Same Ridge, Different View – An interview with the Associate Director of Student Life
Written by Nigel Ong
Hi Desmond! Could you share with us what your DISC profile is?
Of course! Actually, throughout my life, there has been a slight change in my DISC profile. I used to be a pure S, which represented steadiness; I loved being around people and working with them. But recently I’ve started transitioning towards the SI type, and I think this is in part to my role as a staff adviser as well as the associate director to student life. I do enjoy involving myself and building a trust system between me and my students because I feel like it is the most effective way to learn; not just for them but for me as well. I constantly find myself trying to learn more about the students’ perspective because I want to implement programs that can make an impact to their studies and lives, and not something that I am doing just for the sake of accomplishing something.
How long have you been here in RV?
I started here in RV back in 2015, as a part-time lecturer for WR. This was back when there were only 100+ students – who formed the beginning population for RVRC. I then transited into a full-time staff in 2016.
Before coming here, I was living in England and subsequently moved back to Singapore and became a freelance educator in secondary schools and tertiary institutes such as NUS, NIE and NTU. Also, I was coaching swimming during my non-teaching days. I even had a license in real estate and managed to close some deals!
Wow, so you’ve been here since the early days of RV, what has been the biggest change since?
I think one of the biggest changes is how we can finally call this place RVRC, how we can finally call this our home. After the construction of Block G, everything finally felt right. We used to have to go all around the NUS to conduct our college modules, which is why something always felt out of place. When Block G was constructed and we were able to conduct our modules here, it provided a sense of home since everything could happen here within the college. Not only that, but it also allowed us to increase the number of teaching staff that we could accommodate due to our increased in RVRC population. We were also able to stabilize the admin team which was incredibly beneficial to the whole dynamics of the college. It has been a long journey, but RVRC does feel like home now, which is one of the biggest differences as to how it felt to be way back in 2015.
Another big change personally to me is Master Kunle’s contribution. I have known him for a long time, and he had been, and still is, an amazing mentor, boss and friend to me. He was an incredible person to work with and while it is sad to see him leave the college, I am very happy for his next phase in life and I am looking forward to working with Master Greg. It is a new chapter for RVRC for everybody, and I have no doubts that Master Greg will be able to lead the college towards new boundaries. We’ll continue to build on people and student leadership by providing more opportunities for them to take ownership of.
The biggest challenge is undoubtedly how to highlight the uniqueness of our program to future prospective students and staff looking towards RVRC. When people mention RVRC, what is it that you think of? I think a lot of current and ex-students would say sustainability, right? We always encourage BYO measures where we can and I think that is great, that we as a college is recognizing climate and environmental challenges, but so is everybody else. It’s tough to claim sustainability as a niche because it is a lifestyle change, so you cannot define what sustainability is or claim it as an identity.
The truth is that this is something we are still figuring out, but to me, this is not a bad thing. Sure, the U-Town RC’s all have their own identity, but I think it’s good that we are taking the time to truly carve out what RVRC truly is. We have heard a lot of suggestions from students who mention the people and the community as an identity and I think that is a valid point and it’s great that our students are also working together with us to define what RVRC is. It is a process, but I believe when we manage to carve out our identity, it will be something that resonates within all of us, something that we truly take pride in as a college.
Actually, you know what? I want to pose this question to the students who are reading this: What is RVRC about? What is RVRC to you? Is there a niche that you think we can leech on in creating our identity? If you have something in mind, let me know and I would love to hear it.
(This is it, RV. What is RV to you? Let us know what you think, and feel free to chat up Mr. Desmond about this topic, he will be more than willing to talk about it. It doesn’t need to be 30 minutes long; it could be a short talk when passing by in the DH, what matters is voicing out your opinions because every one of it counts to a collective college spirit!)
Definitely the people. Everybody here, the admin staff, colleagues, students and janitors make a difference and really embodies what RVRC is. Earlier I mentioned how some students told me that the identity of RV is the people and that is one point that I couldn’t agree more on. Facilities are just a facade; having fancy facilities mean nothing without the people in it. Everybody here in RV embraces each other; the students here can refer to their academic advisers by their first name and I honestly think it’s great. How there isn’t a strict teacher-student barrier and that we constantly learn from each other – that is something I really love about RVRC.
My favorite moment would probably be my first Freshmen Orientation Camp 2017/2018 as a Staff Adviser, where Rae was the Project Director for that batch. It was a really big role to undertake but she rose to the challenge and did a great job. I can only imagine how daunting it was but seeing how she led the team to execute the entire program was very refreshing. That was where I learnt the power of just taking a step back and letting the students take charge; to empower them to rise to the task and providing guidance where they need it. It was very rewarding to see how they carried out a fun and successful FOC for the freshmen, so I would say that that was my favorite moment in RV.
One thing is probably the comparisons. How other RC’s have this and that, while we don’t, but the grass is always greener on the other side isn’t it? The complaints, comparisons are all part of parcel of life, so I really don’t take too much to it. Other than that, I honestly don’t have much that I dislike about this place, really!
Travelling. I love travelling; it is something that I must do every year, no question. Last year I went to USA, Croatia, Slovenia, Taiwan and Japan and it was amazing. Travelling helps me to recharge and to bring a new perspective to the work I do. And when I travel, I do not touch my emails at all unless it is necessary. I love my work, but when I am on a break, I take it very seriously.
I also love to volunteer whenever I can. It’s something that I have been doing for a very long time; I have been on volunteering trips as far as Istanbul and I am currently a volunteer with the Special Olympics Singapore.
I really hope the residents make the best out of every opportunity they have here in RV. The opportunities are always there, but I worry that students don’t know how to grab it. I welcome all ideas, if you have something you want to pitch, just go for it; nobody here is going to mark you down for it. In fact, I am very sure all the staff here would be more than willing to hear it. Be ambitious and don’t let these chances go by. If you do not try, it is a 0% chance!
Coffee or tea?
Tea without milk.
(*nods in approval* Nothing like a good Teh-O kosong in the morning.)
If you have any projects you wish to pitch OR you want to contribute your thoughts on what RV is, feel free to email Desmond at desmondng@nus.edu.sg, or simply catch him for a short conversation when you see him around the college!
Till then, #ridgeviewblogs
Written by Nigel
Photo credits: Desmond Ng