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More consolidated thoughts.

The key concept is this: that we are all different individuals, and in a community of driven people with very strong principles, conflicts are bound to happen. What all of us ought to do, is to accept these differences and acknowledge the need to compromise from both sides.

While it might be true that only a small minority of USP people are interested in the effort of community building, I believe that it is because the people do not yet understand the capabilities of a genuine community. The issue here then, is to enlarge the circle of engagement, to find ways to include those inactive people into the fold of the engaged. How that will be done could require an intensive study of the profile of the USP student, and to further draw out the more tangible benefits of participating. This process must not be coercive but persuasive, in order expand the sphere of this non-zero sum game of positive engagement. These thoughts are not new - this was the reasoning behind academic cluster and the thoughts I've been having last semester. All of these still, require the same ideas of engagement and transparency. If we cannot agree on engagement and transparency; if we do not allow this belief in community to be shared and communicated across the USP population, then the conversations that we have now could fail in the longer run.

In short, the USP that I imagine will be one where people believe in the benefits of the community in the exchange of ideas leading to the process of talent development. The classroom is not simply the physical infrastructure - it is about the development of minds - and wherever that occurs, is a classroom. If we want to see a USP that continually leads people to make a mark for themselves in their own lives; if we want to see USP graduates with the same strong sense of passion and mission as alumni have exhibited already, then laying down the process of engagement and transparency is what must be done. This engagement and transparency is required to allow people to begin shaping for themselves how they will choose to participate in the USP community. By doing, a sense of ownership is nurtured, with the added bonus of being in the community of such diversity and quality, where ideas are exchanged and initiatives are started. In so doing, the USP's aim of talent development is accomplished. This is also my aim for USP as well - to see that USP continues to provide the best overall undergraduate development experience in Singapore - in the creation of a programme that allows individuals to leave USP with the capabilities to make a mark for themselves and for the world. In so doing, we raise the quality of education in NUS, and continue to attract other talents vis-a-vis other top universities in the world.

This is not plain idealism - I know very clearly that this process takes a long time, and goes beyond the term of this MC, and will continue to be an ongoing process as we transit to the RC. Still we do it for now, and I suspect, will continue to do so as we become alumni.None of us can do any single event that will realise this dream, and that is why I have focused on the word 'process' many times. We can't simply pass an edifice to those who come after us; we leave behind the ideas, frameworks and tools that the juniors can use to take the next step. That is why I have suggested the use of strategic planning and strategic conversations; I believe these are tools that the juniors can use and use well in deciding their own futures and realise their own dreams in USP.

I continue to believe that a strong, cohesive, yet diverse community will be a strong pillar girding USP for the foreseeable future. When we realise the diversity of minds and exchange our thoughts, that is when our minds develop and become open to the possibilities that can be tapped for our work in school, and for the future. We build bonds of common belief regarding inter-disciplinarity and critical thinking, and these are things that remain unique to USP at least for now. Without that community, we will be intellectually impoverished; limited to the interactions that we have through the small clique of friends that we surround ourselves with.

All of us have the best intentions for USP, and we are certainly not alone in having our intentions. What I sincerely hope to see, is that we talk about these intentions as well, about where USP could be, 5, 10, 15 years and beyond. This comes from my tiny bit of training in strategic thinking, and I fully intend to share, or even implement aspects of this strategic thinking at USP... I hold this regret that we have not been able to sit down and share the visions that we have for USP, if we have any. Sure, this vision is constantly changing and being re-negotiated, but I believe we are now more mature in accepting that people change, and so do our visions, even if ever so slightly. Still, by talking through, and by looking at possible areas of implementation, I believe that dream USP of ours can be built...

This is about USP, about our differing visions of USP, about seeking convergences and compromises between our different visions, and how this process of vision-setting can be sustained for batches to come.We can only dictate our vision for our time - and we cannot deny future batches their chance to define their own vision. This messy, long-drawn process that lasts beyond the term of a single MC - this is I think, one step towards the creation of a genuine community that accepts the diversity of its members and loves them - yes, love - all the same; that nurtures the people within to make a mark in their own lives and in the world beyond. Simply because this is USP - where we found the difference we can make for ourselves and others.