杨雷 Yang Lei-Academic Life in SUTD

Now that I have recorded so many clips of everyday life, I want to change the subject and talk about academic.

In fact, among the students of Zhejiang University who participated in this project, I was a very different one. I am the only senior and the only student from the Electrical Engineering College. The cooperation object of this project is actually the International Design Institute of my home university, so most of the students involved come from industrial design or product design. But after learning about this project, I found that there are professors I admire in the faculty of the ISTD pillar of SUTD. At the same time, I didn’t want to do any more research in electrical engineering at the graduate level, but computer science. So I came here to take courses related to machine learning and data science.

After more than two months of study, I feel I have gained a lot. The course design here is similar to MIT, and MIT is the world’s top in computer science, especially in the field of AI. Therefore, the design of the course here is particularly good. At the same time, the professors in the class also have world-class standards I think that participating in this exchange project will play a key role in my future academic research.

I have also completed my application for the master project in these two months. If nothing else, I will go to Tokyo next September to continue my graduate study, which is also an important gain for me in the past few months!

吴姗姗Wu Shanshan-say farewell to Yulin

My dear roommate Yulin, also a Chinese student study at the National University of Singapore, has gone back to China several days ago. Her university(NUS) has a month off for winter vacation, the length of which is as equivalent as that in China. But much to her disappointment, she won’t be able to spend the New Year with her family, the most important holiday and best moment in China for family reunion. But this is a common sorrow of students studying overseas.

I have a nice time living with her in Anglican House. She was also the student mentor here. We’ve shared many opinions about career and life at night. She told me that the most popular majors in Singapore are medicine and law and she was very lucky to be a law major. Although we have a different background, we get along well with each other. And I’m looking forward to meeting her in the future!9751575356750_.pic_hd.jpg

杨雷 Yang Lei-A Gentle Night over the Beach

After a few weeks, we felt that we were somewhat comfortable with the current environment. So, on a not-so-hot afternoon, a little friend suggested that we go out and walk around Singapore together, so we haven’t even looked around. This proposal received the unanimous consent of several of our boys, so we simply packed up and decided to go out, the goal is the east coast.

As the terrain was still unfamiliar, under the leadership of An Jinchen, we also took the reverse bus and got to the Changi city, but we stopped by and walked around, feeling very happy. Then we successfully reached the east coast. There are not many people here, only some people who run at night and exercise by bike. We saw a water taxiing project pulled by a steel cable, and it felt very exciting and fun, but it was too late at that time, we didn’t play and hope to have a chance in the future. We settled our dinner in a small food center and ate local seafood, which was very delicious.

In the end, we walked along the beach with the lanterns at the beginning, but there was a circle of ships on the sea, and their lights lit up and strung together, just like another island. We sat on a beach bench and looked at the sky, feeling sincerely cozy and happy.

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杨雷 Yang Lei-Leadership Training Workshop

On 4 October, we attend a training workshop that aims to improve our leadership.

This is a very new experience for me. Because most of my previous classes were training my science skills, there was very little training on leadership or communication skills.
When I arrived at the training workshop, first of all prof. Yeo Kiat Seng welcomed us, and also told us why we should conduct this training.

Next, Stafford & Chan started training us. First of all, she told us a lot of interesting psychological knowledge. For example, people’s attitude to speaking is often not determined by what they say, but by the tone of the speech. I am very impressed and useful.
Next, we started to interpret some concepts as a group, and then demonstrated our interpretation. In the process, we learned each other’s thoughts and learned a lot of useful knowledge.mmexport1573919427287.jpg

杨雷 Yang Lei-MWH Flag Day

This is an event that aims to collect a donation for Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. This is an organization that helps teenagers aging from 10-16 who doesn’t have a stable home environment because of family division or something like that. Our job is seek anyone who is willing to donate for Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. These donations will be used to improve the living condition of teenagers.

We are scattered around the Tampines MRT Station, standing in a crowded place, so that as many people as possible can see us and donate.

In fact, this experience is the biggest touch to me among all events. First of all, I not only rarely talked to strangers in my life before, but am also a relatively shy person. I thought that people like me would find it difficult to get enough donations. And in my country, such donation activities are rare to see. But what struck me was that I found that I didn’t need to take the initiative to find the donors. I just needed to stand there and explain the situation to the people who asked for it and then they would give a donation to Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. What’s more, some people donated money directly just seeing that I was volunteering donation activities. I feel very touched. As a member of society and anyone could help other people in society who need help. The spirit is very valuable and worth learning.

As I mentioned above, I am a relatively shy person. So, in fact, I did a lot of preparations before I officially started the donation, including how to talk to passers-by to convince them to donate. I even recited an opening statement and introduction that I think is not bad. Because such donations in our country are rare, I thought I needed to actively seek help from others. But then I found out that my concerns are superfluous. I just need people to see me, and there will be enthusiastic people who will come and donate to me.mmexport1573919395183.jpg

杨雷 Yang Lei-Blossom Home Refresh

This volunteer event is divided into two phases. Firstly, on 21st September, we went to Blossom Youth Centre to take a training session for the actual event coming next week. There we learned how to communicate with elders and some meaningful games we can play with them. Then, on 28th September, we went to Anglican Senior Centre on Jurong West Street to start our actual volunteer activity.

Most of the people living in the Anglican Senior Centre are elderly people living alone. The main purpose of our visit is to do some inconvenient housework for the elderly, such as wiping windows and cleaning the toilet. At the same time, we also chat with the elderly and play games to solve the boring emotions produced during the time they live alone.

Aging is a problem that must be faced by a highly developed society, and we all have an old day. In this volunteer activity, while bringing joy to the elderly, I also felt the importance of community for everyone. We are not alone. In this society, each of us can pour our feelings into it, and at the same time get warmth from it when we need it. This thought is the biggest achievement of my time.

 In fact, different from most group, out group went to two elders’ home because we start early in the first house and during the time we stayed there, the daughters of the elder came to see her. To leave them more chance to enjoy time together, we finished our tasks quickly and left. However, because one of the teams did not arrive that day, we had to go to the second elder’s house to do another cleaning. But in fact, after the first sweep, we were already tired. Fortunately, the staff of the Blossom also came to help us complete the tasks, and I once again realized the importance of helping each other.mmexport1573919434881.jpg

杨雷 Yang Lei-Taking Care of Primary School Students

On 20th September, we went to Tampines West Community Club, Tampines Avenue 3 to take care of some primary school students. I guess their parents are still working hence they need company during this period. Our job is to assist them with their homework and play with them after their work is done.

During playing with those cute children, I felt really relaxed and happy. As if we were not here to help them, but they were to bring us joy. This is perhaps the meaning of volunteering. While we are helping others, we are helping ourselves too. My previous understanding about this sentence is that if we help others, one day, we will be helped by others. But that day, I learned that just helping, the action itself, had the power that can warm everyone.

There was one funny episode. Mabey I look a little Vicissitudes and fierceness in the first impression, I am deeply hated by a girl. I want to help her with his math homework but she shouted at me and asked help for anther female volunteer. Anyway, I helped anther boy instead. Lucky, this is just an episode, and I still have a good time with all the kids.

杨雷 Yang Lei-NKF Bedok Dialysis Befriender

On 18th September, we went to NKF Dialysis Centre to take part in a befriender activity. During our time staying there, we chatted and played games with patients dialysis at the center.

Our purpose is to release the pain of patients who is doing dialysis by distracting their attention. It is will takes roughly 4 hours to finish the therapy process and they can’t move from the chair accompanied by an unbearable pain. So, this will be a rather difficult time if there is no way to distract.

From the introduction of officer at the center, I learned that Diabetes people need to do two to three dialysis every week to maintain their health. Every time they are very painful and the suffering time is long. While singapore is a country with high diabetes, the government attaches great importance to the rights of people with diabetes. Our community will help treat these people with diabetes, and there are often volunteers like us to accompany them. This is a mutual help process. I am very touched by this spirit.

At the center, when I was chatting with a patient, I saw another patient who was always being treated alone. I don’t know if I should ask him if he needs companion. I am afraid that I will disturb him. I also feel impolite about the patients I am getting along with. In retrospect, I should contact more patients like that alone patient.

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杨雷 Yang Lei-Friendship Day in NUS

A week later, we came to the National University of Singapore where we participated in a friendship day hosted by the Temasek Foundation. The students who participated were all members of the learn program. First, we attended a lecture in the auditorium. The person in charge told us that the purpose of this project is to train young leaders across different cultures and regions so that Asia can prosper and develop together. I was moved by this concept.

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Next, we came to a large event room, where we participated in many interesting activities with our partners from different countries and regions, and I also exchanged contact information with two friends who had a good conversation. I think it ’s a great day today!

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