"It made me smile"
Feel stressed sometimes? HEY! student writer Zaneta Ng asks fellow students what little things lift their moods
The kind bus driver
“I came across a nice NTU bus driver, and the encounter made me smile even though I was feeling quite down. I was at the pedestrian crossing between Pioneer Hall and Hall 1 and signalled for him to go first, since the bus was packed and I was the only one crossing the road. But he paused and waved me across instead. A few hours later, as I was returning to hall from my Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Social Good class, the same thing happened... with the same bus driver!”
Jex Lin, AI & Society, Year 1
Flower power
“One morning, I was on the campus shuttle from my hall to school when I noticed bright orange flowers blooming on a tree in the forested area near NIE. I’d never seen them before. I snapped a photo, and the sight of those flowers made my morning.
Practising mindfulness, by slowing down and spending less time on my phone, helps me stay present and feel better overall. That’s probably why I noticed the flowers in the first place. Being in nature always calms me, especially when I’m worried about test scores or internships. It’s like receiving a little love and care from Mother Nature.”
Mervell Tan, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Year 2
One year later, kopi uncle still remembers my order
“I’ve heard stories about food stall vendors remembering customers’ orders, but I never thought it would happen to me because my orders are usually quite basic.
Last year, just before an exam, I went to the CresPion Hall canteen for breakfast. As I was about to order, the drinks stall uncle said: ‘You haven’t come by in a long time, right? Still want teh and kaya toast?’ I was stunned – it had been nearly a year since I moved out of Pioneer Hall, yet he still remembered me as ‘the girl who wakes up early for breakfast’ and my preference for teh over kopi.
That morning, he wished me luck for my paper. I’m convinced I did well because of his well wishes – and that awesome teh.”
Liu Jiahui, Accountancy & Business, Year 4
Sweet dreams, roomie
“I feel a sense of warmth every time my roommate and I say ‘good night’ before going to bed; it’s become our little daily ritual. We didn’t know each other before moving into our double room, and I’m glad to have met such a great friend at NTU.
Although it may seem ordinary, our nightly exchange of ‘good night, all the best tomorrow’ feels special, because it shows we care about each other. Hearing those words melts away the day’s fatigue.”
Lim Li Wen (in orange), Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, Year 1, with her roomie, Lin Xiaoya, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Year 2
Seeking solace at Hygge
“Whenever I head to the Lee Wee Nam Library, I go in ready to conquer my to-do list. One day, I stumbled upon Hygge – a cosy, dimly lit space on the fifth floor with soft music and bean bags. The first time, I sat down ‘just for a bit’ and ended up napping. Now, it’s a habit: I study hard, then unwind at Hygge. It’s become my reset button amidst all the stress – 15 minutes to breathe, recharge and feel human again.”
Shrrinivaasaa A Thiagarajah, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Year 1
Chilling with friends to beat the heat
“As an exchange student, I love how easy it is to find food and drinks at NTU. Back in Ireland, the weather is cold and dry, so dealing with Singapore’s tropical climate was a big change for me. But even when it’s scorching here, I know I can always cool down with an iced latte or ice cream just around the corner. You have no idea how much joy an icy cold treat with friends brings me on a harsh afternoon, especially when I don’t even have to leave campus to get it.”
Jermaine Chong, on exchange from Maynooth University, Ireland
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HEY! STUDENT WRITER
Recently, it’s been Zaneta and her electric pot against the world, so if you catch her being distracted in class, she’s probably just thinking about what to cook for lunch.
This story was published in the Mar-Apr 2025 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.