When two senior students stepped out on stage to emcee Convocation dressed as super-heroes, SMU's 13 th cohort of incoming freshmen knew that they were truly joining a Different U. This was the start of a super-charged two hours to welcome 1,951 new students into the SMU family, with a taste of the SMU experience that will transform them over the next four years into the next generation of SMU super-heroes.
The incoming students, SMU's largest cohort to date, formed part of an audience of nearly 5,000, which also included their friends and family, members of SMU's Board of Trustees, senior students and staff, donors and guests. There to entertain them with a super-sized Student Life Showcase were some 300 senior students who had put in 5 months of planning and spent 150 hours in rehearsals.
All of the afternoon's speakers picked up on the super-hero theme as well as advising the incoming students to take a balanced approach to a student life and to develop their sense of ethical and social responsibility.
“Focus and study hard,” said SMU Chairman Ho Kwon Ping, “but also find time to go on overseas exchanges, study missions, internships, and community service programmes so as to broaden your perspectives and learn more about the wider world and how you can play a role in it.”
The Guest of Honour, Dr Tan Chi Chiu, offered similar advice. Dr Tan is Managing Director of Gastroenterology & Medicine International, at Gleneagles Hospital, and Chairman of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU. Dr Tan won medals for his work in disaster relief with the Singapore Armed Forces and is now deeply involved in the medical and community service scene in Singapore. “Developing values is a life-long process,” advised Dr Tan. “But if you do not start it early in life,” he added, “you may well become a great entrepreneur or social entrepreneur; but you might end up rudderless, hit a rock and sink, which is not a good ending.”
Professor Arnoud De Meyer, SMU President, stressed that although SMU challenges its students to grow and stretch themselves, he was confident that every student had the ability to succeed. He added that SMU's policy is that no deserving student will be denied an SMU education because of fees. “We anticipate one in six of you to apply for financial assistance and students will receive help as long as they meet the criteria for application. Furthermore, one in twelve of you stand to get a scholarship,” he reassured them.
Between the thought-provoking speeches were performances by some of the super-stars of SMU's clubs – Ardiente, Caderas Latinas, Eurhythmix and InDanCity dance troupes; together with the Chamber Choir, Samba Masala, Voix and Symphonia music groups. They all came together for the Grand Finale, and even the Guest of Honour, Chairman, Pro-Chancellor, President, Provost and Deans stood up to add their voices to a different kind of super-group, SMU style.
