. She did it with utmost love and passion
for the song, such that you could really feel her sincerity.
After asking her about her past performances, she shared
her experience about a failure that occurred during her
early phases as a singer. She and her friend were picked
for a duet for a school performance which turned out
to be a flop due to some circumstances. Fortunately, her
teacher, who was one of the judges, took a liking to her
singing and eventually signed her up as a solo performer
for an event. The event featured a prestigious dance group
from her secondary school which the public needed to
pay for the tickets. However, she was given the privilege
to have the entire stage to herself with an opening music
ceremony.
Profile
Name: Sarah Ng
Course: DHRMP
Favourite Music Piano Piece:
River Flows in You by Yiruma
Favourite Musicians: Ed Sheeran,
James Bay, Kodaline

“Music is about
feeling the song,
if I can make
other people feel
it through my
music as well
then that’s good
enough for me” -
Sarah Ng, 2016
Accompanying her beautiful voice, comes fingers that
beautifully caress the keyboard with gentle notes yet
a powerful delivery. Sarah has studied piano till she
“graduated” with a grade 5. During the photoshoot, she
played “River Flows In You” which garnered a lot of
attention as she played beautifully, as though the notes
were intertwined with her fingers. Sarah humbled herself
and mentioned that she hasn’t played in a while and
stopped studying piano. Though Sarah may know how
to play other pieces, she always chooses to play music
pieces close to her heart. She believes that when she is in
tune with what the song is trying to convey, only then can
she immerse herself fully in playing the particular piece.
Furthermore, she is quite keen on composing her own
songs, when she gets time to do it.
“By singing, you convey your feelings through the words,
but through piano, it’s more of you feeling the beat of the
song. Only through feeling the beat of the song will allow
you to play the piano fantastically. Everyone can play the
piano with sufficient practice. However, only a few can
play the piano with immense emotions,” as she explained
the point of difference between playing the piano and
singing.
She also has a passion for writing, evident in her poetry
writing skills. When she feels strongly about something,
she writes about how it has affected her. In addition, she
has a blog where she constantly posts what she feels, as
well as intimately convey her feelings with her written
poetry, with each story representing a different experience
of her life. However, she has stated that she doesn’t want
disclose her blog to everyone for she feels that it is a very
intimate part of herself and will only share it towards her
closest friends. She likes the idea of a fantasy world and
would write it in the first person’s point of view.
Throughout the interview, Sarah has showed herself to
be an encouraging and well-rounded individual that may
have gone through a lot in the past, but has embraced
many changes that came through her life. She continues
to be a person doing what she is most passionate in, and
wants to encourage everyone that there is a “light at the
end of the tunnel”. Having a burning passion for the
arts, Sarah hopes to be an encouragement to everyone
that they are free to dream, having the faith to keep on
standing firm in what you believe in!

For the SDZ dancers, there are often external and
internal dance showcases and competitions and most
importantly - SDZ WAVES. Jeremy recalled the first
time he performed in WAVES - the blood, sweat and
tears he and his team invested. Preparation took
months for the dancers - selection of choreographers
and continuous practice which took place almost
every single day. Additionally, Jeremy and his team
even had to find and design their own costumes and
props - gluing, pinning and taping everything
together to make a flawless outfit. It was certainly a
hectic schedule for everyone involved.
On The Dance Floor
JEREMY KIERAN TEO
JOURNALIST | ANICA
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL & NIXON
DESIGNER | NATALIE
EDITOR | JOSEPH
Have you ever come across a group of dancers at
T11 with loud music in the background, dancing
so flawlessly with accurate precision for each step?
Among one of them is Jeremy Teo, a year 3 student
in Business Administration who is a bubbly and
cheerful boy and enjoys doing flips and handstands.
He hails from Strictly Dance Zone (SDZ), the most
renowned dance club in Singapore Polytechnic.
SDZ ventures into 3 different genres of dance -
Hip-Hop, BBOY and Modern Dance. It is one of
the most popular CCAs in the school, among the
wide range of over a hundred co-curricular
activities to choose from.
“At first, I didn’t know what to expect from joining
dance. For me, I was a gymnast during secondary
school because I absolutely love sports.
However, it was during my junior college years that
my seniors encouraged me to join dance. I spent
two years learning Chinese dance before I entered SP.
When I came here, I auditioned and was accepted
into both Hip-hop and B-BOY,” said Jeremy, who
joined the club in his first year at SP, after his
education in Catholic Junior College (CJC).
A large number of students audition to join SDZ every
year. Many of the dancers in SDZ are skilled, thanks
to the trainings that their professional choreographers
have put them through.
Jeremy, who is currently a full-time B-boy, splits most
of his time between dance and his studies. Although
he commented that it was tough to balance both
aspects together initially, he gradually became more
used to it.
“Honestly, when I first entered poly, my studies took a
deep because I was way more focused on dance.
However, I told myself in the middle of Year 2 that I
needed to concentrate more on my studies. Thus, I
committed less to SDZ but I still made it a point to
dance at least twice every week. Whenever I finished
my projects and revision, I would always rush for
practice at T11 with my friends most of the time.
It was quite hectic but I don’t regret joining dance,”
explained Jeremy as he recalled his experiences in
SDZ.
For Jeremy, his most memorable memory in the club
was his first ever internal SDZ jam in Year 1 when he
was crowned as the top 8. Additionally, there were fun
and amazing orientation camps to welcome new
members into the dance club, which Jeremy has
experienced twice.

“However, when we were performing on stage, I saw the fruit of our labour which made me feel extremely
contented. Everything was worth it at that point of time - nothing mattered to us except to deliver a smooth and
great performance. Although there will be certain botched situations, like a costume malfunction, it was definitely
one of the best experiences I ever had,” Jeremy added as he thought about how he casted his anxiety aside to deliver
his finest performance.
Last but not least, he credits his amazing dance skills and improved physical fitness to SDZ due to the countless
rigorous trainings he went through ever since he joined the club. “I have also gained many friends there that I will
cherish for a long time. Dance is a skill that actually requires understanding of the body because we have to possess
the will to persevere in the face of tough training. I have become more disciplined and focused as we have to take
our dance practices seriously. Our seniors and SDZ alumni coached us along and we don’t want to disappoint
them. Furthermore, I learn how to set my priorities straight, to set my life in order and to balance between studies
and dance. SDZ has also made me more outspoken and confident.”
During his first two years in SP, Jeremy had been constantly fluctuating between Hip-Hop and B-BOY. Most of
Year 1 was focused primarily on hip-hop but he changed his focus in the second year. Currently in his last year of
polytechnic studies, Jeremy would soon be on the graduation stage and moving on to the next phase of life. Would
he still be pursuing dance in the future?
“I really love dance a lot but I feel that my passion is slowing dying. I have been committed to dance for 5 years
now and I want to try out new things. Currently, I am learning how to play the ukulele and learning Muay Thai.
I want to try out new stuff, expose myself to more things and not just restricting myself to dance. However, I will
definitely pursue dance in the future but I may not push myself as hard as I did previously,” said Jeremy.
His past 3 years journey in SDZ has been a great experience for him. His parting advice for dancers and those who
will be interested to venture into the performing arts: “If you’re interested in anything, just try it - there’s absolutely
no need to be afraid and take a step back. Be brave because there is simply nothing to be afraid of. For current
dancers, be confident in yourself since you have put in so much sweat and passion in your countless dance
trainings so just enjoy the process leading up to the performances. At the end of day, I truly believe that everyone
can dance. The question is if you are willing to take a step forward and learn from others.”

the chasers
- Follow your dreams; they know the way -
SER JUNJIE JOSEPH | EDITOR

A Rebel for the Right Reasons
“People do not know what they are chasing
in the corporate world, I chase after
contentment.”
With titanium-blonde coloured hair streaked with distinctive colours, entrepreneurship lecturer Ms Raine Anastasia
Chin stands out among other lecturers. Her fashion may include local branded clothing, with a style that portrays her
boldly as both a sophisticated lecturer and an avant-garde.
“I do believe my fashion reflects who I am” she said, noting that she could spend up to $200 a month on dressing up.
One of her favourite brands is Young Hungry Free, a local enterprise that she describes as having a rebel element in their
apparels.
“Since secondary three, I wanted to teach. I wanted to be a secondary school teacher initially but when I was studying
in a Polytechnic, my lecturer helped me to apply into university and I did not know of it. When I received a letter from
the university, it was then I realised that was how close the students were with the lecturers. From that moment, I was
inspired to become a lecturer. Dreams do change along the way; but I am still living my dream of teaching.” She said.
She boldly chases her dreams and passions.
“People do not know what they are chasing in the corporate world; I chase after contentment. It is fulfilling to be a
lecturer. Out of ten students, even if just one student come and thank me for helping in the studies, it really brightens me
up.” She added.
Contrary to her ladylike disposition, she is zealously addicted to fitness. “Every morning I will hit the gym at SPGG.
I need to exercise twice a day and if I do not exercise, I will get jittery. I used to be dragonboating, with 12 training
sessions every week. Basically it was a daily training in the morning and evening. It became a habit for me to exercise.”

One of her most fulfilling moments as a lecturer in SB was back in 2012 when the entire cohort of students from the
entrepreneurship section signed up for the Poly 50 run when she casually asked them to. She stated that it was rare to see
students bond without her rallying and it encouraged her further to continue as a lecturer. She also added that the current
cohort wrote her Teachers’ Day messages which moved her.
Nevertheless, she feels that teaching every new generation of students is a different experience. “The current batch of
students have a different set of values from the first batch. When I started teaching, I was three years older than my
students. But now I am like thirteen years older. For example, manners. Even simple things like smiling back to a teacher
and saying thank you, it can brighten someone’s day by having good manners.” she said, smiling warmly.
“Students think I rebel against everything, I rebel only against rigid rules that do not make sense. Rules that serve a
purpose, I follow them.” replied Ms Raine when asked what she thought students perceive her.
As a hobby, she handcrafts bags for her own personal entrepreneurial undertaking. It was a dream she hesitated for
long till she saw obstacles as challenges not daunting but exciting. “The best way a student can learn entrepreneurship is
through obstacles. You might have the character but not the resources, don’t start it. Work for your resources. Support
others. Don’t use your parents money for they have supported you through 17 years of studying, instead support them
back.” she sagely concluded.
More than a glamourous rebel, Ms Raine Anastasia Chin stands out for the right reasons. It is her rebel attitude - be a
rebel for right reason.
Her tip for students aspiring to be entrepreneurs:
Be daring. Take action. See obstacles as exciting challenges.
Work and earn your own way through. Support others.
JOURNALIST | HAU WEI
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL & NIXON
DESIGNER | SHIRLYLEEN
EDITOR | JOSEPH

Tan Ming Hui
photography
JOURNALIST
& EDITOR | JOSEPH
PHOTOGRAPHER |
RACHEL & ALOYSIUS
DESIGNER | NATALIE
Despite being a business student, he dreads the typical 9-5
office life and prefers making a living out of doing something
that he is passionate about.
Tan Ming Hui, also known as Ming to many of his friends, is a final year
student in Diploma in Business Innovation and Design.
At the age of 14, Ming got his first Sony Ericson camera mobile phone and developed
a habit of taking random photos and video footages of his friends and environment.
Upon compiling them together to show his work to his peers, he felt a sense of joy and
accomplishment that ignited his passion for photography and videography. Eventually, people took
a liking for his work and this kept the fire in him growing.
In early 2014, Ming successfully saved enough money to purchase a Canon 700D through the money he earned
in his part-time retail associate job. Shortly, he developed GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome and felt the urge to consistently
upgrade his gears. Better lenses, flashes, bags, filters and softwares became a “must-have” item in his wish-list.
With the constant upgrade, he began shooting people around him and documenting the local dance scene, streets and
also videography.
Whenever Ming needs inspiration for his work, he will look upon a few of the many people he looks up to- @LittleShao,
@terryrichardson, @jasonmpeterson and @devinsupertramp and the list goes on. He enjoys shooting people, moments
and the outdoors, focusing on human aspect and storytelling in his work. He occasionally does some monochrome
work, generally he ensures that majority of his work are edited aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.
Now, let’s hear from Ming what advice can he provide to a new photographer or those who may be inspired to be one.

What location would you recommend for a photoshoot?
I don’t really have specific recommendations for locations,
it really depends on what are you shooting. There are many
factors to take into consideration and each factor may take
priority over one another, it could be in a photo studio,
outdoors or even on the theatre stage. Ultimately, I feel that
with proper lighting and a good composition, anywhere can
be a good location.
So what kind of locations do you go for your own
photoshoot?
I do not have a specific location to go during photoshoots.
For commerce work, I will usually scout the location I have
in mind beforehand to show my clients and discuss further. A
bigger fraction of my shoots are in studios where I will have
full control over the environment and lights, or indoors such
as theatres with artificial lighting.
Where do you get your models for your photoshoot and how
do you determine whether they fit your criteria?
Most of the time, my models are the ones who engage my
services. At other times, the models will be chosen and hired
by my clients. I do not really determine whether somebody
is good enough to be in front of my lens, unless it’s for a
conceptualized or theme shoot. In my opinion, there are no
requirements to have your photos taken by a photographer
and I think there never should be.
Where did you purchase your gears and would you
recommend the particular brand?
I got all my camera kits at IT fairs, there’s a better bargain
there. For other lenses and equipment like lighting and
filters, I usually head to Sim Lim Square and Funan Mall,
which is currently under renovation. I’m currently using
Canon system but on a honest note, I would jump over to
Sony anytime. However, due to financial constraints, I am
sticking with Canon for the time being. Mirrorless cameras
are really changing the game!
What does a photographer need to prepare prior to a
photoshoot?
Equipment check, and most importantly, mindset and
visualization. You need to be able to visualize and curate in
your head. Always check your batteries and memory cards as
they are the major elements in a photoshoot.
Do you see yourself interested in photography in the next 5
years?
It is hard for me to give a solid answer. There are many
factors to consider and one big factor would be technology
advancement. The failure to keep up with it and you will

e out of the photography game. However, considering the
fact that I have developed this passion since 14, I hope this
passion will stay for years to come.
You are recently into drones shooting. Do you mind sharing
more information to the readers?
Drones are amazing tools to enhance visuals, as it provides a
brand new perspective that cannot be seen with the human
eye. I would not call myself a pro in drones yet as I am still
learning and practicing with my phantom 4 drone. It is really
frightening to have such an expensive equipment hovering
high up in the air with the possibility of crashing anytime.
Even though it is just a hobby, it is important to know the
rules and regulations of drone flights in different countries,
especially in Singapore with strict laws managed by the CAAS
for commercial drone use. As drone flying is still relatively
new to me, the many YouTube tutorials I have watched saved
my drone from crashing many times.
It is a big risky investment to make, but the results that it
delivers makes it all worth it.
Why did you suddenly switch from SDZ to photography?
I have been in SDZ for the first 2 years of my polytechnic
education. Even after leaving SDZ, I do practice hiphop and
locking genre dance outside. Leaving SDZ is just a choice of
mine due to commitment and time management issues and
that did not mean I choose visuals over dancing as I still do
both!
If given a chance to choose, will you prioritize Dancing or
Photography as your main interest and why?
As for now, I would choose photography and videography as
I still have a strong passion for it. I enjoy dancing personally
but not to the extent that I will do the sacrifices that I am
doing so for photography and videography.
Any final words for anyone who is inspired to try out
photography?
Anyone can get into photography even if it is not professional
photography. Being a photographer means you really love
photography; it does not mean you will need a big DSLR to
be a professional photographer. Just get your hands on any
camera and start shooting. Practice, think about your work
and open up to your experiences. Keep at it and you will see
the wonders and possibilities that photography can do!
We hope Ming has enriched you readers with sufficient
information to get you busy with your cameras. Ming has
definitely proved that with the right determination, you can
achieve your dreams.

International Identity:
AUSTRALIAN
Migrating to Singapore at a young tender
age may seem challenging but it was no
big deal for Nicholas Yiu-Elliott from
Diploma in Banking and Finance.
Hailing from Australia at the age of 7 with
his parents, he adapted to Singapore’s culture
gradually as he grew older. However, he still
experienced difficulties grasping the meaning
of slangs used in Singlish.
“I will still choose to stay in Singapore,” as
Nicholas went on to explain how mouthwatering
our local dishes are. “The food
here is fantastic. For instance, Laksa and
Char Kway Teow which cannot be found
in Australia. Furthermore, the people of
Singapore have generally been very friendly
and hospitable, accepting immigrants such
as myself,” Nicholas explained.

As a foreigner, cultural shock of course, did not let him off. Let’s find out how did he overcome cultural shock!
Did you experience any cultural shock while adapting to Singapore’s culture?
Yes. The most memorable incident was the usage of a packet of tissue to “reserve” a seat at a food court. I
received frowns from people at the food court after I sat on a table “reserved” by a packet of tissue. Until
today, it still puzzles me how a packet of tissue has evolved into a form of table reservation! As the saying
goes, when you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now, I practice this method of reservation and it has
saved me plenty of time in a crowded food court.
What do you fancy about Singapore’s culture?
The general respect for the needy and disabled. During my daily commute to school via train, I
observed commuters sitting on reserved seats voluntarily gave up their seats to those who need it more.
Were you socially ostracized while adapting to Singapore’s culture?
I was never socially ostracized. However, I do have peers addressing me as “ang moh”. I am totally cool
with that as I take it as a compliment rather than an insult.
Will you consider making Singapore a permanent country to stay in?
That remains a question that have yet to be answered. I will need to undergo National Service and secure
a place in a local university before making any further decisions. As of now, Singapore is a good place to
settle down permanently.

So what prompted you to choose SB for your tertiary education?
My mother works in the Banking & Finance industry. Hence, this spurred my interest in Finance
industry as well. Coupled with the fascination I have in Forex and stock markets, I decided to pursue a
Diploma in Banking and Finance in SP Business School.
How is life in SB?
Life in SB has been really enjoyable. I have made many close friends who I know who I can hang
onto for many years to come. Furthermore, the curriculum has fueled my interest in the Finance
industry. As I proceed with my last semester in SB, I know I will definitely miss it in the future.
We would like to thank Nicholas for sharing with us how he dealt with cultural shock and life
in Singapore. We hope Nicholas has enlightened you readers to be open-minded and daring to
challenge yourself to head overseas for your learning journeys!
JOURNALIST | JOSEPH
PHOTOGRAPHER | RACHEL & ALOYSIUS
DESIGNER | YU HUI

class photos
- Good times come and go, but the memories will last forever -
YAP XUAN HONG (ETHAN) | VICE HEAD OF JOURNALISM

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