Feature:
Behind The Scenes @ The Student
Development Hub
The Student
Development Hub is a small but effective sub-organisation in Taylor’s
University Lakeside Campus with the purpose of helping students develop outside
classroom skills with exciting initiatives relating to leadership, community
services and character development. Tazette writer Samantha Chow delves deep
into what empowers the motivated men and women in this department to see the
success of students at Taylor’s University.
Ms Jayvien Lau, Manager of Student Development and International
Student Services
What does your job in
the Student Development department entail?
Our focus area is to develop leadership, community and character
in all students. The leadership qualities we want to develop in students are
communication, management and motivation while under the community service we
look into the youth factor and also social responsibility and voluntarism.
Character development is into the emotional challenges, self-esteem and also
passion which is very important as it is where you learn to give your best in
every area.
What is the most
interesting aspect of your job?
The most interesting aspect is the youth engagement where we
can come up with various ways to engage students. For example we came up with
LEAD @ Taylor’s University which is very interesting. It’s a tailor-made
40-hour program outside the classroom. We bring in motivational speakers, team
building and guide the students to do leadership projects. It’s a very
out-of-the-box program to cater for the students of Taylor’s University.
What inspires you to
come in to work?
I have a very good team. Every morning when I come to work,
I don’t see it just as work but more like sharing my life with people that I
enjoy going through the journey of achieving our common dreams. We have the
same path and goals and are going through the same direction, which is very
uplifting.
Do you have anything
to say to the students of Taylor’s?
There may be certain issues that Taylor’s students are
uncomfortable about such as the car park issue, but at the end of the day when
you come to the university it’s more about the opportunities that are given to
apply your knowledge and develop yourself to a better level. Because ten years
down the road on you won’t remember the car park problems but the friends that
you have made and the experience you have gone through together in the
projects. Make the most of your journey and do not waste it.
**
Ms Faith Yeo, Executive of Student Development
What does your job in
the Student Development department entail?
I handle clubs and societies. I also organize and
co-ordinate orientation events, for example recently in July when we had a new
intake.
What do you find most
interesting about your job?
I get to see and understand the student lives, cultures and
generation differences. I can discover new and different things about students’
creativity skills and the interesting way that they think.
One of the most interesting things that I’ve discovered working
here is during the Hallyu festival by the K-Gen society where they have very
excited fans shouting and screaming even though they are just showing a music
video, which is something that I’ve never seen before. The Anime Society has
also organized cosplay and crossplay events; their costumes are interesting but
cost a lot.
Do you have a
personal motto?
My personal motto is “To be the light and sword”. I want
students to have a better life and to live life to their fullest. I want to
help them achieve their full potential and hopefully to make use of their
talents and achieve their dreams. And also to keep myself young (laughs).
Do you have anything
to say to the students of Taylor’s?
Be consistent and wise in making decisions. I did some
research about generational differences and according to one research by
motivational speaker Tim Elmore, there are five out of seven life decisions you
will make in college.
**
Mr Janaronson Nagarajah (Ronson), Executive of Student Development
What does your job in
the Student Development department entail?
Basically I oversee certain clubs and societies. I also
specialise in leadership programs and events such as LEAD and student council.
What do you find most
interesting about your job?
I get to talk students like you, and work with them. I am
also glad to be able to do events that are significant and impactful to
students. For example at the LEAD program we had four inspiring speakers who came
in to speak to the students. At the end of the day I get fulfilment hearing
from students that these events have impacted them.
What inspires you to
come to work every day?
To be able to see students change for the good.
Students have also come out to me to share their personal
problems. It is the things that are beyond my job scope, such as regarding
their personal choices. To be able to be there to listen to their problems and
give my input, I guess that brings a lot of added value to my job here.
Do you have anything
to say to the students of Taylor’s?
Don’t just come to college with the intention to have a
degree. Studying and getting a HD does not necessarily equate to a successful
life. I hope that they can be more involved in events and more interested to
organise events. When you graduate you should not just graduate with a degree,
but with interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. It is a wholesome experience
to gain confidence and achieve your goal in life.
**
Mr Albert Ling, Executive of Student Development
What does your job in
the Student Development department entail?
I oversee the community service, as well as activities done
by Clubs and Societies. We also organize outings to visit NGOs and community
services. My job is basically to instil the heart of community service and
encourage people to be more generous.
Do you have any
memorable stories to share working here at Taylor’s?
The most memorable would be my first community project which
was the soft launch of Make A Wish Malaysia. We were to make a Grand Gala
Dinner, which was so grand that we spent a lot of money for it. We ended up
with a huge debt to pay as we had expected 500 people to attend but only 100
people did. So we had to tell Make A Wish, “Yeah we don’t have any money to pay
you now…”
The debt amount was huge; it was about 3 – 4 months of my
salary. I was just so devastated and scared, because it’s my first time doing such
an event and it had ended up so bad. But somehow it worked out, and Ms Jayvien
was kind enough to say that we have some budget to cover it, and we could take
it as an expensive lesson. The funny thing was that after the debts were
settled, people started to donate to the Make A Wish foundation. In the end we
helped to raise RM4, 500, which was not too bad.
Do you have a
personal motto?
I believe that I should impart values to inspire the younger
generation because I myself was much inspired during my student life.
Do you have anything
to say to the students of Taylor’s?
Make decisions, have a second generational thinking.
Whatever you choose to do right now, make sure you leave a legacy for the
future generation.
**
Ms Chia Huey, Executive of Student Development
What does your job in
the Student Development department entail?
I oversee certain clubs and societies and we also do have
SDH-initiated events.
What do you find most
interesting about your job?
I guess it will fall back to the interaction with the
students. They are creative to come out with ideas to go on with events and
certain aspirations that they want to achieve in university life. Seeing them
put their ideas down from having the idea to execution to the realisation of
the whole dream.
It’s very challenging from the sense that we have SDH
factors, dealing with different departments, from getting approvals to other
things, but I guess it’s the satisfaction to beat against all odds to achieve
the final result.
What inspired you to
work here? (She was originally from the IT line)
I believe in sowing back to the next generation. I’m happy
to hear stories from alumni Taylor’s students who are doing so well in their
respective career paths. I was in Taylor’s doing SAM, and that was when my life
was tremendously changed. Students should not stay in their comfort zones but
constantly take on challenges.
Do you have any
advice to impart to the students of Taylor’s?
Everyone has dreams but not everyone will take action to
realise it. Some people will be put off with the many restrictions, but it’s
the extra passion that comes from you. This is basically a mini scenario of what
everybody will face in their career paths. There will be limitations and people
who discourage, but it is how you think out of the box to negotiate with people
and sell your ideas.
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