As the new year begins at the School Of Theology, City News offers its students some key survival tips.
By Yong Yung Shin
CN PHOTO: Andreas Loh.
1. Make sure your alarm clock is in tip-top condition, because your body clock will not, when the workload gets crazy. Remember, 30 minutes of late attendance will earn you four hours of area-cleaning duty—not the best trade-off to make with your already-scarce time.
2. Start on your bible reading ASAP. Try to average about half an hour per day so that you can finish it cover to cover before you graduate.
3. Be sure to tuck into a good, hearty breakfast before coming to class. Stay away from refined carbs like white bread, sugared cereals and doughnuts first thing in the morning—they cause a blood sugar dip a couple of hours later and you’re then likely to reach another high-sugar refined carb for a quick sugar rush. Go for wholegrain food instead.
4. Always visit the washroom before class starts to avoid the snaking queues come break time.
5. Always keep sweets or mints handy for the dual purpose of staving off zombie breath and the “Zzz” monster during class.
6. Don’t overlook lunchtime bonding session to hear the stories of others, and don’t just stick to your clique—make friends with everybody. It not only helps foreign students integrate, but widens your network of friends too.
7. Do not overdo the Singlish when conversing with your international classmates. That by no means implies that you have to speak in the Queen’s English, of course.
8. For international students, keep strict records of your expenditure in order not to overspend and get yourself in a pickle.
9. Also, hang out as much as possible with the locals, in order to assimilate into what will be your home for the next seven months—this makes it easier to know where the good, cheap food is, among other things.
10. Remember to give yourself small rewards every time you complete a major assignment or test so that you will not feel over-stressed.
11. If possible, take notes on an electronic device for easier archiving and sharing among your team-mates.
12. Take the opportunity to try out as many ministries as you can and find out where your gifts and talents lie, because it is only during SOT when you will not be faulted for dropping out.
13. Have loads of fun.
