Reviving a Forgotten Club: My Journey with NTU Sailing

When I entered NTU, I carried with me more than just academic aspirations. Having done sea sports and competitive sailing since I was seven, the sea was a big part of who I was. But at sixteen, I put competitive sailing aside to focus on my O-Levels. Even though I continued sailing casually, I never returned to the sport at the same intensity. By the time I was serving my national service, I knew I wanted to reignite that passion, and NTU Sailing seemed like the perfect place to do it.

Discovering a Dormant Club

Before entering NTU, I had already been reaching out to the sailing club, eager to find my way back into competitive sailing. To my surprise, I received little to no response. Later, I learned why. NTU Sailing was far from active. The club lacked regular trainings, barely participated in competitions, and had almost slipped into obscurity.

When I finally joined NTU and reached out again, this time I got a reply from Jian Sheng, the then-president. We met for dinner, where I learned that he had essentially been running the club alone. There were challenges with school support, minimal demand for the sport, and a looming fear from the administration that the club would wither again once we left. To many, it was a bleak outlook. But to me, it was an opportunity.

Proposing Change, and Taking the Leap

Over that dinner, I shared my vision: a structured training plan, realistic recruitment goals, and creative use of smaller boats as alternatives. I believed these steps could revive the club and lay the foundation for it to become competitive once again.

Traditionally, NTU student clubs only selected executive committee members from their existing ordinary members. I wasn’t one. But I didn’t hesitate to propose myself for Vice-President. I was confident that my passion, combined with my experience running Inyak Paddlers, made me the right person to shape the club. I wasn’t willing to settle for a smaller role or accept “no” to my plans, because there was nothing to lose. If the club wasn’t open to solutions and change, then it wouldn’t be worth working for.

Building From the Ground Up

With little guidance or past frameworks to follow, I designed a structured year-long training plan from scratch. I created training slides, engaged former committee members for support, and rolled up my sleeves to deliver engaging sessions myself.

The results were immediate. Recruitment numbers grew, and for the first time in years, the club had a strong main committee. What used to be just one president and seven friends to keep the club afloat turned into a 14-member team. Together, we built a sustainable structure, with members trained and confident enough to lead trainings themselves.

Reflections

Looking back, my decision to commit fully to the Vice-President role was never in doubt. I had the passion, the experience, and the conviction that NTU Sailing could be rebuilt. And we did. For me, the revival of the club wasn’t just about sailing. It was about leadership, resilience, and proving that with the right vision, even a forgotten club can be brought back to life.

The sea has always taught me that tides will rise and fall, but with the right course, you’ll find your way forward. And that’s exactly what we did with NTU Sailing.