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IT'S not all about work and no play at SIM.
There are over 40 co-curricular activity (CCA) clubs, from the performing arts, to sports and special interests, like investment and photography.
One of SIM's established clubs is its Film and Performing Arts (FPA) Society, which was formed in 1998.
Not only does this society put up an annual play, it even sees a group of over 20 enthusiastic alumni members returning to help out and contribute to this endeavour.
Its current president, Justin Kan, 24, who is in the SIM-RMIT Business (Management) programme, has also performed in commercial productions.
He said: 'All the plays are originals and produced by SIM students with the help of our alumni.' Next year's play, which is being staged at Victoria Theatre, may be FPA's biggest yet.
It aims to have some 2,700 in the audience over three performances - nine times more than its audience capacity in previous years (see below for more information).
To help hone their acting talents, a commercial theatre group - The Theatre Practice - has been conducting workshops for its members.
So far, 10 workshops, on topics like improvisation and body movement, have been held, he added. Just last month, the society also drove the school's first arts festival, held in conjunction with SIM's Student Week, in which different performances were staged.
Justin said: 'Our aim was to get all the arts clubs to perform and bring arts to the students.'
And Student Week - SIM's annual CCA recruitment fair which showcases its various clubs - proved the perfect platform for it.
But quite apart from taking part in the activities, being involved has other benefits. As Justin put it: 'I got to know more friends. I really enjoy being able to contribute to the school and it's enriched my life so much more.'
SIM student activities manager Kenneth Chan said: 'Giving our students a holistic education through CCAs has been one of the focus of SIM Global Education.'
'CCAs offer our students with a whole array of opportunities in terms of being in leadership roles, expressing themselves in artistic and cultural performances, and sharpening their minds and social skills through interaction in special interest groups such as the international students or toastmasters.'
'And, not to mention, gearing up to be physically and mentally fit through competitive sports.' One of its sports clubs is the bowling club, which emerged overall champions in a recent international sports fiesta in Malaysia that saw students from six institutions pit against one another in a three-day competition.
Top bowlers
Club president Eric Tan, 23, a University of London Banking and Finance undergraduate at SIM, said that the team had not expected to win anything at the Malaysian competition.
'It was our first international competition. We just wanted to take part in it.'
'So, we exceeded our expectations when we won.'
The SIM bowlers also came out tops in the Singapore University Games (SUniG) held recently, taking home five out of six golds, he added.
The club counts a national bowler and some bowlers in the national development squad as their members.
Mr Chan said: 'CCA involvement gives students the opportunities to pick up skills that aren't taught in the classrooms.'
'Take a student council or club leader as an example. By assuming such leadership roles, this student has the opportunity to make tough decisions and in the process, becomes resilient.'
'More importantly, he or she gets the opportunity to learn to manage different individuals and harness their strengths rather than harbour over weaknesses.'
Catch the SIM Film and Performing Arts Society's upcoming play
Title
Blood Ties
Synopsis
What holds a family together? Is it money? Family tradition? Crisis? Or just pure simple love? Blood Ties is a heartwarming comedy made up of three stories.
Performance dates
9 Jan 2009, 8pm
10 Jan 2009, 3pm and 8pm
Venue
Victoria Theatre
Ticket Prices
$25, $20, $16. Tickets available at Sistic counters from 13th October 2008
This article was first published in The New Paper on October 9, 2008.
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