Cheryl Lin, currently a familiar face as a journalist on Channel NewsAsia, chose to go to FASS because she wanted to expose herself to a variety of disciplines within the humanities. She ended up choosing CNM because she knew she wanted to work in the media in the future, and that this major aligned the most with that goal. “I always had an interest in reporting so when I got to university, I did some internships at news outlets to get a taste of what it would be like. After interning at The Straits Times, I was hired to report at TODAY, and soon after I was redeployed to Channel NewsAsia.”

During her undergraduate years, Cheryl had also learnt French and Spanish at the NUS Centre for Language Studies. What started as a casual interest in French language and culture became a major part of her undergraduate studies, as she took the language all the way up to level 6. For Cheryl, French lessons were her favourite ones in university, as they were always structured, well-paced and interactive. The knowledge of the language and culture had made her stays and interactions with the French people more special, as she was not only able to communicate with locals, who gave tips on what to do, eat and see for a more unique experience, but that also gave her a more nuanced perspective of its rich history and society. She had a rare chance of working at a farm in a small French town, and even attended a French-speaking conference during her last year of studies where she worked with other youth from all over the world.

It is no surprise that her foreign language skills proved useful when she was producing international news, as there would sometimes be soundbites and information coming in in French. “Knowing the language meant I was able to help translate if needed.”

Looking back, Cheryl appreciates that studying at FASS exposed her to many different disciplines. “Being able to try more things gave me a better sense of what I did and didn’t like. Focusing on CNM equipped me with the foundation for a future in the media and emboldened me in making certain career choices.” To her, the value of an FASS education lies in focusing on intellectual development, rather than vocational skillsets. “And as banal as it may sound, one of my biggest takeaways from FASS is learning how to think critically. It’s also been a pleasure to simply learn more about the world around me and the interactions within it.”

Cheryl’s wildest dream is to be an international correspondent in a foreign country, or to gather enough experience to become a media trainer or consultant. Perhaps one day Cheryl would become a familiar face on TV in France or some other French speaking country!