When I first created this blog, I excitedly wrote down the first post unrelated to the module. It is beginning of my adventure in Singapore. Now it's the end. I would like to take the chance to reflect all my semester in Singapore, not just in ES2007S module.
This paragraph is for ES2007S module. Actually the workload for this module is more than what I thought in the beginning, which have pushed me to learn more. Now I want to say: Brad, thank you for your strict, vividly and interesting teaching method, thank you for your every comment in my every post, thank you for your detailed comment in my resume, cover letter and our group's report. At the same time, thank you for everyone to go through this semester with me, even though I didn't get the chance to get to know more about everyone, but I can really feel everyone is very kind, nice and also hardworking. Finally, I want to thank my group members: Poosai and Jeanatte. Thank you for being my group member in helping me learn the professional communication through doing the research, writing the report and addressing the presentation.
This whole semester, the first priceless treasure for me is the academic pursuits and leadership development.
I have learned the diligence and high-efficiency from those outstanding classmates who I study with; I have learned the knowledge and methodology from the excellent and profound professors’ teaching and inculcation; I have learned the innovation and persistence from the projects that I have involved in, I have learned the confidence and profession from the presentations I have prepared and addressed.
Even though I am from the engineering faculty, I still engage in experiencing and nurturing the entrepreneurship spirit which is highly regarded by NUS. I have attended many business talks and training programs that help me extract the logical thinking and organizational method to develop and excavate my potential leadership ability.
This whole semester, the second priceless treasure for me is the community services and the volunteer projects I have engaged in. I belong to the Red Cross community.
Project Rice is the first activity organized by Red Cross that I have taken part in. It is a nationwide rice collection community service project, in which, the volunteers will be going around the housing estates in Singapore to collect rice donations. The collected rice will then be packed in accordance to 5kg packs and be distributed to the various beneficiaries around the shores of our tiny island.
The second one is “The Red Cross Home for the Disabled”. It is a nursing home run under the care of the Singapore Red Cross Society. Yearly, volunteers from the organisation will participate in the Chinese New Year celebration, sharing the joy and love of the New Year to the residents of the home.
The third one is the “Blood Donation Drive”. Did you know that there are only around 1% of active donors in Singapore? So with each academic year, blood donation drives are organized in support to the good cause to appeal for more donors.
The fourth one is the “Learning How to Serve The Society Workshop”. It aims to help us strengthen our awareness of the importance of serving the society and our confidence in building and developing the leadership ability by designing some games for us to achieve its object by heart.
This whole semester, the third priceless treasure for me is the friends I have made here.
I can say I am really lucky to make so many friends from different countries, different backgrounds and different cultures. We study together, we travel together, we go out together...... They play hard, but they study harder. I enhance my English ability because of them, I expand my global horizon because of them, my thought become more global-oriented because of them, I become more mentally mature because of them. So many things that I just can not list literally.
This whole semester, the fourth priceless treasure for me is the travelling experience I have gone through.
From Malaysia’s trip with 7 friends from 4 different countries to Thailand trip with 3 friends from 2 different countries, to Cambodia’s trip with just my best female friend from Spain, to Philippines’ trip with 4 friends from 3 different countries, the experience that I have gained is something that I can not learn from the books. We plan the whole trip ourselves, from deciding the route, to booking the tickets, to carrying the backpack to find the budget hostels, to taking the 10-hour bus sometimes, to sharing our perspectives and thoughts for some current affairs , to discussing about the interesting cultural difference, to dealing with some occasional difficulties and emergencies, to taking care with each other when someone is in trouble……I learn the independency and well-preparation when arranging the trip, I learn the calmness and patience when handling those sudden problems, I learn attendance and carefulness when watching out for each other. During those travelling time, I also met many people who have amazing and special backgrounds and stories, which gives me the motivation and courage to face every potential upcoming challenges and setbacks.
In conclusion, I learn one thing: Nothing is impossible if you want to give it a try!
Thank you very much for the detailed reflection, Vikki. I'm glad you took the opportunity to broaden your focus and relate your feelings about the whole semester.
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing time you have had! I'm impressed by your energy, the breadth of your interests, and your ability. For instance, you managed to keep up with your ES2007S work even while you were taking other modules, attending extra lectures, doing volunteer work and traveling the region. How admirable!
In our class, we've been glad to get to know you. Each of us has been lucky to hear your perspective on various issues during our discussions. That has certainly added another cultural dimension to those discussions. I also applaud you for being able to do so much work in a foreign language. That has put an extra burden on you, but you have met the challenge very well.
For now, Vikki, I want to thank you again for choosing to study with us and I wish you the best in your future. Good luck, and stay in touch!
Dear Vikki!
ReplyDeleteI liked your reflection. It not only states of how you have learnt so much from this module, but also how it's helped been part of your exchange here!
I think you are really confident and you have really improved in this module. I think your confidence in your oral presentation was great! You did not show any nervousness in your language barrier nor did you rely much on any notes! That was definitely a step out of your comfort zone.
I admire how you end with saying "Nothing is impossible if you want to give it a try!" This is really true! I wouldn't say that I would have had as much courage as you did if I was in your shoes. But I just want to let you know, that you are really inspiring and you each time I hear from you in class or read about your posts, I know that you are improving and taking effort to improve.
Glad you enjoyed your time here!
hi vikki,
ReplyDeleteHaha thank you for posting this photo! I think everyone looks so happy and relaxed.
I think your presentation was really good and i can totally imagine the amount of effort that you put in before that. I really know how difficult it is to learn a new language(especially speaking it!) so i was pretty impressed by your delivery on monday :D
I think with lots of more practises you will be able to communicate effectively with people from all nationalities as long as they speak English too!
Haha all the best for your future. Keep in touch k!
Dear Vikki,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photo too!
I recall the first time I spoke with you outside the class on the first day! You are the first person that I spoke with from this class and I am impressed by your friendliness and sociability. You have totally changed my perception of exchange students as I often thought that they will be rather quiet, being in a foreign environment!
As the class progressed and till Monday where I witnessed your presentation, I think that you have proved your capabilities in handling and overcoming challenges. Despite worrying that the audiences may not be able to understand your slang, you performed well in the presentation! I am proud of you Vikki. I am sure that with your determination and perseverance, you will be able to triumph over all obstacles in your way! You are a good example for me to look up to!
Cheers!
Hey Vikki,
ReplyDeleteLike Jane, Jing Yang and Michelle, I too thought your OP was impressive. You were very confident when you took "stage" and it seemed like there was nothing, really, to boil you down. Nothing did, eventually. I think you did wonderfully well in your OP.
As I read your reflection, I began to feel too that this was a closing to a chapter in our lives. Some of us didn't get a chance to know you better, but I know you're a very brave girl in a place far away from home, and you don't seem to be looking back. You braced your way forward.
All the best, Vikki, for your future endeavours. Nothing seems impossible for you.
Cheers!
Hey there fellow group mate!
ReplyDeleteWow Vikki! I'm really impressed by what you have done within such a short period of time! I hope you really enjoy your stay here and it's been a pleasure meeting you =)
Being your group mate for the past few months, you strike to me as someone who is patient, full of ideas and a good listener. Thank you for making the group meet-up more light-heartening and enjoyable!
Nothing is impossible! Way to go girl!
Hi Vikki!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have known you. I got to know so much about you and China! In fact, you have shown that language is not a barrier to express views. You have displayed so much confidence in your presentation!
Your post is already serving its purpose w.r.t. communication. It already enlightens us on the importance of volunteers for the blood donation drive :)
Yes, I never got a chance to work along with you in any assignments but i am going to miss bumping into you randomly in PGP! Do keep posting as we would love to get to know more about China and your hometown. Stay in touch! Good luck!
Hey Vikki!!
ReplyDeletethis is really a great post to read! You went beyond describing what you learned in ES2007S to your other valuable experiences within one short semester!! How apt it is to describe those experiences as treasures because they are really invaluable!
Through your active involvement in the Red Cross Society, I can see you are one passionate girl who is always ready to lend a helping hand to others! I must admit, I don't think I am that active in volunteer work as you. :x
I really loved hearing you share about your experiences and thoughts because they are always so unique, mind opening and enriching! You were never selfish in sharing to the class what you know. So a big thank you for the many opportunities to learn so much from you!
I am truly impressed by your oral presentation! I know you were a bit worried whether the class would understand you. Do not worry. You definitely brought your points across and never once did you falter in your confidence!
Take care and I know it is starting to sound a bit cliche but stay in touch ya! :)
Brad Blackstone:
ReplyDeleteHi,you are the first one to comment on my post again.
Thank you very much for this semester's teaching and help.
By the way, you are an old bald white man hiding in the back, you are the handsome energetic outstanding man pushing us to move forward!
Dear Jane:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and your compliment!
Please keep in touch in the future.
Dear shujuan05:
ReplyDeleteHi,pretty!
Thank you for your comment.
I saw Jaenatte's comment on your taste of clothes. I just want to say:"Couldn't agree more". All of your clothes are so beautiful and fashionable. You know what? Those clothes do fit you very well, and you really look very sexy!
Good night!
Dear Crackpot(Priya):
ReplyDeleteHi, Thank you very much for your comment. I will also miss bumping into you in PGP. Thank you again for helping me write down" Happy Birthday" for my friend in the super snack bar! I do hope we will run into each other in the future!
Good Night.
Dear aerputyh(Jaenatte):
ReplyDeleteHi,there, my dear buddy!
Thank you for being my blogging buddy and also group mate for this whole semester. I do like you, you are very kind and pretty! Thank you for having dinner with me last sunday evening and hope we can still keep in touch in the future!
Good night!
Dear JingYang:
ReplyDeleteHi,thank you for your comment.
We are the only Chinese students in this group, but your English is a lot better than me, which I am really ashamed of. But I will take you as a model to keep working on my English!
Maybe one day we can meet each other in China.
Thank you for the waffle you made at the super snack bar, it was the first time my waffle was full of chocolate and peanut butter haha.
Good night!
Dear Michelle:
ReplyDeleteHi,thank you for your comment.
You are the first one in this group who gave me the cellphone number in our first class! I also remember you are the first one whose post was praised by Brad and introduced to other group as a model to learn from!
In my impression, you are very kind, cute and beautiful. I also feel your love experience must be very sweet haha.
Anyway, really glad to meet you and keep in touch in the future!
Good night!
Hi,roarhaha(Roy):
ReplyDeleteHi, thank you for your comment.
According to what you have self-evaluated for your presentation, I can fully feel that you have a high requirement on yourself, which is good. It can help you move forward to your goal. But at the same time, you should also see the shinig part of what you have done, like in the presentation, you have already done a very good job!
Nice meeting you and keep in touch in the future!
Good night!
Hi vikki,
ReplyDeleteI was amazed that you remembered me that day at Supersnacks. When I saw you I wanted to smile and wave but I didn't want to take the first step in case you forgot me. In particular I didn't want to make a complete fool in front of my two friends sitting at the same table. But, now I am glad that you still remember the incident!