Neo Jia Wen

What is one thing you were unprepared for about university life that you wish you knew before joining SMU?

One thing that I was surprised about was that grades are no longer the be-all-end-all goal in university. In SMU, I met many different kinds of people whose definition of success went beyond their grades (they were more concerned with external projects and extracurricular activities). As someone with an A-Level background where our focus was directed mainly towards the A-level examinations, it was an extremely jarring revelation. Thankfully, I have begun to change my ways to have a better balance between my academics and outside activities. However, I wish I had known about this before I entered university, as I would have acted earlier.

What is your 2nd major and why did you choose this particular 2nd major?

I’m taking a second major in Finance! I was primarily inspired by my father, who worked in the field of business and finance. He had his own business before he retired, and shared with me many details about his past when I was younger. His presence inspired me and made me curious about his background, which pushed me to learn more about the field of finance.

What is your favourite food to get on campus?

Any Western or Japanese cuisine!