By Cheryl Lee Jing Ning, Undergraduate, SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business
The freshman year is an exciting one for any new SMU student. Besides looking forward to having your intellectual limits stretched in the classroom, you can look forward to a university experience that will enrich your life in ways you have never imagined. Co-curricular Activities (CCAs), for one, help you to build important life skills and strike the all-important study-life balance, so that you’ll graduate from university a well-rounded individual ready to take on the world.
If you have been thinking of joining a CCA in SMU but are not sure where to look, why not check out SMU’s annual CCA Fair, Vivace, happening on 12 and 13 August 2021? This year, Vivace 2021 will be featuring more than 150 CCAs from seven specialised agencies catering to the wide interests of the SMU student community.
From arts-related clubs in SMU Arts & Cultural Fraternity (ACF), sporting action in SMU Sports Union (SSU), adventurous clubs in SMUXploration Crew (SMUX), community service and personal development in SMU Special Interest and Community Service Sodality (SICS), to making connections with people from diverse backgrounds in SMU International Connections (ICON), we have just the CCA you are looking for.
If you think that is all Vivace 2021 will be showcasing, then you are missing out on the Government, Registered and Independents clubs! This is where you get to meet people with the same beliefs, who have the same passion to serve the student community, or hunger to learn from various established institutes and centres. What’s more, Vivace 2021 will also be featuring clubs from the six different SMU academic faculties, where they look to aid their members in developing their academic interests.
Here are some activities in Vivace 2021 you can look out for to deepen your understanding about the plethora of CCAs on offer.
1. CCA Introductory Classes
For those of you keen to know more about what goes on in CCAs, we have planned four sessions of Introductory Classes for you. These 30-minute sessions will be held from 2pm to 4pm on both days, and will give you a sneak peek into what the CCAs are about. In short, it is a beginner-friendly workshop with the clubs!
2. CCA Chatrooms
If you are looking for live interaction with the clubs, CCA Chatrooms is a programme not to be missed. Not only will you be able to clarify your doubts on CCAs, you will also get to learn about your seniors’ experiences personally. CCA Chatrooms are available at 1pm to 2pm, and 5pm to 6pm on both days.
3. Broadcast Stream with CCA Interviews and Showcases
If you happen to miss out on both the CCA Introductory Classes and CCA Chatrooms, we have got you covered! Our broadcast stream with CCA showcases and interviews will allow you to watch the club in their element and hear from the club representatives.
4. Find My Match
What about completing a test to discover your perfect CCA match? Find My Match is an online tool that will help you to shortlist CCAs according to your chosen answers. Unsure of which CCA to join? Find your match now!
Thoughts from the Organising Committee
As a student-planned event, the Organising committee have worked really hard over the summer holidays to make Vivace 2021 happen. While the team of 40 members had their ups and downs in the process, especially in times of uncertainty, it is heartening to see a group of students come together to make the annual SMU CCA Fair a reality.
Monish Vasu, Chairperson of the Committee, shared his experience, “Leading the efforts of Vivace 2021 has been an insightful, fulfilling and humble experience where we have the opportunity to navigate all facets of organising a university-wide event. We are also blessed to have a passionate and driven committee to make this event a success.”
Going with the flow and exercising flexibility in the organising was key, says Oh Yen Ling, Marketing Director of the Committee. “While it may be frustrating at times due to how fluid the event was, it was definitely enriching as it taught me how to be more adaptable. I’ve also gained greater organisational and communication skills!”
The Organising Committee of Vivace 2021 hopes for all students to find their ideal CCA through this annual CCA fair, so that their time in SMU can be enriched beyond the classroom.
SMU Vivace 2021 is happening on 12 and 13 August, from 11am to 6pm. See you there!
Check out Vivace 2021 on Instagram and TikTok.
