Tazette : Issue Five

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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Tazette: Issue 4

Feature: 

Musicians in Taylor's University

Frontman of Black Light Banquet Adrian Tan has been playing music ever since he was a kid. Adrian picked up the guitar without knowing how to read and play the notes. Now he is a first-year Communications student cum music writer slash performer in a band producing songs of their own distinctive style. Listen to their music at www.myspace.com/blacklightbanquet.

Tazette: Tell us about your band.

Adrian Tan: We started out when we were 16 in Form Four. The five of us are all best friends and one day we just decided to get together and start a band. We are the same five people that I go swimming and to the gym with. We were even in the Scouts together; that’s why we are so tight. However we have arguments too, such as when we talk about music. We take criticisms from inside the band not from outside. We are our own critics.

T: What are your influences?

AT: It’ll take you five pages to list them all. *laughs* When I first started it was Linkin Park, now it’s bands like All Time Low, We The Kinds and Fall Out Boy.

T: What is your band working on now?

AT: We are working on getting our music out further. Our band takes pride in producing our own original songs. We want to get exposed as far as we can. Then probably once it’s well known we want to get recorded, and after that we want to go out to play and at the end we want to get signed.

T: Tell us about your most memorable band performance.

AT: Every show we play at is memorable. Something different happens at every show. Every time the people know the words to your songs and when they sing to your songs, it gives you energy to perform.

T: How do you cope being in a band with your studies?

AT: Being in a band isn’t a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a daily routine to go home to check the band site. We’re always giving ideas to each other. Personally I don’t have any trouble balancing studies with being in a band.

T: How often does your band perform?

AT: If there is a demand, then we perform. Usually the LEO club in our old high school would ask us to go back and play. If we’re at a birthday party and there’s a guitar, there will definitely be a show.

T: Are there any major plans for the band?

AT: What we’re doing now is keep writing new songs to show people what we are as a band. No two songs of ours sound the same. A unique element which defines our band’s element is the keyboard. We are always trying to make each song different. The goal is to keep putting materials for people to listen.

T: How are you treated by your non-musician peers?

AT: It’s all pretty normal. The only difference is that we’re always mentioned when there’s a need for a band to perform. Sometimes friends come up to me to ask if we can cover any songs.

T: Any advice to give to young musicians out there?

AT: If you have the interest, go for it. Everyone is creative in their own way and we just need to find the proper spark. Don’t let anything hold you back if you believe in it.

 ***

Alia Ali is a final year Communications student and the keyboardist for Furniture, an independent rock band from Kuala Lumpur. Furniture just recently released their sophomore album They Made Me Out Of Dreams You’ve Forgotten (which is a line from Star Trek!) Check out Furniture at http://furniture.bandcamp.com

Tazette: Tell us about your band.

Alia Ali: The band started as Rush in the Chinese indie scene, and somewhere along the lines the name changed, the sound change and finally we’re now called Furniture. Furniture released their first album in 2005 – Twilight Chases The Sun. I joined in playing the keyboardist in 2006

T: What are your personal and your band’s influences?

AA: Stuff I listen to is stuff I listen to; I don’t have any particular influence. I think that when we get together, we bump off each other and sometimes we say ‘I think I heard this somewhere’ then we just replicate that.

T: How long have you been playing the keyboard?

AA: I’ve been playing the piano since I was 6. I took piano lessons, and now I teach.

T: How is it being the only girl in your band?

AA: Yeah I get that a lot. *laughs* It doesn’t feel much different, being the only girl. I have three older brothers, so being in the band is the same like being at home. Only difference is that they are not as mean to me as my brothers are. *laughs*

They try to be nice to me, in couple of big shows we each have to carry our own equipment. My drummer got pissed and said Can you be a girl and let me help you? And I’m like no, I carry my own stuff. They always want to help me but they know I’m going to say no.

T: What is Furniture working on now?

AA: We just released our second album in January. So now we’re just doing shows to promote the album.

T: Tell me about your most memorable band performance.

AA: It was the very first time I performed. Because I wasn’t in from the start, when I came in I didn’t know they were as big as they were. I had no idea that I was in a big show; there were so many people. I thought: ‘Oh, they’re THIS big?’ It was so kelam-kabut. Three people had to help me set up because I didn’t know what I was doing. It got better after that.

T: What other instruments do you play?

AA: I do play the piano and cello. I can play the guitar, sort of. I think that once you’ve got the basics you can play most of the instruments. At the end of the day, the theory is the same, just the techniques are different.

T: How did you produce the album, being an independent band?

AA: Ron set up Stickylight Records which is basically a studio in his house. We self-released the album: we sourced the printers, we got the art work. It’s selling pretty good. Yesterday I got back from Bangkok for a show and we saw the same people who came for our last Bangkok show 4 years ago. We thought that people had forgotten about us!

T: How often does your band perform? And how do you cope with the schedule and your studies?

AA: It depends on how often we can get shows. For example one weekend in Singapore we did three shows in two days. Sometimes we can go several months without performing.

We have set aside Tuesdays as jamming nights. So we set our work schedule around it. It’s not the one priority but it’s in the list. At any point in your life, whether you’re at work or school you have to balance. If you don’t know how to balance it now, who’s to say you’ll be able to balance your work and family later. You’ll really have to get up and just learn how to balance now.

T: Tell us about your fans.

AA: They’re a different kind of crowd from bands like Pop Shuvit. Whenever we have shows, 90% of the crowd are the people who are always there. Those people are our friends, and they are also in the art scene so whenever they have an art show, an exhibition, a performance, we’ll all go for it too.

T: Any major plans for the band?

AA: I don’t know, it took 6 years to come out with our album. I have no idea when we’re coming out with the next album! I’ll get back to you on that. *laughs*

T: How are you treated by your non-musician peers?

AA: I don’t have any friends who aren’t in the art scene. One of my best friend is a poet writer person, another of my friend is a film maker and a lot of my friends are in a band, so we all have our thing. We don’t treat anyone different because we are the same.

T: Any advice for people who want to get into the music scene?

AA: Make friends, go to gigs, go to shows. If you go to a gig, go up to the band, introduce yourself and talk to them. Make friends with the audience. Just put yourself out there. It’s very difficult unless if you’re very able, to just stay in your room and write music then put it up on Youtube. There is a lot of talented people on Youtube, but there’s also a lot of ‘less talented’ people on Youtube. So just put yourself out there.

 ***

Jeffery Wong is a Diploma in Communications student and a guitarist of the young and upcoming indie band Rosevelt. Rosevelt has played in various shows and events such as the Fly FM Campur Chart, Youth ‘10, and Urbanscapes 2010. Find out more about their music at www.roseveltband.com

Tazette: Tell us about your band.

Jeffery: Rosevelt started around end of 2009 as The Randoms. I joined the band last year in 2010. They were looking for a second guitarist and I auditioned. The band’s name is influenced by the American President Franklin Roosevelt. Rosevelt’s logo is inspired by Hoobastank.

T: Tell us more about you and music.

JW: What I love to do is music. Previously my life revolved around basketball. I met a few friends which introduced me to rock music. I picked up the guitar and fell in love with it. I wanted to be a musician since I was 15.

I am inspired by modern rock bands such as The Deftones and Incubus. My favourite guitarist is Tomo from 30 Seconds to Mars.

T: What is Rosevelt working on now?

JW: We’re working on producing a 7-8 track album which might be out somewhere in July. Half the album is done. We are working with JD from Popshuvit, recording in his Studio 21:05.

T: Tell us about your most memorable band performance.

JW: It has to be the Kelantan performance. It was sometime in March called The Attack of the IndiKids. It was good because the crowd was banned from music shows for 3 years, so they were all pumped up and very excited. It was a really good crowd. And my parents were there too, so it was even better.

T: How does performing in a band go with your studies?

JW: The main reason I came to KL is to find a band to perform with. My dad made me stay and work with him for one year, but when he realized that my focus wasn’t there anymore, that’s when he let me live my dreams.

It is pretty hard to cope with my studies. Because at first when I joined it was as a sessionist, so it was still good. Now every night (except weekends) we work on the production stuff such as tracking guitars. Every night we start at 8.30PM, and go home around 3AM.

I think I actually exceeded the absenteeism limit for a subject, but my lecturer was very understanding and allowed me to sit in for the test.

T: How often do you perform?

JW: Previously we perform at least once a month, but now we’re focusing only on producing the album. But it’s really hard to find shows now because all the international bands coming in now are looking only for the big local bands to open for them. A lot of events right now are focusing on bigger local bands, and the smaller bands like us, who are not there yet are finding it hard to compete.

T: Have you been recognized in the streets?

JW: At the cinema once, and once in the toilet. *laughs*

T: How do you cope with your newfound ‘fame’?

JW: Honestly, it’s not much. I still think of myself as a normal human being. My friends always remind me of keeping to my roots. They remind me to stay humble.

But it does get uncomfortable and awkward when people recognize me.

T: What advice do you have for people who want to get into the music scene?

JW: Put your priorities right, there must be sacrifices. And it’s very hard to juggle. If your band is really doing well, it’s harder to keep up because all you think about is your band and how you will promote your band.

***

Philip Rom is a second-year Communications student from Kuching and a solo performer who is currently focusing on producing unique sounds for his project Error6ix. Check out his music at http://www.myspace.com/error6ix

Tazette: When did you start playing the guitar and performing?

Philip Rom: I started when I was 12. Somehow I picked it up and started writing songs.

That year I joined my first Battle of The Bands with my band Orange Stain Shirt. My band was the youngest band; in fact the drummer was only 10. We won the competition that year! The next year we came in second. Then the following year I played for Band Fest and opened for Disagree. The last gig with my band was in 2007 when we opened for Juwita Suwito and Jaclyn Victor.

When I came to KL I started as a solo artist. Now I’m focused on my side project error6ix which is more of electro, ambient, instrumental sound.

T: What are your musical influences?

PR: Incubus and Radiohead are some of the bands that inspire many of the things I do. Now that I’m into the indie and electro genre, it’s more to like artists like Baths, fourtet and James Blake.

T: What other instruments do you play?

PR: Drums, bass, keyboard. I used to play the horn in the brass band.

T: Are you working on anything in particular now?

PR: So far I’ve released 2 instrumental songs under error6ix. This time I’m trying to bring in vocals, so it’s a big shift.

I have a bad habit of not finishing songs. I just come out with new ones then when I get bored I get started on another one. So for me to complete a song takes a lot of time.

T: Tell me about your most memorable performance.

PR: It was the Jaclyn Victor performance. We did the opening and there was this song that I had trouble with the beginning rift. I thought I had it fully anchored, and on the day itself I sang off tune. The camera was on my face and I was like ‘Oh my gosh’. To make the matter worse, my guitarist played the wrong chord. It was such a bad introduction that in a way it was funny and memorable.

T: How does it go with your studies?

PR: As for now I’ve not been really performing, the last one was at the ADP event back in February 2011. Currently I’m more focused with the technical aspects of my error6ix project. Hopefully I’ll get to perform sometime this year.

T: Any upcoming major plans music-wise?

PR: Not really, I’m still trying to produce, maybe just fine tune myself in this new genre. Once I get more confident, I’ll probably perform in small gigs. If anything do happens it’s just me and the small crowd *laughs*

I do include vocals of other talents. Like Fight which is a bossa nova-ish song, which is very different. It features my friend’s sister who is only 18 and has great vocals. It was the first song I produced working with someone else.

T: Would performing still play a part in your life in 10 years?

PR: Yes because I’ve been doing this since I was 12, so if I’m going on now I’ll probably still do it when I’m 30. I’m anticipating what I’ll do next. It’s a hobby that I enjoy. Music is an integral part in what I do.

T: Any advice to budding young musicians out there?

PR: There’s no harm in trying. If someone tells you you’re good, there’s a reason why they tell you you’re good. So you have to just go for it.

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