The quiet influence of where I live

Bustling roads, drivers inching forward in both directions, pedestrians clustering at the roadside, waiting for a safe moment to cross. The air is filled with the hum of engines, honking horns, and the murmur of countless conversations as people rush past one another. These are some of the sounds I hear during the peak hours at NTU. As the RED Loop bus slowly approaches the Lee Wee Nam Library bus stop, it becomes an everyday mission to navigate my way around the oncoming human traffic to Kofu (Foodcourt in NTU North Spine Level 2). After climbing the flight of stairs, I pause for a moment at the entrance, gathering all my energy, before dragging myself towards the drinks counter, hoping the first sip of Kopi O Peng (Iced Black Coffee) would finally chase away the exhaustion. The rich aroma of coffee gently pulls me out of my sleepy state as I make my way to my lecture. Moving through these spaces daily, I begin to realise how my habits quietly change my pace and behaviour in NTU.

School has never been the same for me since I started studying in Semester 2. I no longer have to leave home while the sky is still dark and quiet, and travel the mundane journey from Kallang MRT to Pioneer MRT again, as I once did. It would be a good 4-hour journey to and back, which later took a toll on my grades and health in my 1st semester.  Even though it's promoted that living in a hall is an experience every student should go through once before they graduate. I have always wondered how physical living environment influence the development of independence and self-discipline among university students. This curiosity made me take up the challenge of living the hall experience this semester.

Unlike other halls, my residence is situated on the outskirts of the campus, far from my Lectures and tutorial classes, which are usually held at the North Spine. Living in Hall 6, it has quietly reshaped my sense of independence and made me more aware of my daily habits. Mornings begin without reminders, and I decide when I should wake up and how fast my day should go. I choose my meals with a cost in mind, thus I prefer buying groceries in bulk and preparing my own food at my own time. I have also realised that time only feels insufficient when I ignore my responsibilities for self development, such as going for a run or picking up new skills apart from school. As deadlines approach, my room gets more untidy, with the absence of my parents reminding me to keep my area clean makes me more self aware and disciplined in keeping my things neat and tidy. Over time, these small, repeated actions have shaped a quieter discipline in me, one formed through responsibility rather than rules.

Former Hall of Residence 7

Yunnan Garden Lake