Adolfo

The next four years will quite literally fly by, and before you know it, you’ll have to enter the ‘adult world’, so make the most out of your time in college. Having said this, don’t rush! Everything will come at the right time. You’ll be able to grow your current interests and find new ones (some that you may be closed off to right now), so be open! Explore, travel, and try new things – they’ll all make you learn and grow. In the meantime, just be kind and be open, great things will follow through.

Adolfo ‘20

Carson

Hey you, WOW. You have no idea the adventure you’re about to embark on. There’s going to be a lot of loving, a lot of hurting, and definitely a lot of growing. There is nothing that you will go through that isn’t worth it. Every step you take (and every misstep) makes up who you are now. Be brave and take all those steps with an open heart and open mind. I want to remind you to cherish all your friendships, the ones you have and the ones you’re about to make. Your choices are all valid and worth the adventure! Take care of yourself and practise a lot of self-care, don’t burn out so soon. You are going to learn so much in your time here and I’m so happy for you. Above all, I want you to know that it’s okay to let things go, to let yourself hurt, and most importantly to let yourself heal. Hold on – this journey is going to be EPIC!

Cheers,
Future Carson

Christabelle

The next four years will bring a lot of unexpected things. You’ll major in psychology, not life sciences like you thought. You’ll find you’re passionate about social psychology and public health, things you never thought about before Yale-NUS. You’ll join more clubs than you can handle and make more memories than you’ll likely remember. You’ll study abroad in Germany, something you never really considered before. After Germany, you’ll go to Yale and after spending a year away from Yale-NUS will you truly realize how special of a place it is. You’ll meet so many wonderful people, people that you won’t want to say goodbye to. It’s a good thing I guess, that life is full of unexpected things and a good-bye are often just a see you soon. 

So, stay present Christabelle, these four years will fly by.

Crystal

I know the anxieties that you have entering college. I truly do. 

The worries of being unable to fit in, that the admissions team must have made a blundering mistake accepting you, and just how small you feel among these giants.

But I promise that you will find a whole community of dancers that you return home to and with whom you will adventure, create, and inspire. You will still feel like an absolute fraud on some days, and perhaps that feeling is here to stay. But you will also learn that you are not alone in these feelings. And maybe that makes it more okay.

I know you have great ambitions, and I know you are waiting until you are “good enough”. But you grow by trying (and sometimes failing), and your friends will be right by you through it all!

There’s just so much to do and so much to love, so much more than you could ever ask for.

Elizabeth

I know you’re terrified. It’s okay that you’re going to study Law and Liberal Arts, even though you have no idea how you got into the programme. It’s okay that everyone is so cool, and you feel like an imposter. It’s okay that you’re dealing with an eating disorder; this will last for two years and it will be painful and lonely. But it’s okay – there are some nights where you’ll stuff your face with cake and others that you’ll spend with friends, laughing under the moonlight. You’ll eventually recover by the end of sophomore year, and it’s a beautiful thing. It’s okay to get into a relationship in college. It’s also okay to end that relationship and feel like you don’t know yourself. Heads up, you’ll actually meet your future husband in your junior year (I bet you’re excited now!) It’s okay for you to change, inevitable really.  But through all these changes, you will choose over and over again to honour your beliefs. And you will be very proud of yourself.

Farheen

If I could say one thing to you, I’d tell you to stop being so scared! You must be feeling so overwhelmed by college life, how everyone around you seems to be more experienced, and how you felt like you didn’t know much. In a way, you still sit with that feeling, but now with a quiet confidence that the things you aspire towards are within your reach if you try. Know that you will have rich and wonderful experiences at Yale-NUS, and many of them life changing. Above all, I hope you know that you will find a community that loves and cares for you, a community that will show you how to be a person in this big world! Stay strong!! (PS. Join The G-Spot)

Love,
Farheen in 2020

Fiona

I know that everything in Yale-NUS seems so exciting right now, and it definitely is, but just wait for all of the things to come! You will meet such incredible people during your four years as a Kingfisher, and you will create some of the deepest friendships you’ve ever had. You will grow to love anthropology, and learning about culture and inequality, and human rights. Don’t be afraid to let yourself be vulnerable; it will open your heart to others and allow them to be vulnerable with you. And don’t be afraid to try new things! You never would have discovered xiao long bao if you hadn’t. I know that it’s difficult to figure out who you are and who you want to be, but don’t rely on others’ validation to guide you. You will find people in this school who love you for who you are without having to try. Enjoy every moment of college, the family you’ll find here will teach you things that will be with you forever! 

Love always, 
Fiona in 2020

Haroun

I am senior year you, just a little wiser and much kinder. I know you are going through the adventurous “go with the flow” phase, but you should learn how to be more intentional with the way you spend your time and make plans. Try to take advantage of the Yale-NUS resources, and reach out to your advisors and professors. They will make your life easier. TRUST ME. Knowing how stubborn you are, you probably think that you know better. However, I lived your life for the past four years, so maybe you can benefit from my advice. Finally, you should know that I am proud of you; the fact that I look at you and see a different person means that you have put an effort into learning and benefited from the enriching environment of Yale-NUS. Keep up the good work. 

Also, do not take a full load of MCS courses in the same semester. You will be awake at 4 AM regretting your decision.

Cheers,
Haroun – 2020

Jamie

Law school will throw you into an existential crisis, but taking up the DDP will be the most adventurous decision you’ll ever make. It’ll bittersweet to see your friends graduate ahead of you, but they’ll be there through the tough times ahead. Resist the temptation to overload every semester just because “you want to be the first ES-DDP major”. Trust me, you’ll get there.⁠

Yale-NUS is a world of opportunity. You’ll learn to dive and rock-climb in the same year. You’ll perfect the art of the Indomie while you’re managing the Shiok Shack. CIPE will send you to Cuba, COP24 and Yale. These amazing experiences do not give you license to rush every assignment until 2359. Cherish every moment, but don’t procrastinate your work!!⁠

Cheers,⁠
Super-senior Jamie 👵⁠

P.S. – Always be kind to yourself. That includes bringing less things to the suite, because a rushed move out is the antithesis of self-care.

Jan

Oh, you young lad! I have so much to tell you—from not growing out that hideous beard in your first semester to not bringing so many clothes to Singapore every semester. That said, beards can be shaven, and clothes can be donated, but one thing remains: Don’t get confused about your academic path. Life creates itself as it unfolds, and there is no destination which you must arrive at the end of your college career. Allow yourself to simply be led by your interest and intuition instead of wasting so much time doing what you think you should do, rather than what you feel like doing. Develop your own original interest that is independent of your friends, your family or that movie character you really like. Live a life that you are proud of living, and live it unashamedly.

Best wishes,
Yourself in 2020

Khang

Congratulations on making it to college and be ready for a journey full of adventures ahead!

You will form great friendships and meaningful connections, but you will also learn how to let go.

You will gain insightful academic knowledge, but you will also realize there is so much more wisdom outside the classroom.

You will work hard to reap the rewards of your effort, but you will also know how to accept and improve from rejections.

You will face a lot of crossroads and dilemma, but you will also figure they ultimately lead to the right path if you put your heart and mind into it.

You will often look very much forward to the future, but you will also understand that the past shapes who we are.

You will need to cherish every moment of your college journey because one day when you look back, they will be dear to your heart and make you smile.

Sending love, courage, and strength,

Your Future Self

Lynn

Congrats on making it to Yale-NUS! Good job on that purple hair, now nobody will ever forget that. This is where you’re going to call home for the next four years, where you’ll find sisters that will see you through difficult times and friends that will make you laugh. Not everything will go as planned, but the best thing you can do is to still have a plan and work towards it – that way you can say that you’ve tried. Remember to take care of yourself and allocate your time well, so that you can spend more time with those that you love. The growth you’ll experience here is beyond your imagination – who would have known that you would become an RCA? It didn’t even exist back in 2016! So savour all of these moments that you love because they will go by in a flash. My best advice to you would be to take more photographs to remember them by. Xoxo, Lynn.

Rachel

You’re probably kind of scared but not willing to admit it. College is crazy— I get it! No comfort for you, it’ll get crazier over the years. You’re going to grow into someone you never imagined you could be. In the meantime,  there’ll be heartache and headaches… but you’re going to have a great time finding your tribe and loving these people. Remember to be kind. You are exactly where you need to be and everything else will fall into place.

Wen

There are three things you’ll learn in the next 4 years at Yale-NUS.

First, be willing to feel and look stupid. Be ready to feel uncomfortable about what you don’t know because that’s precisely when you know you’re learning.

Second, don’t ‘find’ your passion. Grow it. Ignore all that advice about ‘finding’ your passion – as if you’re waiting for some holy grail moment where you’ll be eternally happy. Try different things you enjoy and grow your interest in them. 

Third, the friends that you make here will stay with you. Yes, knowledge and skills are important, but it’s the friendships and connections you make at Yale-NUS that truly matter.

The earlier you understand these, the more you’ll enjoy your time here at Yale-NUS. Take it easy!

Yogesh

Right now, you must feel like you need to get everything right. What I’ve learnt in Yale-NUS is that it’s okay to make mistakes and to slip up! Here, you will learn that mistakes are how you grow, and learning how to bounce back is a lifelong skill.

Yale-NUS will be beyond anything you can imagine. The adventures and memories that await you will transform you if you keep an open mind and open heart.

Keep experimenting with your hair. Build friendships and trust deeply. Speak up when you need to and always remember to listen. Love well and with a reflective mind.

– Yogesh (’20)

Ysien

Pat yourself on the back, the fact that I am writing this means we made it to graduation! There are many things I could share about the next few years. I could reduce some of your future stress by telling you which friends to keep, and what courses to take. I could tell you what you would end up majoring in (wow!). I could try to tell you some mysterious life lesson, which would suddenly make sense in a dramatic movie-like fashion some point down the road.

However, I won’t tell you any of these things, because they would add short-cuts to an experience that deserves to be lived fully with its many trials and errors. It will not always be smooth-sailing, so learn from each moment, be forgiving to yourself, and keep trying.

I will say one thing though: I like you better with short hair.

Love,
Ysien in 2020

Zac

Yale-NUS College was indeed your best decision ever after polytechnic; you have made so many amazing friends, grown so much as a person, and contributed so much to the community in your ways. You will make friends from many different nationalities, and experience many different cultures during your four-year journey in YNC. Due to this diversity, mistakes definitely will be made along the way, but you will learn from them, and people are generally very forgiving in this college. You will have a tough time with the academic rigor, but you will somehow find your way through it, even though you fall asleep every time you try to study. Learning also extends out to non-academics, learning how to DJ, performing at every school ‘mixers’ and even teaching your own. You will transform the Urban Culture Society into a necessary club in YNC, helping with the school’s social and mental wellbeing. The school is loads of fun, living under the same roof as everybody, you will treasure your 2am talks, suite parties you hosted, and your time working at The Shiok Shack. You will even bring in two buttery dishes while working at The Shiok Shack, and one even has your name on it. Yale-NUS College will be one heck of a journey, even as you leave being confused at what the future holds, but you will figure things out and things will fall into place. Continue being your chill self so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

Cheers (w your fav cocktail that you will create),
Senior-year Zac

Zhong Xuan

Look at you! Completely unaware of the journey that lies ahead. We both know the huge risk that you took coming to Yale-NUS – abandoning a relatively safe path for a chance to explore your interests and try something different. It was quite the leap of faith. But I can definitely assure you that you made the right choice. In the next 4 years, you will discover new passions like ballroom dance and musical theatre, and you will rekindle old passions like coding and making coffee. You will meet so many amazing people in the community, who will teach you so much about yourself and push you to be a better person. You will end up discovering a love for Mathematics and Computer Science (who would’ve known?), and you will find yourself working your way towards a career in research. You will learn so much about who you are, and what keeps you going. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will build memories that last a lifetime.

I’m so incredibly excited for you to get started on your journey. Go forth! Trust your gut and keep trying new things! In your exploration, you will learn to forge the right path for yourself, and you will enjoy every moment of it.

With love,
Zhong Xuan – in 2020.