Berkley Center

Despite all the discussions I have engaged in with my peers at Georgetown’s campus in Qatar about the arbitrary divide between East and West, it was this division that led me to apply to study abroad in the United Kingdom. Having grown up in Singapore, often lauded as the “Switzerland of Asia,” I was exposed to multiculturalism and diversity from a young age, but was brought up in a predominantly Eastern culture. Thus, I wanted to immerse myself in a completely new culture with which I have had little to no engagement, alongside the allure of being caught up in the chaos of Brexit. The opportunity to connect with some of the brightest minds from around the world at Oxford also excited me, in addition to the unique style of teaching offered through Oxford’s signature tutorial system, in which students are taught by an academic either individually or in groups not exceeding more than two or three students.

To be absolutely honest, however, I decided to apply to and eventually attend Oxford on account of the university’s reputation and the fact that it fit into the paradigm of success in Singapore. Deciding to enroll at Georgetown in Qatar raised many eyebrows back home because who in their right mind would willingly move to the middle of the desert, to a region which is (mistakenly) characterized by war, terrorism, and conflict? While I eventually found my place in Doha, I continue to periodically question why I took the route less travelled, and where it will lead in the future. Oxford thus seemed like a good opportunity to leave the luxury of Doha and experience a new environment, which I needed because Qatar is a small place—akin to a small town in the United States—and I did find it a little stifling after a while.

That being said, I have to admit that the confluence of my privileged socioeconomic status and nationality was one of the key factors that influenced my decision to study at Oxford. Many of my friends from high school are studying at Oxford, and Singaporean students form the biggest group of international students at the university. As a friend jokingly said, if you throw a stone anywhere at Oxford, you’re certain to hit a Singaporean. Thus, going to Oxford is a homecoming of sorts for me. I was interested in exploring the Singaporean diaspora in the United Kingdom, from students to working professionals. 

I realize, however, that access to networking is contingent on the social circles of which one is already part. For example, I joined the Facebook group for Singaporean students at Oxford and was amazed at the plethora of opportunities available to us—from soirees to internships back home. Yet, part of me is plagued by the guilt of this inequality—arising from my nationality and my status as an Oxford student—that I can benefit from. 

While such platforms should be taken advantage of, I have been thinking about how these could be made available to a wider audience, especially those who have the potential to succeed but may not necessarily have the resources to get there. One of the values that Singapore prides itself upon is meritocracy, but that perpetuates elitism through a reinforcing, positive feedback loop. What, then, can we do about inequality as a result of policies that are implemented with the idea of ensuring fairness for all individuals, but do not consider their different starting points?

Something else that stood out to me was the ease of applying for a student visa in the United Kingdom. By virtue of my citizenship, which allows me to be considered as a “Low Risk National” by the U.K. Home Office, I did not need to provide any financial statements or educational qualifications. Surprisingly, the only thing the visa application center asked of me was my passport, and I got my visa within two days. Unfortunately, the reality isn’t the same for many people, and reflecting on this made me question the notions of citizenship and national borders, as well as the implications these nuances carry.

These experiences have certainly probed me to think further about the nuances of identity and the weight that labels, whether official or informal, hold in categorizing and defining each individual. I’m interested to delve into identity and positionality further during my tutorials and conversations with my peers at Oxford to unpack the numerous layers inherent to these contemporary concepts that define many of the divisions in our world today.