Moving on: Stanford University

Stanford University: where I will be spending the next 4 years

Moving on from the army is difficult- I have spent the better part of the past few days adjusting back to “civilian life”. It is more complicated than one would imagine: it is difficult to imagine a world where one doesn’t get punished even if he speaks too loud, or does something wrong. My room is noticably cleaner and neater, but I don’t expect that to last for long. The military mentality is to be constantly “on guard” and highly strung; this takes its toll on people and I guess the transition to civilian life is a slow ease back to normalcy.

Academics

I have also spent the last few days trying to comprehend the fact that I will be soon in university, back from the jungle and into school. Have also researched more on my university, Stanford, and more and more it seems like a place which is suited for me (and have become more enthusiastic in the process!). My scholarship puts me down as studying Economics; this I should have no problems with.

However I’d really want to do an addition major in one program: a bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology. It’s an ideal mix of public policy, health policy and the relevant bits of science, and I’m really keen to study it. Being in only the humanities for 2 years has made my worldview kind of one-dimensional, and I’m eager to learn about the sciences as well. Moreover I will be able to understand more of society- I’d not want to work in the ministry of health, without fully understanding the concepts behind its work.

Stanford Leland University Logo

Languages

I’ve also signed up to take Malay or Indonesian as part of Stanford’s languages program. Languages are the key to people, and I hope to study Malay there, while maintaining my Chinese. Possibly I will try for another language, but then again I’d want some free time. I would want to learn the languages of Singapore, as well as Southeast Asia- I’ve never been able to communicate very well and university would be a good time to learn how to.

Southeast Asia, China, Bangladesh: Giants of the future?

If finances allow I would like to travel; having never been out of Southeast Asia on my own I’d want to see the world. And snow too, I haven’t seen snow. I’d also like to spend at least one summer doing something in a developing country, possibly working for an NGO. However I have to spend the summers on police attachment in Singapore, so very likely travel will be limited to short breaks here and there. I’d like to go to each of the Southeast Asian countries and learn their culture and customs; I’d also like to visit the rising giants of India, China, Russia and Brazil, as well as see the old cultural centres of Europe (although I admit I’m not a very cultured person).

Other interests

While there I hope to do quite a lot of other things too- learn how to play American Football, pursue my interests in writing and developmental studies. I’d want to keep fit; my career as a police officer will likely require a certain level of fitness, and more than that I like sports. I’d want to keep this blog open as well, to keep track of what I have done, and also to share with others what I have seen and learnt. I’ve been fortunate to be given a scholarship that enables me to go overseas and do all the stuff I do; the least I can do is share what I have learnt.

I’d also want to do a bit for the social services scene in Singapore. I’ve got a few ideas in my head, and they mostly have to do with information. I’ll write about this idea some other time. Also Southeast Asia- I’d like to look into possible NGO projects in the region, and see how I can fit in (or do something myself). Stanford brings together a diversity of people, hopefully there can be enough from Southeast Asia for us to do something worthwhile. My preliminary reading up on the net found something called SEALnet (link) which does seem very interesting.

All in all, university life is here. I intend to make the most out of it. There will be much Stanford and the world can offer, and I hope to make everything I can out of it and maximize my time there. I will be leaving Singapore on the 9th of September 2008, and will spend a good last 1 and a half months in Singapore before leaving for the next phase of my life.