I was up by the break of dawn, pulling on a cream-coloured T-shirt with “Republic Polytechnic” printed in green. I knew the day would be filled with crowds, long hours, constant mic checks, and a lot of talking.
Before this, my work at The Republican Post had mostly been behind the scenes, writing articles and producing videos. Taking on the role of a podcast host felt different, but not unfamiliar. Just a year ago, during RPOH 2025, I was already speaking into a microphone, live on screen near the library outside E3.
Back then, my fellow student leaders and I talked about everything from life in Mass Communication to strong opinions about fashion. This year, however, felt different. Not necessarily better, just new. There was a sense that we were starting fresh.
Moments of Reflection on Air
Out of the three podcast episodes I hosted, two stood out the most. If it were not for my co-host Cheru, I think the experience would have been much more stressful.
Cheru and I had been coursemates for three years but were never close. Hosting together changed that. Our freestyle conversations felt natural and honest, and that connection made all the difference. Chemistry matters when you are hosting a podcast, and we found it along the way.
The pressure kicked in just days before Open House. We kept asking ourselves what listeners wanted to hear, who they were, and whether we would be interesting enough.
One episode that stayed with me was our discussion on the idea that being happy is often seen as “cringe”. We talked about how being yourself is sometimes judged simply because it is different. The conversation flowed so well that the episode went beyond the planned 20 minutes.
We touched on the fear of embarrassment and how it often holds people back. This topic felt especially relevant to our audience, many of whom were waiting for their results and trying to decide their next step. Most 16-year-olds do not have their future figured out, and that is okay.
We had once been in their position too. The main message we hoped to share was simple. Do not give up on what you care about just because others do not understand it.
Panicking for Nothing
My only guest episode ended up being my favourite, even though it nearly fell apart before it began.
Just minutes before going live, Cheru and I realised the questions we had prepared for our guests were gone. Our guests were Darryl and Jie Ann from Thrive by The Business Times, and panic quickly set in.
The topic was “Money Moves in Your 20s”, focused on financial advice for polytechnic students. I remember thinking that I had no idea if I was even qualified to host this conversation.
Once we went live, the panic faded. Questions came naturally. We talked about saving money as a student, balancing part-time work, and whether spending on experiences was more worthwhile than spending on things.
One of my favourite moments was listening to them talk about their exchange programmes. As someone who has always dreamed of living in a big city, hearing Darryl talk about his time in New York caught my full attention. He shared openly about struggling with money while studying there, but also about how meaningful the experience was.
Jie Ann shared about her exchange in Switzerland, where she travelled across Europe almost every weekend. It was clear how much she valued the experience.
By the end of the episode, even practical advice stood out. Owning a car in Singapore is not worth it for most people. Taking private hire rides makes more sense. A car is only necessary if you have specific needs, such as family or pets.
How Much RPOH Changed in a Year
Somewhere during the final day, I realised what made this year different.
It was the people.
If not for Cheru, fellow host Laila, and our audio editor Nandita, I do not think I would have managed. While hosting was exciting, it was also stressful. We were fully responsible for running the podcast booth.
We set up audio equipment with no prior experience, dealt with inconsistent sound, memorised microphone names, and handled endless mic checks. Topics and questions were often finalised at the last minute. It was tiring, but we made it work.
With all the changes the school went through over the past year, Open House felt like a reset. It felt like the first step into a new chapter, where we were still figuring out who we were and what we wanted to become.
I will not be around for the next Open House, but I know it will only get better from here. Whether you are visiting or volunteering, Open House is more than just an event. It is a chance to learn, grow, and make lasting memories.
If you missed us this year, do not worry. Open House happens every year.
And if you are curious about what we talked about, you can still catch our episodes on The RJ-ing Podcast on Spotify.
