Hallmarks Of An Ambassador
PROFILE by Natalie Kuan “Thank you for coming sir, it was a pleasure meeting you. You can expect a follow-up e-mail from me soon.”
After a round of handshakes and cordial smiles, Bernice Gan bids farewell to the Japanese ambassador and his entourage. Picking up her phone she begins to key in her newly acquired contact details before heading to her next meeting, tea with Dr. Andrew Walker, Associate Dean at the Australian National University.
It is all in a day’s work for Bernice.
Not your average undergraduate, Bernice has a social circle few can claim to have. She counts members of the ASEAN youth delegation as friends, and has rubbed shoulders with everyone from VIPs to local and foreign diplomats.
“ I love my job - we talk about everything under the sun. It allows me to gain insights and experiences, which go beyond classroom learning,” she says enthusiastically.
As an inaugural Tembusu ambassador, Bernice assists Tembusu Residential College in welcoming and interacting with high-profile visitors when they visit the College situated in University Town.
The svelte 20-year-old cuts a striking figure in a fitted black work dress and heels, her typical garb of choice on most days. She commands a presence that you cannot help but feel slightly intimidated by.
However, it soon becomes clear why she has been entrusted the prestigious honor of becoming a Tembusu Ambassador.
“ We don’t just choose any Tom, Dick or Harry. Selection is strict, only the best and brightest students with strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a genuine interest in meeting new people [are chosen], ” says a spokesperson for the College.
Indeed such hallmarks of a Tembusu Ambassador fit Bernice to a T.
An arsenal of jokes and funny anecdotes surface as she engages you in friendly banter, quickly putting one at ease as she passionately explains the wealth of academic opportunities offered by University Town.
From a tender age, Bernice has always pushed herself to excel. She has held every leadership role imaginable in school, from being class monitor at age 10 to Prefect and House Caplet in subsequent years.
“ From the get-go, I make sure that I excel with every given opportunity. Life’s too short to live with regrets.”
Her list of achievements and accolades continue to grow.
At present, Bernice is one of the three NUS students chosen out of a pool of 500 applicants to be a HSBC ambassador.
“ There’s a reason why we nickname her CAP. 5, I saw her biz comm. [business communications] presentation and just died! ” Quips fellow undergraduate Daryl Lee as he recounts how there is no place for mediocrity in Bernice’s vocabulary.
And as Bernice gets ready to attend her next meeting she adds with resolve, “Successful individuals inspire me, they show me that anything is possible. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
No doubt the words of a young woman destined to succeed in life.
After a round of handshakes and cordial smiles, Bernice Gan bids farewell to the Japanese ambassador and his entourage. Picking up her phone she begins to key in her newly acquired contact details before heading to her next meeting, tea with Dr. Andrew Walker, Associate Dean at the Australian National University.
It is all in a day’s work for Bernice.
Not your average undergraduate, Bernice has a social circle few can claim to have. She counts members of the ASEAN youth delegation as friends, and has rubbed shoulders with everyone from VIPs to local and foreign diplomats.
“ I love my job - we talk about everything under the sun. It allows me to gain insights and experiences, which go beyond classroom learning,” she says enthusiastically.
As an inaugural Tembusu ambassador, Bernice assists Tembusu Residential College in welcoming and interacting with high-profile visitors when they visit the College situated in University Town.
The svelte 20-year-old cuts a striking figure in a fitted black work dress and heels, her typical garb of choice on most days. She commands a presence that you cannot help but feel slightly intimidated by.
However, it soon becomes clear why she has been entrusted the prestigious honor of becoming a Tembusu Ambassador.
“ We don’t just choose any Tom, Dick or Harry. Selection is strict, only the best and brightest students with strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a genuine interest in meeting new people [are chosen], ” says a spokesperson for the College.
Indeed such hallmarks of a Tembusu Ambassador fit Bernice to a T.
An arsenal of jokes and funny anecdotes surface as she engages you in friendly banter, quickly putting one at ease as she passionately explains the wealth of academic opportunities offered by University Town.
From a tender age, Bernice has always pushed herself to excel. She has held every leadership role imaginable in school, from being class monitor at age 10 to Prefect and House Caplet in subsequent years.
“ From the get-go, I make sure that I excel with every given opportunity. Life’s too short to live with regrets.”
Her list of achievements and accolades continue to grow.
At present, Bernice is one of the three NUS students chosen out of a pool of 500 applicants to be a HSBC ambassador.
“ There’s a reason why we nickname her CAP. 5, I saw her biz comm. [business communications] presentation and just died! ” Quips fellow undergraduate Daryl Lee as he recounts how there is no place for mediocrity in Bernice’s vocabulary.
And as Bernice gets ready to attend her next meeting she adds with resolve, “Successful individuals inspire me, they show me that anything is possible. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
No doubt the words of a young woman destined to succeed in life.