PROFILE /
NASH NG: NOT YOUR USUAL PRESIDENT JESSICA LAI |
30.9.2011
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You cannot pin down exactly what makes Nash Ng so different from former residential hall presidents before him. Maybe it is his wit, which he claims is his sexiest asset. Maybe it is how he falls outside of the traditional mould of tall imposing leaders with oodles of charisma, or so he bemoans.
“You know I’m not the norm,” the freshly-minted 32nd student president of Kent Ridge hall said, without a trace of pretension. His committee member and friend, Marian Suwono, says he is so unique that the word ‘Nash’ deserves to be a noun in its own right.
Breaking the tradition of sports inclined residents before him, Ng is a more culturally inclined person who believes that his greatest sacrifice in taking up the mantle of presidency would be his commitment to the performing arts. Prior to his presidency, his activities in hall included contemporary dance, choir and even acting.
Ng’s soft spot for the arts betrays a sensitive soul who gets emotional easily. He has his personal “Playlist Black” that he plugs into with noise cancelling earphones when he feels down in the dumps. It is a playlist of the most depressing songs that will send even a happy person into inner turmoil. When asked to name a song which describes his life, he proclaims sombrely that it is Leona Lewis’s “Run”, which he says is all about “abscondence and a desire to run away from reality”.
Ironically, this reluctant leader did not run away from the calling of presidency as he did not want to be a mere “armchair critic”. Ng was slated to go on exchange to Fukushima, Japan, in May, but the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami had left his plans in ruins. A newly found will to step up and change things in Kent Ridge hall emerged out of the ashes to take the place of the ruins.
Ng wants residents to be less “inward-looking” and to take pride in whatever hall activities they are involved in, as opposed to doing things for the sake of earning hall points. Hall residents are expected to earn such points in order to continue staying at the hostel. Contrary to the usual presidential role of promoting patriotism within an organisation, Ng firmly believes blind loyalty and commitment to the hall are not desired. He hopes that residents are able to find a balance between hall activities and other important things in life like family, academics and possibly “our significant other”.
When asked about how others should find a balance in life, Ng puts it succinctly - “time management”. Managing what little time he has is indeed a necessary skill, as Ng also belongs to the challenging University Scholar’s Programme and majors in political science. Fellow USP student and political science major, Fong Mei Yi, describes his leadership style as capable and inspirational. With a mere 15 member committee team, he led Kent Ridge hall to raise the highest donations for charity among all six halls for National University of Singapore Flag Day 2010.
With a strong 87.2 percent vote of confidence to office, Ng is a leader who inspires hearts around him. A lack of charisma? Think again. He may not be the “norm”, but breaking the norm is often the first step to greatness. And Ng sure seems poised to achieve just that.
“You know I’m not the norm,” the freshly-minted 32nd student president of Kent Ridge hall said, without a trace of pretension. His committee member and friend, Marian Suwono, says he is so unique that the word ‘Nash’ deserves to be a noun in its own right.
Breaking the tradition of sports inclined residents before him, Ng is a more culturally inclined person who believes that his greatest sacrifice in taking up the mantle of presidency would be his commitment to the performing arts. Prior to his presidency, his activities in hall included contemporary dance, choir and even acting.
Ng’s soft spot for the arts betrays a sensitive soul who gets emotional easily. He has his personal “Playlist Black” that he plugs into with noise cancelling earphones when he feels down in the dumps. It is a playlist of the most depressing songs that will send even a happy person into inner turmoil. When asked to name a song which describes his life, he proclaims sombrely that it is Leona Lewis’s “Run”, which he says is all about “abscondence and a desire to run away from reality”.
Ironically, this reluctant leader did not run away from the calling of presidency as he did not want to be a mere “armchair critic”. Ng was slated to go on exchange to Fukushima, Japan, in May, but the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami had left his plans in ruins. A newly found will to step up and change things in Kent Ridge hall emerged out of the ashes to take the place of the ruins.
Ng wants residents to be less “inward-looking” and to take pride in whatever hall activities they are involved in, as opposed to doing things for the sake of earning hall points. Hall residents are expected to earn such points in order to continue staying at the hostel. Contrary to the usual presidential role of promoting patriotism within an organisation, Ng firmly believes blind loyalty and commitment to the hall are not desired. He hopes that residents are able to find a balance between hall activities and other important things in life like family, academics and possibly “our significant other”.
When asked about how others should find a balance in life, Ng puts it succinctly - “time management”. Managing what little time he has is indeed a necessary skill, as Ng also belongs to the challenging University Scholar’s Programme and majors in political science. Fellow USP student and political science major, Fong Mei Yi, describes his leadership style as capable and inspirational. With a mere 15 member committee team, he led Kent Ridge hall to raise the highest donations for charity among all six halls for National University of Singapore Flag Day 2010.
With a strong 87.2 percent vote of confidence to office, Ng is a leader who inspires hearts around him. A lack of charisma? Think again. He may not be the “norm”, but breaking the norm is often the first step to greatness. And Ng sure seems poised to achieve just that.