Dear Kee Wei,

You might be apprehensive about this upcoming sojourn into another Singapore educational institution.

You would think that you’ve seen it all after twelve years in the system, having gone through streaming, PSLE, and the A-levels. For all that it promised – self-realisation, meaning and fulfilment after scoring those A’s, of course— the twelve years seem to be an abject failure, resulting in a weariness that your fellow companions might be able to identify with.

You are tired of the intense competition – the constant comparisons between you and your peers in a bid to evaluate your performance in the name of meritocracy. Your disenchantment with entering university is to be expected after twelve arduous years in the system. I do not blame you. At least you are honest with yourself.

You might think that entering university is nothing special.

Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to you that not everyone gets the opportunity to enter university, and that this opportunity is a gift. To be able to spend four years attending lectures and tutorials, reading and going to labs may seem to be a boring extension of the twelve years that you’ve already endured.

But think about it. In a world that is plagued by poverty and pain, you have the privilege to spend four years studying what you like.

If you had your own way, you’d probably keep to yourself for the next upcoming four years. But I should also remind you that you’re a Christian, and Christians are more often than not called to a way that isn’t the usual path. You might insist on your own way, and there is not much I can do about it.

But the truth is being a Christian in university is going to be a herculean effort. You will need all the help you can get. This help may come in different forms: Fellow students who share your struggles, passionate professors who are excited about their classes, patient bus drivers and friendly canteen vendors.

We think that achieving the elusive “5.0” and appearing on the Dean’s List will satisfy us, but these worldly achievements often end up disappointing.

Perhaps you are still mulling over Esther’s invitation to join a student ministry on campus. All I can say to you at this point in time is that it will definitely be worth a shot. The culture at large affects us more than you think it does. The subliminal messages sent through the work ethics and priorities of your fellow students are oftentimes the most insidious ones.

We think that achieving the elusive “5.0” and appearing on the Dean’s List will satisfy us, but these worldly achievements often end up disappointing. I love how Marva Dawn puts it: “We scramble after the security of personal status and think that we will be invincible after we have climbed the corporate ladder and demanded human respect— only to discover our perpetual vulnerability.”

Perhaps you need friends who will remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.

You might be surprised at the thoughtful conversations you will have with friends like Joanne. She mentioned how her time in student ministry opened her eyes to another world she had paid little attention to previously, how she was challenged to ask questions that she would not have otherwise asked.

In our world which scoffs at anything less than perfect, a community that allows you to make mistakes as they embrace you with grace is hard to come by. I sincerely hope you will not let this golden opportunity pass you by.

Remember, your time in university is not yours to spend as you wish.

Perhaps you need mentors and peers who might help you figure out what it means to be a Christian commissioned to the university.

I know you think that being a Christian in university is primarily about excellence – exemplary conduct in classes, submitting good work, scoring well. But that’s just a small part of the exciting mandate God has for you in university. We have a much larger calling from God. This may seem daunting, but there is no need to fear, for Christ goes before us into the university.

Our call is merely to be faithful to Him.

I pray that you will use your time in university wisely. Remember, your time in university is not yours to spend as you wish. Christians are called to follow Jesus, who chose a way other than their own. You identify yourself as part of the Church, and I should remind you that the Church needs you to nurture your intellectual gifts during these four years.

You will need all the help you can get as a sojourner entering this new season. What a time to be alive!

Sincerely,
Your Older Self

This article was first published on NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship’s website, and is republished with permission.