Speech By Associate Professor Ludwig Tan, Dean, School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, Singapore University of Social Sciences at SUSS Convocation 2019, Session 3, Thursday, 10 October 2019, The Grand Hall, Level 4
Mr Stephen Lee, Chancellor of SUSS
Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, President of SUSS
Professor Tsui Kai Chong, Provost of SUSS
Distinguished Guests, Graduands, Friends and Colleagues
A very good morning to all of you, and a warm welcome to the convocation session of the School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, or SHBS.
I’m sure I speak for your families, your friends and my colleagues when I say that we’re immensely proud to see you in your graduation gowns today, waiting to receive your degrees. After several years of hard work, you’ve proven yourselves capable of juggling studies with full-time work, parenthood, care of aged parents, volunteer work, reserve national service, and many, many other duties and responsibilities. Whether you decided to do a degree to gain new knowledge and skills, to improve your career prospects, or for personal fulfilment, I’m sure you feel that the countless hours you spent on your TMAs, ECAs, quizzes and exam revision have finally paid off. This would not have been possible without extraordinary amounts of self-discipline, determination and tenacity, and a desire to achieve your goals.
Indeed, this makes each and every one of you a success story. However, I would like to highlight two SHBS graduands who embody the spirit of lifelong learning that SUSS tries to foster. First, we have Joyce Koh, who is graduating today with a First-Class Honours degree in Psychology. Despite already holding a Business degree from NTU, Joyce decided to pursue a degree in Psychology at SUSS because she was intrigued by the human mind and human behaviour. As a psychology student, her interest in social issues grew and she began doing volunteer work with youths. Next, we have Soh Lian Lee, who graduates today at the age of 60 with a degree in English Language and Literature. Having missed the chance to go to university when she was younger because she had to start a family, Lian Lee initially found it challenging being a student again in her mid-50s. Understandably, her family feared she would not be able to cope, but gradually they came to see that she was growing from the experience, and subsequently supported and encouraged her every step of the way. Both Joyce’s and Lian Lee’s stories may be unusual elsewhere, but at SUSS, their stories are typical, and must indeed be very familiar to most of you here.
Today, as you collect your degree scrolls and become Singapore’s newest graduates, do bear three things in mind: First, far from putting away your books for good, I hope you’ll continue to hunger to learn and to learn for life, so that you never stop growing. Second, bear in mind that, as SUSS alumni, you get to take two courses free of charge through our ACE+ programme – so we hope to see some of you again in our classes. Finally, be sure to take care of your health, so that you may enjoy the fruits of your labour: you owe this to yourself as well as your family and friends.
Congratulations and well done, SHBS Class of 2019 – we wish you all the very best. Thank you.