So Many Eggs, So Many Baskets

Ethan Naidu has always believed in seizing opportunities to try new things. As a Political Science major with a minor in Economics, he envisioned this approach as the best way to gain clarity on his life’s passions and career aspirations. He adds: “I want to place eggs in multiple baskets before narrowing my options down.” This philosophy guided his decision to enrol in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) before deciding on his major amidst a wide array of options. The Year 4 student has not looked back with regrets since.

Choosing his minor in Economics was, however, quite daunting, as Ethan had no prior background in the subject during High School. To succeed, he had to invest more time and effort to brush up on his foundational knowledge. His takeaway? “The people you take your courses with can really make or break your experience. It was our camaraderie that got us through the course,” he laughs. 

Navigating College 101

To prospective students applying to FASS, Ethan has some tips from his survival playbook: “Take, or at least consider, all opportunities that come your way. Things may be overwhelming at first, but don’t suffer silently — ask for help and surround yourself with familiar faces. Join student clubs, residential colleges, or halls and plug into the intel from helpful seniors to help you navigate university life.”

He cautions that guys may initially have a tougher time transitioning to college life because their National Service stint has resulted in a longer hiatus from the books. For Ethan, what really helped him settle into university was the NUS Political Science Society (PSSOC), where he met many like-minded peers.

Stepping down as President after three years in PSSOC, Ethan reflected on the pivotal role that PSSOC’s Staff Advisor, Associate Professor Bilveer Singh, Deputy Head of the NUS Political Science Department, played in shaping his journey through thoughtful guidance. “As our Staff Advisor, Assoc Prof Singh entrusted us with organising high-level and high-impact events, like the Singapore Model United Nations (SMUN) 2024 event — the largest SMUN event ever hosted, with more than 500 participants from various institutions across the region. Approachable, resourceful and always just a phone call away, I appreciated the trust and autonomy he gave us to organise events and problem-solve.” 

Of Play and Politics

Like the rest of his peers at FASS, Ethan enjoys the freedom and flexibility to explore different subjects and chart his own pathway at the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences. This enhanced undergraduate experience for students from FASS and the Faculty of Science (FOS) grants students access to the courses and facilities of both faculties.

Citing HS2902: Do Play Play: The Importance of Play as one of his favourite CHS common curriculum courses, he shared how students studied animals such as otters and monkeys,  learning about their play and interactions. For his final project, he designed a card game, complete with physical gameplay components, rules, and a set of instructions. “While the course content was not relevant to my major, I really enjoyed the experience. We looked into different types of play in both animals and humans, shared our findings, and I made connections I never would have imagined when I collaborated with students from all kinds of majors. It is also very interdisciplinary in content – something I appreciated a lot.” he explains.

For curious first-timers who want to dip their toes into Political Science, Ethan recommends PS2249: Government and Politics of Singapore – a course offering an insightful primer on Singapore’s complex political history and development. “Try it! It’s popular not just with local students but also with international students,” he encourages.  

Having benefited from mentoring during academically challenging periods in high school, Ethan was inspired to give back by mentoring others during his university years. He continued and revitalised the PSSOC mentorship programme, introducing a more structured framework that included additional meetups, meaningful interactions, and consultative approaches such as essay reviews and discussions. These meetings went beyond academics, covering topics like navigating university life and planning future careers. Mentees found tremendous value in the programme, with some even stepping up to become mentors themselves.

Ethan’s commitment to fostering a supportive community extended further with the creation of the first Honours Thesis Showcase event. This initiative connected seniors who had completed their honours theses with prospective students and members of the political science department, providing an opportunity for real-time clarifications and addressing queries. The event garnered positive feedback from the community and is set to become a yearly fixture.

Walking In the Shoes of Others 

Looking back on his four years in NUS, Ethan counts his involvement in PSSOC as his most enriching experience. “In my tenure as President, I had the opportunity to interact with many external stakeholders, especially academics and political office holders. Internally, I also learnt to be more empathetic to the needs of fellow society members and the community as I listened to various perspectives.”

In his reflections, Ethan would often think back on his actions in order to keep improving. “I always believe that mistakes are inevitable in life but don’t beat yourself up over them. Keep working to become your best possible self,” he explained.  “Feedback is also very important. We would make it a point to sit down and do After Action Reviews to improve things moving forward,” he recalls.

Thinking On My Feet, Speaking Off the Cuff

Ethan believes that empathy, adaptability, and the ability to interact and work effectively with others in dynamic and varied situations are essential lifelong skills. Harbouring a long-standing aspiration to become an effective public speaker capable of engaging different audiences, a turning point came during Ethan’s PSSOC presidency in December 2023. When Mr Bilahari Kausikan attended PSSOC’s Foreign Policy Dialogue, Ethan decided to deliver an impromptu speech to introduce both the Society and the event,  an audience some 300-strong.

He elaborates: “I wanted to convey confidence and competence to both NUS students and the public in attendance. The subsequent feedback from friends and committee members was highly significant, marking a pivotal moment in my public speaking journey. Seizing that opportunity also opened the door for more public speaking and moderating opportunities for me.” Now, Ethan feels more confident thinking on his feet, presenting his views in class discussions and seminars, and responding to debate points as a panel moderator at events.

Another opportunity that Ethan cherishes was representing NUS at the 3rd Global Peace Summit 2024 in Thailand, where he was privileged to meet peace ambassadors and survivors from past conflicts such as the Cambodian Civil War, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “My key takeaway was to be thankful for the tremendous privileges we enjoy in Singapore, as I fully took up the opportunity to listen and absorb the breadth and depth of these international perspectives and voices. This realisation further motivates me to give back to society and uplift those who are less fortunate,” he recounts.

On The Nature of Relationships

Having been a Scout for six years from Secondary school through JC, as well as a volunteer scout troop leader for the past three years, Ethan credits empathy as the key core value he has imbibed. “Treat others as how you want to be treated,” he affirms.

The 24-year-old has seen this value reflected in his university life, particularly in the diverse group of friends he has met at CHS. “My friends come from all walks of life, not just Political Science, but also  Economics, Social Work, Data Science, Psychology etc. It is in university that I have come to understand and better appreciate the value of friendship – they are the support systems I fall back on,” he says. 

In addition to his parents who have been immensely supportive of Ethan all his life, the other person who has had the greatest influence on him is none other than his high school Geography teacher. “In one ranking exercise, I was ranked at the absolute bottom with the poorest academic performance, but it was also noted that I was the one putting in the most effort. My teacher took me under his wing and encouraged me to adopt better approaches in my tasks and assignments. My grades eventually improved because of him,” he recounts fondly.  

Future-Proof

With internships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) under his belt, one wonders what kind of future career trajectory the Year 4 FASS student aspires to. He shares candidly: “I am in the process of applying for jobs, and am inclined towards the public sector as I am interested in policy analysis.”

Ethan recalled highlights during his internship experiences, such as a rare opportunity to travel overseas with his directorate. “In MFA, I appreciated seeing the nuanced perspectives of diplomats, having travelled to Laos with them and stood in attendance at high-level meetings to witness behind-the-scenes work as they tirelessly advocated for Singapore’s interests,” he enthuses. In his final semester, he hopes to do a part-time internship to gain further perspectives before starting a full-time career after graduation in 2025.

The global exposure Ethan has gained has led him to consider pursuing further studies overseas to broaden his views and deepen his understanding of international issues from a more global perspective. Further down the road, Ethan aspires to pursue a master’s degree somewhere beyond Singapore to gain a different perspective on policy-making and become a proficient changemaker.

Currently, Ethan most strongly identifies with the ASEAN region as it is closer to home, and he enjoys seeing how its trade bloc collaborates across different languages and cultures. He elaborates: “Operating on a consensus basis requires more finesse to get everyone on board, and the multilateral nature of the trade bloc ensures that these policies impact a significant number of people in the region, including our daily lives as part of ASEAN, underscoring its importance.”