Leading with passion and conviction

Marcus Wong
Marcus Wong is a Communication Management undergraduate at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business of the Singapore Management University. He is also a Quantedge Foundation Scholar since 2018.

Marcus is actively involved in extra-curricular activities and was Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the Freshmen Orientation 2019. Recognised for his leadership, he was elected as the 16th President of the highest office of student leadership, SMU Students’ Association Council (SMUSA Council). He hopes to give back to the community by reaching out to as many students as possible and aims to focus on mental health awareness in his term. Beyond SMUSA, he is passionate about events management and aspires to own an ice cream bar in the future. ​

​Tell us more about your journey to SMU. 

I was only accepted into SMU on my second try.
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I was quite dejected when my first application to SMU was rejected and considered accepting another university offer instead. However, I decided to give SMU another shot the following year – and, lo and behold, received an offer! I have no regrets and am enjoying my time at SMU!

Tell us more about your experience as the Chairperson of the Freshmen Orientation 2019 where you had to oversee nine departments and liaise with both internal and external stakeholders.

Organising a large-scale event like FO19 turned out to be such an incredible learning experience. Our team was responsible for conceptualising and planning the entire event – a mock camp and coordinating 3 actual runs from Jun to Aug 2019. ​
Being part of the organising committee was a daunting task, with decisions impacting nine departments and 2,000 Freshmen. However, it turned out to be a thoroughly rewarding experience that taught me a lot about event planning and team management. What matters is to go with the flow – not everything will go according to plan but that is okay. 
"What matters is to go with the flow – not everything will go according to plan but that is okay."
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Marcus (front row, 6th from the right), with his Freshmen Orientation 2019 organising committee.
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We-fie with SMU's President, Professor Lily Kong and Dean of Students, Professor Paulin Straughan at Freshmen Orientation 2019.
There were some tough moments during the process where I had to confront my insecurities but my encouraging Vice-Chairperson reassured me. I am very grateful for her support. ​I am most proud of my team for working together across their departments, achieving our objectives and leaving a positive impact on the freshmen throughout this journey. ​

​​Imagine yourself in three years. What do you hope will be different about you then compared to now?

Instead of setting big goals, I prefer to set small but achievable goals towards my desired outcomes. As an introvert, I am working to be more confident when speaking to large audiences. I plan to major in communication management, as I believe that effective communication is essential in every organisation.
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Apart from that, ​I have a dream of owning an ice cream bar and look forward to creating new flavours that people will love.​
"Instead of  setting big goals, I prefer to set small but achievable goals towards my desired outcomes."

One sentence to describe what's important to you. ​

One quote that has always resonated with me: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” I believe that to grow and develop, one has to go through tough tides and learn through those experiences!
To end with another quote “what comes easy won’t last, what lasts won’t come easy.

What advice and tips do you have for a new QF scholar on how to navigate the first semester at SMU?

It is definitely fast-paced, so always remember to take some time to relax and catch your breath! 

This may be your last opportunity to fully experience student life, so try stepping out of your comfort zone and you’ll see yourself grow beyond what you expected. Fear is inevitable, but all you need is the courage to take the first step ☺
“...try stepping out of your comfort zone and you’ll see yourself grow beyond what you expected. Fear is inevitable, but all you need is the courage to take the first step”
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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