Braving the waves together
October 22, 2021
NUS students have a world of learning opportunities beyond academic pursuits, to co-curricular activities (CCAs), special interest groups, competitions and community work, to mention but a few.
One student who seized opportunities beyond the classroom is Alena LIM, Year 4 (Major in Statistics, Minor in Economics). She is an active member of the NUS Kayaking Club, where she got the opportunity to plan kayaking expeditions, undergo a first-aid course and learn about Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS) and safety measures when she took the Experiential Learning Cycle module as part of the Design-Your-Own-Module (DYOM) curriculum.
One of her most memorable experiences was seeing how everyone in the club came together to plan for its first overseas expedition to Krabi.
Alena said, “It was really fulfilling to see how the programmes, logistics, marketing, finance and administration teams collaborated to plan the trip.”
Alena, together with the rest of the Kayaking Club was awarded the NUS Student Life Award in 2021 for successfully planning local expeditions for NUS kayaking enthusiasts.
Kayaking has also taught her the importance of teamwork. “Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! When kayaking in a double boat. Or clocking in long expeditions. It is important to motivate one another,” she said.
Will she encourage students to participate in CCAs? “Yes, as it is a good way to make new friends with common interests and it is an avenue to relieve stress.”