My name is Benjamin, and the course I took for my C&E Pillar was GEN2070 ComLink Befrienders. When exploring the possible options under the Pillar, ComLink Befrienders immediately stood out to me. I wanted to take part in a course that would allow me to contribute meaningfully to a community and make a real difference during my university journey, rather than solely pursuing academic endeavours. The prospect of embarking on a year-long course also gave me confidence that my efforts would not be confined to a single session or one-time meeting.

My experience with GEN2070 has been extremely fulfilling. Beyond honing core soft skills like active listening, I’ve had countless genuine interactions and moments where I could see my efforts making a tangible impact on the lives of my befriendees. One such moment was during my journey with “A,” a Primary Six boy living with his single mother. “A” is an extremely bright and intelligent kid, but struggled with a gaming addiction to the point where he would skip school because of late nights spent staying up to play video games. Initially, he was hesitant to engage with me, showing more interest in his games than spending time together. To build a connection, I shared my interest in basketball, encouraging him to teach me. This approach helped him feel a sense of autonomy and initiative during our meetups. Through my meetups with him, I’d have conversations to check in on him, provide some insight on dealing with the pressures of PSLE, and the importance of balancing work and play.

Over time, I engaged him in conversations to check in on his well-being, shared insights on managing PSLE pressures, and emphasised the importance of balancing work and play. Gradually, I witnessed his progress — he began spending more quality time with his mother and even took up reading as an alternative hobby. These experiences culminated into a moment where he had mentioned that he had an interest in exploring nature and going on hikes, which we then headed to Mt Faber for our next meet. We spent half a day exploring the area, and he shared with me his knowledge of bus routes and interesting architectural facts he had learnt about the buildings in the area. This hike allowed me to connect further with “A”, and our conversations went further than the surface level small talk we had in the early moments in our friendship. This was a defining moment for me in this module, as I could reflect on how our friendship had grown through the months, resulting in a genuine time where I knew “A” could share his struggles and hopes in a vulnerable yet comfortable manner.