Updates on An Exploration of Symmetry

...and my horrible quiz performances...

Good new is at least one module is down, the online MOOC of Beauty, Form and Function: An Exploration of Symmetry. It finished in week 8, a relief as one module is off your shoulders and off your mind.

Now, for reviews on the online MOOC.
# Beauty, Form and Function: An Exploration of Symmetry

Take this module if you can. (readmore on details)

Little quirks

... and indulgences

I kinda like taking personality tests. Specific ones, like career-related, interaction-based, the Myers and Jung test in special mention.

I know to take many pinches and tosses of salt and pepper and pretty kaleidoscope lenses with the results that often come out, but quite often than not, (ew , my english) you can sieve out a few points that are good, are surprisingly on point, that open your mind to something you weren't consciously aware of, but now know is indeed true.

I especially like tests, that give you the range you are on and suggestions geared towards you - citing a leadership/personal discipline methods test I took in...Junior College, I think, if my fuzzy memory serves right.
It had pretty good suggestions and steps to take, what to try out more, to balance out.
That is the thing that struck me - how it encouraged more balancing, not so much need to change.

So, yes, recently took another survey thing, but I wasn't expecting it to be a survey that gave an analysis of you at the end - I simply thought it was a normal survey on university and career and various impressions on the career aspects related to the school - surveys for improvement basically.

Here's my results: ....

little organisational things...

... in applications

Just a little tip that you should always have a checklist, or a timeline, or a schedule - be it in school, work, or holiday even (unless you're in those tour-group holiday things).

For example, in university applications. There are a ton of new things you have to prepare for the school. And that's only in the applications phase. There is still the acceptance/matriculation phase after, which has all the nitty gritty little things - which are even more likely to be looked over if you're not careful to note down each step you need to do.
Every step matters a lot, from giving you your school network account (the must have in order to even school. no account, what work), to even applying for the tuition grant. (if you can pay less, of course you pay less.).

ASK. Always ask if you are not sure. Some times there may be odd phrasings that do not really makes crystal sense to you - ask first. Email. Or call up if you want to. All universities will have various hotlines up for various issues.

Job applications. 
Always remember first and foremost, relate it to the specific job. It's good that you already have one nice and spanky new resume - first step done. But if you look at one job and realise its specific needs make some of your information extra unrelated words - cut them down. Too much unrelated information will make employers uninterested. (Or become additional fodder for them to put you in a spot.)("How do you think this XXXX will help you?")

Prepare the necessary hard copies of things you may have sent the company via email. Prepare even your ID picture if neccessary.
What is needed - that's what you should take note of.
Maybe they require you to do a feedback after the interview - remember to do it within 24 hours.

In any case - always be active and take initiative. Don't be afraid of seeming a fool (unless you ask if the Earth is round).

Cheers
J

Post Rally feels...

... and when the emotional mind (aka Heart) ignores rationality. 

So basically, I started off quite okay, well, I didn't give as much awkward pauses and sounded, like I knew what I was talking. But after the first few questions, I started going downhill.
My flaw I learnt from this is that, I only think till I have all my points and am sure of my points, BUT - I do not pause to add on the extra step of HOW I will phrase those points into sentences - into sentences I can easily say out.

Yep. From that you can guess - I crapped up and could not answer smoothly. Not just with awkward gaps or pauses where I repeat words while trying to fill a sentence. I literally lost my point because my sentence escaped me.
Another point was how I mixed up a specific point with another - a miscomm and a mistake on my part. A big fat mistake.

NTU stuff

... like using the thingy apps from the intranet

UPDATE: When you wish to access say NTUlearn or say iNTU, the intranet - somehow for my computer I have to use different browsers.
There may be some drivers I do not have updated or installed, or plugins, - but I have not found out what yet.

For STARSplanner which did not load somehow (due to a stange setting in the login), I had to get Chrome on a last resort and tada. So.
Please use Chrome. Or IE.
Chrome seems to have most success so far.
Firefox least success. (UPDATE: it works well for the NTUlearn.)

Either that or my computer doesn't have certain drivers and programmes installed. Hmm.
But chrome works.

And STARS planner helps you a lot. No need for you to plan out on your own to make sense of the timings.
and you can easily mix and match around other possible mods to see if it is okay in your schedule.Always make sure you have a priority list, and at least another possible arrangement. Once STARwars start, there's no time to deliberate many days for a new arrangement or option - many will have vacancies all taken up and an insane waitlist. Keep trying everyday though, if you're aiming for a very desired course.

Yeah. that's all.

Seniors recommend to switch out the auto-given Econs ger-pre for something else, so I'm maybe hoping for Monsters (LA) or Forensics, but i think Forensics will be hot hot hot. Maybe Astronomy .

We'll see how next week.
At least now i know to use chrome.


Nyoom.

Aches, Burns, and Cuts

... oh my!

So, in my short long stint-not holiday from A-level graduation to University course initiations, another part-time job i roped myself into is working as a part-time barista at a certain FnB. So far I can say I feel intensely lucky to have been placed to the outlet I work at, as the people really are just one family, we all feel familiar and comfortable with each other, even with the Bosses - though we still each do our jobs well. :) The environment is great. Really, the people are <3.

It's the hours and toll that worry.

Having started some time in late April, the first few weeks I only worked 2-3 in a week, but as the Sea Games and various concerts occurred, the schedules grew thicker and more frequent as did the crowd. During the peak period of June, the days became 5-8 days in a row, though thankfully none full-day shifts.

Speaking of full-day shifts, it brings up one of my points, which is the somehow lacking number of full-time staff or managers we have. There are times where it is unfortunate timings and chance that leads to poor managers and full-time staff working full shifts in a row, sometimes reaching 3-4 times.

Working as a barista, your arms and legs are always busy. Your hands undergo rapidly changing environments, from ice to water, from hot glasses to harsh soaps - precautions may be taken, but eventually your hands do turn dry and cracked. Standing is 70% of our job, walking the other large percent, and sitting is maybe those precious break times. I basically worry for the health of our people.

Asians. A lot of us have the stubborn quality. To not waste, to not accept weakness, to strive to get a job done. Sometimes, no matter how tired, we stubbornly hang on till we are close to not being able to even hold on to. A lot of staff end up with little self time - or said self time are spent barely resting and then back to work they go. Family time is reduced, severely, especially for people who work full shifts, going out and coming back at odd hours.
Okay, exaggeration may be there but still it has merit that i feel that burdens should be lessened and more staff should be more aggressively found. But words are words that do nothing.

Like now, I too am leaving the job for school and hopefully i can still help out whenever.

one down so far

... another yet upcoming

So last week I went for my scholarship interview for the NTU's College scholarship. Hopefully this gives some help to any future hopefuls who Google the appropriate keywords.

As usual, for interviews or anything in life really, the basic level of preparation is always advised. No need to overly research and memorise - for that would defeat the purpose of an interview where interviewers get to have their own first-hand view on what your character is like and reaction and mindsets etc : all that would be useless if you drilled yourself for every question. (Those of us students who have undergone Project Work Oral Presentation (OP), remember that the drilling for OP is different - for that every level of preparedness is expected and well-benefiting in the end - trust me, you don't want to flounder)
The interviewers will be able to tell if you overly prepared for it; NOT that that is bad but it is just one thing to consider.

Anyway, it was held in conjunction (or it just so happened to be) with the Tea Session with the NTU President, so i took the time to stroll and just chitchat with the professors and student volunteers there, as well as some other fellow interviewees.

Interview time came, entered a quiet room (okay not that literally quiet what with talking) that had 3-4 sectioned-off corners (well, a typical room has 4 corners, yes). Directed to one corner, behind the panel sat two gentlemen, whom i realised I never got their names. Oh wells. It would have been nice to know exactly who is interviewing you - you could ask i guess.

They started off with a simple question of "What is a scholarship to you?" or something along those lines.
I spoke frankly that it is essentially in the very basic level what it is: covering monetary needs so as to relieve of one burden at least, which is to me already a big deal as I do not want to siphon my parents' money if I can get the opportunity not to.

The rest just dithered off into various topics including (and not limited to): What I was going to pursue, What I have been doing, What will I do with the scholarship if given, (and because i expressed interest in teaching,) What i learnt in class.

It really was a back-forth kind of thing as the interviewers also gave me some tips on teaching and things to consider and warn me of next time when dealing with some situations, and also told me more about scholarships and the flexibility involved.

NOTE: Be careful what you say each time you respond, for one theme i noticed was that in this interview it is less rigid than some I have had in previous years, more of a literal back forth chat, and they use points that you bring up in a previous answer to carry on another question.
Occasionally they do refer to your application too, so do read up and remember what you wrote in your essay yeah? They will ask you to back up your words or give example to further elaborate/substantiate.

Oh, I asked them a few things, including what were they looking for for the scholarship holders and for goodness sake the guy replied cheekily "What do you think/Who do you think deserves a scholarship?" Aw, be like that. Haha.

All in all, less rigid interview than some others, depth-wise is moderate. Don't panic, don't give ..undesirable answers (common sense is basically key) and no worries!
((Honestly, I suffered from my usual cold and stuttering again but I did my best to lessen it and the gentlemen were kind enough to ignore it, thank you))

============

Anway, above is the main interview content.
Met several Profs that I recognised from previous tea session in end Jan, met some friends there for the tea session too, and gosh, the freebies given were a lot and very useful. Haha, immediately replaced my card holder. And there was a NTU bluetooth headset - haven't tested it out yet though.

I'm due for my MOE Award interview soon so wish me luck there too. Knowing my luck, they will ask plenty of current issues which are not my area as I rather dislike such topics that basically deals with unhappiness - but hey, can't escape them, can we?

Cheers

honest opinions

...in Classrooms and Life

When I recently did a "Last lesson of Module" survey recently, for my class of primary kids, I realised an important thing: Feedback is Gold.

It was always a logical thing, that yes, of course feedback is useful, that is the point of it, check the definition. 

But it is another to realise it, and truly appreciate it with personal understanding.

It is rare to get responses in most classes as the students grow up, as they become ... afraid of voicing out. At least for me, in all that I've seen so far in my short life as yet.

Response is: ((by googling, first result)) 

an answer, a reaction to something. 

For me with kind of shaky confidence ((read, false bravado all the time)) I may logically convince myself that I did fine, but hearing the strong response of how much they enjoyed it was a ... surprising wave of relief that went through. I had not failed so terribly. The coin or shoe i was expecting to drop, for now, will not. 

When asked, any suggestion for future? A typical class of say, 16 year olds, may not bother giving truly what they think, or maybe it is because they overthink. Most resort to politically correct answers, or a simple NIL.

I immediately had hands up here and there, and responses were, very frank. 

"Could you make it more interesting?" 

"Speak more clearly next time!"

"Make it more exciting!"

"Let us do something simpler please."

"I want to play with the updated version!"

Some made me realise with embarrassment "Oh no, i hadn't been speaking nor enunciating clearly enough!" and "....how does one both give advanced and simple?" and "Yikes, I've been too boring..."...

Some really sent an arrow through my paper-thin pride. ((Well, at least there wasn't much to fall from so no great damages there)). But i was grateful. 

It is because they responded so frankly that i got to see what THEY thought. We are each individuals, unique, and try as might, we MAY be able to anticipate, infer, predict, cater to, but never definitely, for humans are... with free will and judgement. 

The point of feedback is not to make everyone happy - impossible, without extremes - but to understand, and siphon out what we can learn from it. Responses are NOT commands we MUST OBEY, rather, they are little insights people give to their inner thoughts. 

We learn that some characters may require such methods, some may prefer a different way, or hey! that's a mistake I will endeavor not to repeat! 

Hopefully, not so many will keep losing their willingness to contribute so fast, so early. Or that many more encourage the will to respond.