In The Life of a Y6: Bidding Goodbye to NUS High
by Le En, Tian Min, Isabelle and Tyra
Podcast Transcript:
[Opening music jingle or sound effect]
L: Le En
I: Isabelle
T: Tyra
TM: Tian Min
E: Everyone
[Opening music jingle and sound effects]
E: Hello everyone!
L: I’m Le En,
I: I’m Isabelle,
T: I’m Tyra,
TM: and I’m Tian Min,
E: and welcome to “In the Life of a Year 6: Bidding Goodbye to NUS High.
T: Wait, but what’s this “bidding goodbye to NUS High” about?
I: Well, the year 6s will be graduating soon and our Journalism group has decided to interview them about their feelings towards graduating from NUS High, and some advice they would like to impart before they leave!
TM: That’s great! Le En, would you like to introduce the first question?
L: Sure Tian Min. The first question is: How do you feel about graduation growing closer?
I: Ashley’s answer really sums it up, she said “graduation marks not only the end of an era, but also the start of something new”
TM: Oh, it’s similar to the Y6’s Orientation song, NUSH dance, take me somewhere!
T: Other year 6s have mentioned graduation feeling bittersweet, with them missing NUS High but also excitement to graduate as they will have much more time afterwards.
L: They’ve gotten to know lots of people, and instead of missing daily interactions with their friends and teachers, many plan to treasure the deep bonds they’ve formed with them.
I: Now onto the next question: What are some challenges you’ve faced in Year 6?
T: Y6s are facing difficulty balancing both their academics and other external commitments and university applications. Sometimes, these arduous tasks cut into their time spent with friends and family.
TM: The comparison with others is also a problem, as some Y6s tend to compare their own marks against their peers’, adding a level of competitivity in their classes.
L: In general, their challenges include balancing their social and academic lives.
T: For the third question: What are the Y6s grateful for?
I: The responses are varied, but they revolve around a certain aspect of NUSH: its community. Students are grateful for their understanding teachers, approachable seniors and friendly staff.
TM: Not to mention the opportunity to pursue interests in STEM!
L: Overall, the Y6s seemed most grateful for the tight knit community, something both staff and students can be proud of.
T: Now for the flipside: what do the Y6s regret?
I: The responses to this question were centred around taking opportunities. Some Y6s were glad to have pushed themselves to go for these opportunities, and reported few regrets about this, but others warn of a packed schedule for those poor in time-management skills.
TM: And some others who rejected these opportunities entirely also feel regretful as they now feel that the outside academics could have been useful or exciting.
L: This question has the Y6s split right down the middle! They all seem to say contradictory things! Which is the best option: Take any opportunities offered, or sit them out for the sake of your wellbeing?
T: Well, it probably has something to do with time management. If you’ve got that in the bag, then you’re free to pursue other interests, but if you don’t then it’s a better idea for you to settle for something simpler.
Highlights:
I: As we know, NUS High has a plethora of events and experiences for us to take part in, be it organised by the school, or student initiated.
TM: That’s right, I really love participating in those programmes! I can list them out right now, we have EXCITE, Student Exchange Programmes, House Weeks, Orientation, Spirit Week… (gets cut off)
L: Haha that’s a lot! But let’s find out which of these resonated deeply with our Y6s!
T: Hmm, Orientation is definitely a highlight. Ashley and Sophia both mentioned that being able to participate in and plan orientation was definitely, 100%, the highlight of each year in NUSH. Orientation is the biggest event of the year, since it happens right at the start and has the potential to dictate how well the year will go.
I: Ashley mentioned that as a participant, she really enjoyed getting to interact with her OGLs as they impart invaluable advice, and that they are people that she still looks up to till this day. in return, she did the same for her juniors as an orientation student leader, passing on the kindness!
TM: Oh, that’s really wholesome! I think that goes to show how passing down kindness, and a legacy goes a long way!
L: Sophia also said that 2024 orientation was one of the most memorable events for her. Being house actor was her dream since I stepped into NUSH and she was really, really happy to see it happen. It also got her interested into theater and acting, which is a space she wants to explore further.
T: Of course, who would forget Princess Sofa and her Candy empire! Her acting was amazing!
I: For Sophia, another highlight was SDYC.
TM: What’s SDYC?
L: Well, SDYC, the Sustainable Development Youth Conference, is a Model United Nations conference centred around sustainability, that is organised by NUS High yearly. And that was Sophia’s entry into like modern and global affairs, international relations.
T: Wow, it must be fascinating to meet all these people who are so interested and so passionate about debating these topics!
I: Of course, a simple, small, funny incident can also be memorable. During boarding, the Y6s could talk to their friends and bond. Some of them also went for Student exchange programmes, or even OSAP trips in Senior High, such as to Wales, Germany, and so on, where they got to get a glimpse of not only advanced technology and curriculums, but also experienced different cultures, and made friends with people from all around the world!
TM: Some of us also find solace in leadership boards, or student groups. Varsaah, captain of Fibonacci House, really cares about her committee, and it matters a lot to her.
L: Oh did you know that when Varsaah was in Y1 or 2, a guitar appeared in her class?
T: Out of nowhere?
I: Yeah! and people started playing it & got along. They even stayed back after school to play guitar/sing songs
TM: Speaking about music, did you know that Yancun is in the music and arts appreciation group? He really liked and enjoyed talent search, and now, he always helps out with talent search, as it feels unnatural to not do so!
L: He’s also part of the NUSHigh team which participated in the national stem championship, and now as part of giving back, he helps to teach the current, and future batches of nus high teams!
T: For Akshara, one of her favourite highlights was when she was in Year 1. Her and her friends had stayed back right after Math Olympiad, but it had started raining, so they had to stick together for quite some time to wait for the pouring rain to come down. It was really fun, even if she doesn’t keep in touch with some of them as much anymore.
I: For the next question, we asked the Y6s about their future plans. Would you mind sharing their responses on this, Tian Min?
TM: No problem! One is deeply fascinated by the makings of medicines and has decided to chase this passion by becoming a pharmaceutical researcher, how cool is that!
L: That’s so cool! It’s great she’s found a passion and decided to chase it. Another aspires to be a conservationist due to her love for animals and the environment. Not only that, but she plans to travel the world, while still working on something she enjoys – art.
T: Well, that’s a remarkable plan. We have another senior who’s extremely passionate about economics, saying it’s at the delicate intersection between maths and social sciences. He also considers getting out of Singapore or perhaps getting into finances.
I: I think it’s amazing there are lots of different areas our Y6s want to pursue, ranging from medicines to conservation to economics.
TM: But now onto the final question! What’s a piece of advice you have for juniors?
L: Many mentioned how important it is to treasure your time at NUS High, and to spend time with those you care about.
T: Additionally, it’s okay to take risks and make mistakes, just make sure you learn from them and grow as a person. Besides, risks hurt less when you’re young.
I: Finally, despite academics being important, life experiences matter too.
TM: They also said to stay strong no matter what happens.
L: And finally, here are some quotes from our beloved Y6s…
From Ashley, life isn’t about shining brighter than everyone else — it’s about not dimming your light when the world demands it.
T: From Yancun; Don’t overthink. While he’s not telling you to invalidate your feelings, it can be good to take a higher perspective sometimes because after a while you realise that you don’t care so much for the things you are getting so worked up about. Furthermore, you can’t live without regrets. When you reflect, there will always be regrets — but keep on going, look forward, and don’t dwell on those. Be eager about the future.
I: From Sophia, “don’t be scared”. Her advice is to try everything even if it’s awkward, because one day you’ll regret missing the opportunity. Even if you fail, you’ll know that you tried your best. She says that NUSHigh is like a sandbox where the idea of experiment, explore and excel is very ingrained into our psyche, adding that we should remember to Appreciate that, and always carry that with us throughout our lives.
TM: From Varsaah: Beyond studies, school is about community you have, life experiences you have, so don’t stress; Academics are important, but school life will end; so make use of school and spend time with people you care about.
L: From Akshara, Please, by all means, never quell your spirit for learning more and exploring.
T: Thank you for listening to In The Life of a Y6: Bidding Goodbye to NUS High! Hope you enjoyed our podcast and see you next time!
[Closing music jingle or sound effect]
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