SMU Convocation 2008

Last Saturday was the Singapore Management University's Convocation ceremony. A little more details on the event,

Convocation is a formal event with all the pomp and ceremony, and SMU's Chancellor, Chairman, President and faculty in full academic regalia on hand to welcome the new students to SMU.

Dr Noeleen Heyser, Singapore 's first female Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and Her World Woman of the Year 2008 will be addressing you at this event. Get inspired and challenged as she shares with you her journey to reach where she is today.

Soak in all the festivities and energy from the special performances put up by your seniors, specially for you!

Join us at this memorable, once in a life-time symbolic event, together with your new-found friends, your seniors and your family as you embark on this next chapter of your life as a freshman at our University of Choice!

The opening performance by the university symphonic band - SMU Symphonia, was spectacular. You really have to be there to feel it, it was simply amazing.

After the event was formally over, we skipped the informal segment, where silly games are being played once again. Seriously, do they expect people to really have fun in in their formal attire?

Ended the day with a late lunch at Swensens.





More photos will be uploaded on Facebook.

School started on Monday and for 1st week of school I already have the overwhelming feeling with the projects and case studies lay out for you. I thought 'A' maths was a done deal back in Secondary School and now it's back to haunt me in Calculus module.

I really have to buck up now... *sigh*

Visit to Red Cross Home for the Disabled

As part of our participation in SMU Challenge, we visited Red Cross Home for the Disabled located at Elizabeth Drive.

We were divided into different groups and assigned with different tasks. My group was to perform for the elderly residents of the Home and prior to the visit, we learnt to sing a few songs, namely, 月亮代表我的心, 甜蜜蜜, Top of the World and Ji Pa Ban (Hokkien). I also doubled up as the AV guy in-charge of providing audio support.

For the first time in my life, I felt so helpless as I tried to communicate to the residents. Some laid motionless on the bed, some were able to respond with a smile and a few were able to carry out a normal conversation. I suddenly feel how fortunate most of us are, to be able to lead a normal life.

We helped with the cleaning of the Home after the performance. There wasn't much time left, but we managed to clean the doors, windows and the balcony grille.

It was a short 3 hours but it made me realize so much about the plight of the less privileged segment of the society.

SIS Faculty Camp and Academic Briefing

Went for my faculty "compulsory" camp a week back. I'm not naming the camp to prevent this entry from showing up in Google search.

As predicted, the camp was a flop, a sentiment shared by many. I'm not the kind who likes to engage in meaningless games and I spent the first day faking enjoyment. The only activity that is useful I felt was the food hunt, where we were given a list of food stalls in the vicinity of our school to explore.

Due to national service commitment, I was able to escape from staying overnight in school. There's plenty of chances to stay overnight on campus ground once school starts, why suffer now? ha.

The second night was performances putted up by the groups. I managed to escaped that too.

The academic briefing was held a day after the faculty camp. Nothing much out of the ordinary. There was a segment where the Chairperson of the course society gave a presentation. I can't help but feel an air of conceitedness in him. We are the first to do this, first to do that and thumbing down on societies from other faculties. Complacency is not the way to go, dude.

Like the other 2 local universities, SMU requires its students to bid for modules they wish to take. It was a stressful experience for me as I failed to secure the module (Technology and World Change) I wish to take in the first 2 bidding rounds, only at the last round did I manage to bid for it.

Modules I'm taking for the first term,

Technology and World Change
IS Software Foundations
Seminar on Information Systems Management
Calculus
Business, Government and Society

School starting next week, better get my engine started and running.

SMU Freshmen Teambuilding Camp 2008 - Step In and Be Challenged

The Freshmen Teambuilding (FTB) Camp is a rite of passage for SMU freshmen. As the name suggests, the main purpose of the camp is teambuilding and to inculcates the SMU CIRCLE values through a series of activities (not games).

I wasn't very eager to go for the camp initially. I have not slept in the wilderness since my days in the air force and I am more than happy to leave such outdoor lifestyle as memories of my days in national service.

BUT, after going through the camp, I'm sold. Learning the SMU CIRCLE values through activities can be rather cheesy but my group bonded nevertheless. And yes, no over-enthusiastic people in our group. *Sigh in relief*

The camp was held at Outward Bound School (East Coast Campus) and majority of the activities were ran by students. Out of the activities, I believe everyone enjoyed the raft building the most. Sadly, one of the barrels came loose after we attempted to board it.

The last night, we had a mini mambo night after the performances by the sections. It was almost spontaneous, everyone just danced to the blasted music.

The finale of the camp, perhaps the most tiring of all, was a game (enough of activities, finally!) that requires us to run all over East Coast Park completing different stations.



Activity that requires us to build the tallest 'foot' tower


The guys from ZestBobWing


Our completed raft


Will be meeting the guys at Convocation next week and at SMU bash at Zouk on the first week of school term. :)