Mid-Term Update

Recess week is finally here but looking at my calendar, it seems not much of a difference. School is still a daily affair.

These 7 weeks were exhausting. Rushing through assignments, numerous project discussions and case studies. Things doesn't seem to stop, with the passing of a deadline, another appear.

Last week was especially trying. I had to read up on 2 case studies, helping my group mate to prepare a debate and project discussions. I spent the holiday plonked in-front of my monitor screen rushing through my Java assignment. No, you don't have to tell me how lifeless I am.

Java assignment, I'm glad it's finally over. Headed over to school at 11pm to submit the hard copy. Hard copy submission was tomorrow but I'm too lazy to wake up early for submission. Over school, met my friends who are still furiously tapping the keyboard, codes appearing at the speed of thought.

2 of them had prior experience with Java and 1 was working as a programmer before school starts. I tried to help them but the thing with programming is, given the same scenario, there are many possibilities in solving it. I gave them my code but it differs too much to be of any help.

Looking back, I seem to have given up a lot to meet my school commitments. I was shortlisted after an interview for the post of Sponsorship Executive for a Red Cross event organized by my school chapter. It was one of the many hell weeks during that point of time and I had to let go of this opportunity.

4 years of hectic school lifestyle. I'm not sure if I can stomach this.

Will be posting pictures of the latest TB030 adventure in Facebook soon. :)

Calculus

I realize I do love Calculus. Every questions completed correctly give me a sense of satisfaction.

With additional mathematics background, I should have loved it to bits but I did not. Solely because I don't have a good head start in this subject back. Many beg to differ, but I didn't have a good mathematics teacher back then to generate my interest.

Not that I have a good teacher now though. This Professor of mine like most mathematics teachers, love to talk to themselves. Sometimes you wonder if he is teaching you or just trying to solve the problem on his own.

If we have a year like when we were in secondary school to study this subject, I will probably do very well for this subject. Interest overcomes everything.

It's a blessing I have someone close as a personal tutor.

National Service: Afterthought

Collecting my pink IC on Tuesday, it occurred to me no matter how prized it is by NSFs, at the end of the day it is just an ordinary identity card. Was national service all about collecting this pink card that we so unwillingly surrendered upon enlistment?

I dreaded national service for it deprived me of an early university education at the prime of my time. But it's a higher calling that I grew to accept and probably the source of my discontentment with foreigners who so easily gained Singapore citizenship without having to serve national service.

In all honesty, I gained much from national service, to be specific, when I was in the Air Force. Working life here isn't without its ugly side. Office politics fill every corner of the workplace, but the same goes for every jobs available outside. Being a male-dominated workforce, it is inevitable for people to work using their ego. However, at the end of the day, politics and a little of relationship-tugging do get the work done quite efficiently.

Knowing your purpose in what you are doing, you tend to work with a little more pride. This was the case for me. I don't mind sacrificing a little of my personal time just to get work done properly.

Looking back the past 2 years,

Sep 06 - Enlisted at Basic Military School 1 ('H' Coy) as a Recruit
Dec 06 - Passed out from Basic Military School as Private
Dec 06 - Entered School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC, 'H' Coy) for Basic Section Leader Course
Mar 07 - Completed my graduating 28km route march
Mar 07 - Passed out from SISPEC as Corporal
Mar 07 - Entered Air Force School for Air Defence Weapon Specialist Course
May 07 - Passed out from Air Force School as Third Sergeant (3SG)

And my achievements,

May 07 - Master of Ceremonies for 42th ADSS Graduating Ceremony
Jan 08 - Master of Ceremonies for unit's Change of Command Ceremony
Mar 08 - Awarded Outstanding Serviceman of the Month
May 08 - Awarded Outstanding Serviceman of the Year
Jun 08 - Nominated for Best Serviceman (Air Defence System Specialist) Award
Jun 08 - Article on Manpower Initiatives in the Air Force selected for publication
Aug 08 - Awarded Letter of Commendation for Good Achievement and Performance from Brigadier-General Wong H.S.

All these would not have been possible without a supportive and understanding superior.


At the end of the day, it's knowing you have made a positive impact on others

The ride out of camp was a difficult one. Saying goodbye to colleagues and packing my personal belongings, my heart felt heavy to part a place which I had spent my 1.5 years.

I probably won't be coming back here again in the next 4 years and the experience will be very much different coming back as a reservist.

People often find it unbelievable there is actually someone who sings positively for national service. I enjoyed my national service and I am proud to share it.

Time to move on.

ORD Lo!

Day and night, I hoped this day will come soon. Now, at its arrival, there is this bitterness in me. I enjoyed my days in Air Force, doing what I like and putting in my best effort.

I did not collect my civilian IC today. No, I am not that insane to give up on civilian life. I had a full day in school today, as such, I will collect it tomorrow.

I had my first presentation last week. I spent 1 week to touch up on the slides as if my life depends on it (indeed, it does). Before this, the last presentation I had was with TB030 for final year project. But for now, it's a sole presentation.

I think NS and SMU has changed me. I speak so naturally that I find it hardly nature of me. For Question and Answer, I answered all questions bombarded at me and after the presentation, I was on cloud nine. The email sent my Professor on my presentation made the effort even worthwhile.

Time to head back to my assignments. Ciao.

Serenity, where are you.

Barely 3 weeks into school, the rate of projects, assignments and research are piling up exponentially, waiting to be done.

On certain days, you are just contented with 4 hours of sleep. To have 5 hours of sleep is a miracle that you pray each day.

The dreadful truth that you spend three-quarter of your time in school and the remaining time for meals and sleep at home hits you now and then.

You feel yourself crumbling away mentally, emotionally and physically from the mounting pressure. You ponder, would you emerge stronger or just fade into darkness from this episode?

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. :)

It felt like school has already started ....

It almost felt like school has started looking at my last week's calendar,

22 Jul - Library Orientation
24 Jul - Meeting with group members from faculty camp at Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar
25 Jul - Career Services Orientation
26 Jul - SMU Challenge Briefing for sub-committee members

I appreciate the efforts undertook by my faculty camp facilitators to arrange for a gathering prior to the camp itself. Thus, I did not give it a miss in spite the fact that it was also my Air Force coursemates' ORD gathering at Downtown East. Just a little disappointed that I had to leave half-way through the gathering.

The seniors shared with us their experiences in school and also some essential information. Some bits and pieces,

- Where to get hot shower in school (Sleepovers in school are normal for SIS students)
- Get a locker (To keep your toiletries)
- 'Compulsory' double majors for SIS students (You won't want to be interviewed by the Dean)

I didn't really find the the Career Services Orientation helpful. We were introduced to our counsellors and the Dean of Students, history of SMU and some personality profiling technique. All these can be done online but because we are 'different' so we did a physical briefing for that.

Mentioned in my earlier post, students are required to fulfill 80 hours of community involvement. I signed myself up for SMU Challenge and attended a briefing last Saturday. A little more about SMU Challenge,

SMU Challenge: Cyclethon 2008 will be a charity event organized by the Singapore Management University Student Association Council (SMU-SAC). The concept of the event is to have participants cycling on 120 spinner bikes simultaneously in an attempt to clock as much distance as possible for 30 hours consecutively. This is because for every kilometer cycle, we will raise a dollar for charity. This amount will be pledged and donated by our donors.

In conjunction, we intend to emphasise and promote the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle amongst SMU students and the public by the means of static cycling. Cycling is a sport of relatively low intensity, and at the same time it exercises the largest muscles in the body. Similarly, static spinning is an unmatched way to make fitness goals a reality. With no complicated moves to learn, top-notch instructors and music that motivates you to pedal, exercising can never been more fun and enticing for all.

Do visit http://www.smuchallenge.org to know more about the event.

After the briefing, I took the opportunity to explore the campus. The gym is fabulous! Reminds me of California Gym (even though I have never to one). There's a pub or sort at the basement, Subway, Watsons, NTUC clinic, OCBC and UOB branches and a short distance walk from my school, there's Cathay.

For the next 3 days (Mon - Wed), I will be away for Freshmen Teambuilding (FTB) camp. I am not really looking forward to it but I do hope that at the end of the camp my impression will change for the better.

Farewell Dinner (22 Jul 08)

My office had a farewell dinner for the outgoing personnel, my fellow senior ops specialist, my buddy and myself, a few days back. In attendance were my Officers (MAJ Ang, CPT Lau, 2LT Wan) and fellow Specialists (MSG Lee, 1SG Lee, 3SG Tan and my 2 understudies).

Dinner was at an open-air restaurant located at a quiet residential area of Yishun, a stone's throw away from my camp.

Over food, we discussed on career prospects after national service and the usual military talks.

At the end of the dinner, we will made to give a farewell speech. I didn't really say much except to wish them luck during their tour of duty in the unit. No pun intended, really. The dinner was concluded with a few words of appreciation by my Operations Officer.

As much as I yearn for civilian life, a part of me still can't let go what I am doing now.

32 work days more to the end of my military life.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction Part 2 and Random Rants

Thanks to my wisdom teeth extraction, I spent my week at home, though it was rather unproductive. I don't think I did much except for catching up on my tv series.

I was told this time round the extraction will be harder to execute due to the position of the lower molar. But I thought otherwise. This dentist was more dedicated than the previous one. I realize for the operation, the pain isn't so much from the actual procedure but from the anesthesia injection. It was a strange and painful sensation having the needle piercing deeply through my oral cavity then the needle moving about within the cavity. Then, the traumatizing part of the drill bit drilling through the tooth which I shall not elaborate any further.

Post-procedure, I was only on painkiller for the day itself and back to solid food the next day. It's either the dentist is good or I'm numbed to the pain.

A month back, I was given a fine for not displaying a parking coupon. It was a honest mistake on my part and I was granted waiver for the fine. As a law abiding citizen, I paid the fine upfront while waiting for a response from the Housing and Development Board.

Until yesterday, I have yet to be reimbursed for the upfront payment even after sending a reminder email. In my line of work, I learnt that if thing doesn't go your way, always move up the chain of command. Thus,

From: Me
To: *Censored*
Cc: *Censored*
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: *Censored*


Dear *Censored*,

It has been 10 days since my last email (ref. appended email below) and I have yet to receive a reply from you.

I had made payment for the parking offence prior to the waiver granted by your office. As such, I believe there is an outstanding arrears of SGD30 in my favour.

I would appreciate your prompt action concerning this.

Thank you.


Yours sincerely,
*Censored*

The email was carbon copy sent to the Quality Service Manager and the general enquiry email of the branch. I received an apologetic call from them later. I guess it works somehow.

Recently, I received an email from my school students' group promoting the upcoming school camp for freshmen. Frankly speaking, I have never fancy school camps. To me, it's just a masquerade where everyone engages in silly ice-breaking games and pretends to have fun. To make it worse, my school is the only school that made the camp compulsory. Quoting from the email,

Please be reminded that attendance to *censored* is compulsory and individuals who fail to turn up without a valid reason will be imposed an extra 80 CIP hours.

In my university, it is a requirement to fulfill 80 hours of community service. I have no qualm with that since I enjoy volunteering.

But imposing an additional 80 hours (on top of the original 80 hours) to coerce attendance for the camp? That a despicable act.

Anyway, I received complimentary tickets for tomorrow's NDP Preview from my unit's HQ. Also, I was informed some time this year they might arranging a CH-47 Chinook joyride for us even though I am just a nominee for best airman. A happy closure to my numbered days in the Air Force as a NSF. :)