GRIP, Research Abroad You can’t buy happiness but you can buy a ticket to Singapore

This past summer was a whirlwind of experiences—humid, vibrant, unexpected, liberating, adventurous, spontaneous, tiring, exhilarating, and incredibly fulfilling. It was filled with incredible food, even more incredible people, and countless iced kopis (just $1 compared to the $5 Starbucks vanilla sweet cream cold brew, and so much more flavorful).

As someone who had always dreamed of living and working abroad, I am immensely grateful to the GRIP program for giving me this unique opportunity to immerse myself in Singapore. Looking back on these few months, I’ve collected memories that will last a lifetime: interviewing students at a local school, playing midnight volleyball at the NUS gym, and traveling to nearby Asian countries over the weekend on flights as short as the trip from Philly to New York.

However, the most valuable things I gained weren’t just the memories or the tangible experiences. I became more observant of my surroundings, learning about new ways of living and thinking in a culture different from my own. The more I observed, the more curious I became, and I started questioning the norms and practices of the world I was used to.

Questions like:
- Why does Singapore have such a high tax (COE) on car ownership?
- How did Singapore achieve such rapid development as a small nation?
- What if other countries adopted NUS Engineering's focus on making research applicable to the real world?

These reflections have shaped me into a more open-minded and well-rounded individual, teaching me the importance of viewing problems from different angles and embracing new perspectives.

So, if you ever get the chance to embark on a journey like this, here’s my advice: feel everything, taste everything, and always, always live in the moment.