Nine years ago after graduating from SMU, the Graduating Class of 2006 came together at the University Lounge to interact and reconnect with their alma mater, faculty as well as their classmates, many of whom they had not seen for a while. This Interaction Night was the first time these alumni from the third incoming class had been invited back to SMU as a cohort for a gathering of their own. For some, this was also the first time they had returned to campus since graduation.
As it turns out,Assoc Prof Low Aik Meng, who is now the Director, Office of Alumni Relations, was also the first Dean of Students for SMU, and he warmly welcomed back both former students and alumni who returned for this gathering. He shared his joy of seeing them again and stressed the importance of keeping in touch with each other, and with their alma mater. He announced that the official 10th Year Reunion for the Class of 2006 will be held in 2016, and encouraged those who attended the evening to step up to volunteer for the milestone event.
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Professor Low Aik Meng welcoming back his former students |
Jay Jingzhong See (BBM, Graduating Class of 2007), SMUAA |
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Ivan Chang (BBM, Graduating Class of 2014) sharing his story as an entrepreneur |
Jass Tan and Chew Hui Min |
Next, SMU Alumni Association (SMUAA) Exco member Jay Jingzhong See (BBM, Graduating Class of 2007) explained the role of the SMU Alumni Association and shared with his very own seniors how the Association wants and needs feedback on the kind of activities alumni like themselves would like to see happen and attend. He called the cohort to play a part in improving the Association and its programming.
The guest of the evening, Ivan Chang (BBM, Graduating Class of 2014) gave a suprisingly candid sharing about his journey as an entrepreneur. Initially he had harboured ambitions of being a banker and he had the opportunity to experience banking, thanks to an opportunity by an alumnus. However, he discovered that the banking world was not for him. Consequently he poured his energy into his startup during his school years at SMU, and managed to sell off the company recently.
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Chen Jinfu and Professors Susheela Varghese, Ang Ser Keng |
Song Tee, Darren Lim and Ford Lai, SMUAA VP |
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Johny Tay and Kaushal Bhalotia chatting with each other |
Classmates reunite! |
Once the formalities were over, lively chats were seen and hugs were exchanged. "It was nice to see a few old familiar faces", said Johny Tay, who had just recently returned to Singapore after being in Canada for a few years, while comparing notes with another classmate Kaushal Bhalotia, who had also spent some years stationed in India. This probably summed up the sentiment of the evening that connections made during SMU go beyond space and time, and that students today eventually become alumni and, more importantly, friends for life.
About the SMU Interaction Nights
The fundamental belief, that bonds forged during student experience in SMU are enduring, form the basis of SMU Interaction Nights. An initiative designed to facilitate meaningful interactions, these monthly community events will feature different themes and aim to connect two important SMU constituents – students and alumni - with faculty and staff by bringing them together through a platform of collegial sharing and camaraderie.
Keen to be part of the SMU Interaction Nights?
Please contact Ivan Low at ivanlow@smu.edu.sg or call us on 6828 0797.