Gary's Life - As Told Through Google Maps

MIT Sloan Supplemental Information

Transcript

1. Gary’s Life thus far As told through Google Maps
2. Born & Grew Up in The Little Red Dot… !"#$#%&'# !"#$#%()*+'(# !"#$#%&,*-+.# !"#$%&'$()&*+$ !(#/0122(3#(3+# "-4+#&5#-("# '+-637&.# 8$,$9"-$#:'&(#$# ,$.6+#;&)'(.9# 79#$'9#<+$'"=># %-'6$?&.+#-"# ,-(+.$,,9#'&# 7-66+.#(3$'#$# .+*#*&(#&'#(3+# <$?@# A+B&'6#C",$'*>#D3+.+#C#;&<?,+(+*#<9# E$"-;#8-,-($.9#A.$-'-'6#:E8A=## F-(3# (3+# !"(.&# G,)7#-'# HIG# Secondary school (G7-10) was a tough time, being in the closet and at an all- boys secondary school (Chinese High) at an age where, well, boys will be boys. I wasn’t a social pariah by any means but had to endure my fair share of teasing.. For junior college (G11-12) I went to the rival school RJC, which was a much better experience, as I had largely came to terms with my own sexuality (albeit still in the closet), and my classmates were a lot more mature and sensitive. I think that’s a function of age and co- ed environment (boys behave themselves more when there are girls around!) G,&;B#(&D+.#&5# G3-'+"+#J-63# Besides being buried in books, I also devoted significant amounts of time to the Astronomy Club and X-Ctry Team! 89#KJLEM#N,$(@#O2P#&5# ?+&?,+#,-Q+#-'#(3+"+# ?)7,-;#3&)"-'6#R#$# )'-S)+#"9"(+<#(3$(M"#$# "(&.9#5&.#$'&(3+.#*$9# I come from a family of four. My Dad is a sales manager at a bread manufacturing company, and my Mum works at a pawn shop as a clerk. My sister is six years younger. Like many Asian parents, they take pride in sacrificing their own enjoyment to provide the very best for me and my sister, within their modest means. Having scrimped and saved to pay for my sister’s local college and my incidental expenses in the States (beyond what my full-ride covered), they regrettably couldn’t make it to my college graduation. I will make sure this time round that they will attend my MBA graduation, even if that means piling on another 10K to my post- grad debt! I’ll engage anyone in hours-long debate on whether Singapore needs a two-year conscript military service requirement (hint: it doesn’t), but it is a rite of passage for every able-bodied young man in Singapore that has benefited me in many ways. I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten a chance to dig and sleep in trenches, shoot the M16, throw a grenade, or become the disciplined and motivated person that I am today. The army was also a great way to meet people from different educational and socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom became my life-long friends today.
3. Attending Conn as a 21-year old freshman… … Graduating as a Young Alumni Trustee (YAT) 89#;$<?$-6'#?&"(+.#5&.#T!A#+,+;U&'@# V+.9#3&'&.+*#(&#7+#+,+;(+*#(&#"+.Q+#&'# (3+#7&$.*#$,&'6"-*+#<$'9#-,,)"(.-&)"# $,)<'-#D3&#"3$.+#"$<+#,&Q+#5&.#G&''@# I&-'+*#W+66&X9#C'Q+"(<+'(#G,)7#$"#$#D-*+Y+9+*#5.+"3<$'>#+,+;(+*#(&#"+.Q+#$"# W&.Z&,-&#8$'$6+.#$'*#G&YW.+"-*+'(#-'#<9#[)'-&.#$'*#"+'-&.#9+$."\# F-(3#8T#EH]AJ^H#<+'(++"#$(# (3+#89"U;#!S)$.-)<@# G$.++.Y^'3$';-'6#_-5+#%B-,,"#:G^_%=# %($`#a#N+,,&D"@# W+.5&.<-'6#Kb.7$'#E3$'6.$M#D-(3#GG!%!# :$B$#(3+#!"-$'0!"-$'Y!<+.-;$'#G,)7=## %&#+c;-(+*#D3+'#C#6&(#<9# $;;+?($';+#$'*#d'$';-$,#$-*#,+X+.@# I’m eternally thankful to Conn for awarding me a full-ride scholarship to come to the United States (never set foot in the U.S. prior) and opening up my world to a diverse range of experiences and endless possibilities. I’m very honored to be able to remain connected to the school and give back after graduation as a YAT. A3+#K7)'B+.05&.(.+""Y,&&B-'6M#%3$-'#_-7.$.9#$"#<+'U&'+*#-'#^""$9#/#
4. From New London to Good Old London… W&"-'6#D-(3#(3+#6)$.*"# e#^*-'7).63#G$"(,+# A&&B#$#"($7#$(#?)'U'6#e# G$<7.-*6+#7)(#+'*+*#)?# 5$,,-'6#-'#(3+#D$(+.@# 8$''+B+'#W-"#-'#!<"(+.*$<f# E+"(#N.+';3#N.-+"#C#+Q+.#3$*@## G+,+7.$U'6#gT^#(3+#V+'+U$'# D$9#e#W-$44$#%$'#8$.;&\# :J-'(f#,&&B#$(#&).#[+$'"@=# I)<?#"3&(#e#%(&'+3+'6+#D-(3#L+)(";3+#E$'B# (.$-'++"#5.&<#%-'6$?&.+# bG_f#*&+"'M(#-(#.+<-'*#9&)#&5#8CAh# My study abroad semester at University College London (UCL) cannot be more different from my undergrad experience at Conn! At UCL: 1)  There is no continuous assessment: grades depend entirely on finals! 2)  Econ classes are taught in a much more mathematical and rigorous way. 3)  You can be as anonymous as you want: professors don’t know your name and won’t realize you weren’t in class. This means you can cut classes (not me!) and go travel, but also means you don’t have the same level of access to professors as at small liberal arts colleges. 4)  There’s more student diversity (40% from outside U.K.) but precisely because there are so many people from same background as you, it can be tempting to settle in that comfort zone. One needs to make a conscious effort to join clubs and meet new people. Overall it was a great complement to my undergrad experience at Conn and I had a blast in London. It was my first time in Europe and I also took the opportunity to travel (outside term time…) On the left are some of the highlights of my trips!
5. Detour: China Present to Future… @ LSE-PKU Summer School in Beijing. Took a course called ‘Power Shift’ that examines the ascendency of Asia and other emerging countries and argues whether the old Western world is losing its privileged footing. Prof. Michael Cox (above), Chair of IR Dept at LSE, co-taught the course with Prof. Arne Westad! @ Taylor Rafferty in HK, an investor relations firm where I interned at in summer’09. I love the city – HK is sort of the perfect middle ground between NYC and SG: an exciting cosmopolitan city with thriving financial industry that feels almost like home. Won’t rule out a move there after b-school! A3+#.+S)-"-(+#i.+$(#F$,,#?-;().+@# I have been working and living in NYC for the past couple of years and I have had a blast so far and made many friends, both through work and involvement in other organizations: Aside from the marginally worse winters, I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my life at MIT Sloan in Boston – the knowledge to acquire, the new friendships and connections to forge, the new places to go, and the new experiences to be had!