Lockdown in Singapore due to COVID-19 was challenging to collaboration––not only in school, but also in my various commitments outside of it. Last summer, I was undergoing an internship where we all had to work remotely, and it was incredibly strange going through the experience without any direct contact with the people that I was working with. However, over time we found ways of connecting and grounding ourselves in the project even when we were apart from each other.

Every morning, we had our team check-in, a small meeting where we would discuss our weekend, how our day was going, as well as progress on the project that we were working on. I found that in these meetings, we were able to connect with each other. Ultimately I made good friends with some of the people in the company, and I still talk to them about technology and other projects today.

I think that the crucial feature of these meetings was their regularity. Due to the fact that the meetings themselves were very relaxed, focusing on our project but also other features of our days, as well as the regularity of the meetings, created a very comfortable space amongst us that helped to foster collaboration. I realized that a very similar philosophy applied to mentor time in our school, a small period of time before school starts to get ready and talk to other people that may not be in the same classes as us.

Even though we’re not in lockdown anymore, I still think that this style of interaction is quite important, and is something that I want to take with me to university and beyond!

P.S. I don’t have many photos of myself during my internship (it was mostly at home). But here’s a video of how one of the components works!