2011 --> 2012

As with every year, this post is gonna be about my resolutions for 2012.

As for 2011, I would not say if its a good or bad year, but i feel its a year of new experiences. And I hope I'll be doing alot more wonderful things in 2012. So here's a reflection of some of the things done in 2011.

1. SMRT

Did 4 months of part-time job under the credit and billing department of SMRT (taxis) immediately after i ORD-ed in Nov 2010. Job wise, I would say its kinda boring. Its an administrative part-time job, so i think i cant really compare that with other jobs or even other admin part-time job in a bank. Pay wasn't that great either. The only thing i thought was positive about the working experience is the friends i made there and the many people that i got to know through the job.

Honestly, I wasn't the kind of people who will take initiative to meet up with people, or even organize mini outings. Perhaps i use to do that in the past, but not really now. (maybe for really close friends only) But i think i'm fortunate to have friends who took initiatives to meet up/plan for gatherings. Thought i kinda ignore them at times, which i do feel bad, but i really appreciate what they have done. Hopefully, we can maintain contact for as long as possible.

2. Europe Backpacking Trip

My first backpacking trip. The first trip that was planned by ourselves. I think overall we had fun, though there were moments whereby we did have disagreements. I guess the whole experience has been a fruitful one. It made me realize that its doesn't require that much money to travel if proper planning was done. It exposes me to the concept of backpacking and made me realize that backpacking trip wasn't as scary as some may think. And lastly, it really make me wanna travel to more places to see new things and learn new things as well.

3. SMU Scholarship

I think i have said this several times, but i really do feel very fortunate to be awarded a SMU scholarship. Financially, the scholarship really help a great deal. At least i do not have to depend on my parents or bank loans to finance my undergrad studies and at least i know that i will not enter the workforce with debt. With the scholarship, i think i am a step closer to being financially independent for my 4/5 years in uni. Not totally independent financially cause i still take allowance from my parents, but at least it allows me to attempt to fund some things personally. Ultimately, i hope that the only money i receive from my parents would be for my weekly allowance. I'm currently trying to fund those overseas trips and additional summer term studies myself, as well as random stuff like textbooks. I think i still need more financial discipline to ensure these though, but i know its definitely do-able.

4. SMU year 1 first semester

Results are out. My grades were good. Frankly speaking, I have mixed feelings about my results. On one hand i think my results were overly good considering how badly i did for the finals for certain modules. On the other hand, I thought i could have done better if i were to put in that additional bit of effort. I'm still very disappointed that i was giving up during the finals papers. And that is why i did extremely bad for the finals. And i'm really glad that the other components have helped to pull up my overall grades. Now that first semester is over, I'm starting to worry for 2nd semester due to AW.

I think i have been rather fortunate/lucky for the first semester for the following reasons. I made several really good friends. Friends who were humble and always willing to help me out with things in general. I seriously seriously hope that the friendship will remain even though we're not taking the same modules this coming semester. These people are really great and i just cant emphasis enough. Secondly, I think i had been lucky that some people i knew had actually helped me in certain mods. Not only did this person gave me feedback/guidance as to how to do well in the subject, she also pushed me to achieve a extremely good grade for class participation. And lastly, I think i was lucky to have bided the "right" prof. There were times when people will tell you that the particular prof that you have bided sucks and stuff, but i guess i am quite lucky that whatever i wrote for my individual report is to the prof's liking. And since the mod is a subjective module, the way we present our ideas makes quite a big difference actually.

5. OCSP to Nepal

Its an eye-opening experience for me. Basically, it changed my impression of several things. I had the impression that most people are joining the project for the sake of completing the 80 hours instead of truely wanting to make an impact. Overall, I would say that the project idea was 10 points, Organization if any, 3 points, and leadership 1 point.

And here's my new year resolutions to 2012:

1. To travel to at least 2 countries. (and hopefully unusual ones)

2. Maintain my GPA at above 3.6. I aim to score at least 2 A+ for this coming semester to compensate for the shortfall in AW.

3. To complete reading at least 1 book per month. Its extremely achievable, but i'll just keep it at 1 book per month as the main point is to cultivate a habit of reading.

4. To do more good deeds. =) I'm looking at doing something on a regular basis. There's one idea on my mind now and i hope to find a few more interesting ideas.

5. To get started on my long term CSP.

6. To complete another 2 component of my NYAA gold.

7. To know what I want to achieve in life.

Uni Life

It has been 2 months since i last posted here. Time passes quickly without one realizing. School is hectic. Maybe its the lack of time to do everything we wanna do, but i guess its just the lack of motivation in myself to get things done.

School work is barely manageable i would say. Not that I'm currently dying from the workload. Seriously, its OKAY. I just need more discipline to get things done. Projects are definitely piling up, and I really need to get them done before its done for submission. Cant imagine trying to rush out reports at the very last minute considering that almost all projects are due on the same week. Not mentioning the need to study for final paper too.

Mid terms had just ended yesterday, with Stats being the last paper. Not really confident, yet not worried about the results just yet. I just all the studying has made me realized that perhaps there are more meaningful things in life to worry about and to strive for. It kind of stressful to study in a environment where everyone tries to put in twice the effort and time to study compared to others and aims to get full marks for every exam. I mean.. since when did anyone strive to obtain FULL MARKS for all papers?

The mid terms was a good feedback on my studying method. Realized i could have improved on the way I study and revise. I wish I could do it regularly instead of pushing everything to the few weeks before the paper.

After much procrastination, I finally went to apply for my NYAA Gold booklet. I hope to force myself to be involved in other activities other than studies. And honestly, its not really easy to achieve something great outside of your studies in SMU, simply because everyone is so tied up with academic stuff and the lack of opportunities in school. And so, I hope i'll be motivated enough to find more interesting things to do throughout the next 4 years. One is of cause the Nepal OCSP trip this coming December. And another, is to volunteer for something thats on a longer term. I have something in mind, but has yet to sign up. I think i will do so next year. Its definitely something on my radar now.

Next upcoming event shall be my OCSP trip to Nepal this coming December. I find this whole CSP idea unique and interesting and thats why I signed up, despite the one major factor that made me think through over and over again. But things aren't looking too good now. Kind of worry for the success of this OCSP trip. I hope things will turn out fine. Again, I really need to do more things to contribute to the team. Too lazy to mention all the thoughts and feelings here, but things are over and i'm still gonna go for this trip and make the best out of it.

I'm also starting to get bored with my CCA. Somehow, it wasn't really what i have expected it to be. And so, I think i will be looking at joining some other CCAs next year. But meanwhile, I'm hoping to join some other events committee, something which will give me a sense of achievement/satisfaction. Think the interview sessions and application windows for most events are closed. But i'm still trying to see if i can be involved in some Bizcom committee. I'm considering joining the committee to plan for a CSP for the CSD people. Think it'll be something we will give me the scope to learn alot of new things.

Have been wondering over the past few weeks regarding the purpose of having an undergrad education. 4 years of education, 4 years of rushing to get work done, 4 years of intense mugging... what's our purpose? What is my purpose? What do I hope to achieve at the end of 4 years? Are all the efforts worth it? And precisely because of all these random thoughts that I start to see things differently, and to place lesser emphasis/importance on grades. So what if I get a 4.0 GPA? Will I be happy if at the end of 4 years, all I get is good grades and nothing else? Not even memories of what i did, what I managed to accomplish and so on. Sometimes, after much thoughts, i start to ask myself if I'm in the position to complain about school life. Ultimately, I'm being paid to study well in school. What else do I have to complain about? Should I even be complaining ?

LTB Meeting

Alright, just had our group's first online meeting via skype. Total waste of time, not efficient at all.

First, its always hard to conduct an efficient online meeting without much discipline within the group. What i mean is, its difficult to control when and what people wanna say something, and thus, we ended up talking about several topics (plus a few random topics) at the same time, or that there will be people talking about 2 separate ideas together.

Next, the issue of wanting to make decision together as a group and yet not being able to have a complete group meeting. They see making decision as a group as wanting everybody's vote when considering simple things such as team name. Of cos, team name can be important. Of cos, getting everyone's views and votes is important, but how can be possibly do that when we never had a complete meeting with everyone present for the whole duration of the meeting? Then we'll just end up postpone-ing all decision-making to subsequent meetings. And sad to say, these decisions will never be made since we don't have the commitment of everybody. Seriously, after writing the previous post and realizing the different commitments that you guys might have, I felt bad feeling that way or having certain thoughts, but once again, I still feel that the commitment level isn't there.

Next, it's so hard to work in a group when they are people who are so insistent on their ideas. Seriously, its ok if the idea is good, but it's not if the idea does not has a strong backing. It gives me the feeling that you saying every thought you have without thinking through if they are relevant. And thereafter try to defend your ideas. Worse, you feel that we are shooting your ideas down when we may not be.

And lastly, I can stand people rushing through work to produce some low quality work to submit. Why rush through a sponsorship proposal when you (should) know that we only have ONE chance to seek sponsorship from each company, and that if we fail to get anything with the first letter, thats it.

I keep having the feeling that we just keep having the "ideal thought" that we can get at least 1 sponsor, which i honestly feel is quite difficult. And frankly speaking, having this feeling during/after every meeting can be scary..

First Project Group Meeting

I dont understand my group. Seriously.

First, you dont read through the requirements/guildlines beforehand even when you have been told to do so. Next, you don brainstorm for ideas before meetings. Then you start thinking of all these wonderful ideas without considering the limitations that we have.

Worse of all, you guys keep having the impression that seeking sponsorship is something that comes easily. Hey! Please wake up from your dreams!

Week 1 of school...

Its 3.26am now, on a sunday night, or rather monday morning, and i should be sleeping. Yet, I decided that no matter what, i should get this post up before going to bed. And so, here i am, trying to write down my thoughts and experiences for the past one week plus.

BOSS bidding session:

How and where do i start? Its not something I look forward to, neither is it something which i hate. I think perhaps its just that I haven gotten the tricks with bidding. Nevertheless, after one big round of "drama", I've finally gotta the ideal 4.5CUs for this sem, without having to take a particular mod with a slightly demanding prof. Really glad that things turned out well for me in the second window. I've got a friend who is still bidding for her mods when it has been 1 week into school. Thats one of the few faults that i find in the whole bidding system. Apart from that, i think bidding is all about beating the system and working smart to get your mods, yet remain "wealthy".

School:

My experience with school thus far has been good. Have been busy searching for textbooks (which i ended up buying first-hand), going for meet-ups for camp friends, attending lessons and making new friends in class out of just a simple conversation. I cant say that there will not be any changes to my current views, but i think i like the way SMU "forces" students to volunteer to step out of their comfort zone and talk to others and make friends. Somehow, i like the way it works.

School work hasn't been too demanding to be honest, but i kept having the feeling that there wasn't enough time to complete whatever that has to be done for class, on top of having a "life/lifestyle" and handling CCAs. Adjustments take time perhaps.

Random thoughts:

I've always view entering uni as a totally new chapter in life, and its a time when you take bold steps to achieve whatever you set out to achieve. There are so many things that I hope to achieve by the end of the 4 years. Its really a time for one to do as much things as possible within these 4 years, because once you enter workforce, you'll seldom get the time and/or freedom to do certain crazy stuff. And so far, there are certain things which I've set out to do.

1. Obtain my double degree in 4 years.

2. Go for OCSP

3. Be part of the organising committee for a OCSP

4. Overseas exchange

5. Overseas internship (Haven really considered the possibility)

6. NYAA Gold (something which i thought of today, which i thought would be one of the great ways to sum up my uni non-academic experiences.

7. Committing myself to a long-term CIP. (Have an idea in mind, but have yet to take any actions. Afraid of not being able to commit fully too.)

The list is definitely long, but if I get to accomplish all, I can say that i have not wasted 4 years and that my uni experience was indeed all-rounded! =)

Random thoughts 2:

With new people being added as friends on fb, I feel that somehow, fb has no longer been as "private" as it used to be. And so, I'm kind of reluctant to post much things of fb nowadays.