Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Before O-week starts
It has been a rather long time since my last article for I've been held up by a number of time-consuming events for the past fortnight. First of all, this is my first article following my 21st birthday which fell on the nineteenth of July! Frankly speaking, I still do not feel twenty-one even thought it has been more than a week ever since my birthday.
The next two weeks is going to be a busy period for me. O-Week, Rag, Flag and much more, I really do not know if I'm going to have the time for my own reading and blogging! USP Camp (17-20th July) was fun, where we had quality bonding (only about 70 freshies) in an idyllic setting (Pasir Ris Home Team Chalet). I do not have pictures at the moment but I'll try to get them from my seniors as soon as possible. Imagine 80 USP students BBQ-ing and dancing along Pasir Ris Park, occupying a breadth of up to four Olympic-sized swimming pools! In addition, I celebrated my passage into adulthood during the camp, where the entire USP community sang birthday greetings for me! (Unfortunately there was no cake but we had lots of food from the BBQ!!!) Which other FOC has such a luxury to occupy a large space, considering that they've up to 300 freshies to accommodate?
I'm now in a dilemma with regards to what I really want to study for the next four years. My passion for environmental chemistry has made me consider the choice of majoring in Applied Chemistry, one of the toughest courses offered in the Faculty of Science. However, they only take in 50 students a year, subject to their performance in CM1161 (Principles of Chemical Processes) which will be taught in the second semester. If I choose to embark and successfully join the Applied Chemistry course, my job options may range from pharmaceutical, petrochemical, environmental, materials, semicons and so on!
On the other hand, I can diversify my skills and job opportunities if I take up a second major. For example, if I choose my second major in Mathematics, I'll have access to careers like teaching and finance. However this means my first major will be simply a general Chemistry course with no special specialisations.
So which path should I take? This is a horrible choice to make when you realise you "love" more than one subject of interest equally.
This week will kick off with the Matriculation Fair. This means more decisions to make with regards to what CCA should I join and commit for(apart from the University Scholar's Club). I consider CCAs a better avenue to expand my social circle as compared to large scale FOCs (such as the Union, Faculty or Hall level). A common passion in a particular hobby will allow for better bonding among peers considering that one would help the other improve one's interest and proficiency in the hobby that one pursues. Hence, I've told many of my peers that I consider Union Camp the most useless camp in NUS because the possibility of your OG-mate being your project / work / CCA mate is extremely low as compared to your Faculty or Hall-mate. In addition, the ability to sustain the interaction with your OG-mate is more difficult at the Union Level as compared to the Faculty, Hall or CCA level. Yes, most of my peers have swiftly rebutted my statement because one does not know who will become your true friend or partner in the years to come, and that it is no harm knowing even more people. Back to my point about the choice of CCAs, I've to choose very carefully in such a way that I can give my optimal level of commitment to the club, and that such a level of commitment does not affect my ability to manage the heavy academic workload especially if I choose to pursue a double major.
USP O-week will be equally crucial as I'll get to finally understand the academic structure of the USP. In addition, I'd need to clarify my graduation requirements with focus on my faculty and Unrestricted electives (UEs). I'll be assigned to a professor (or known as "Academic Advisor") who'll watch on me carefully for the next four years. The information that I've just stated is just one of many issues to consider.
So for now, I'm off for the night, as I start to prepare for O-week and more importantly, bidding for modules....
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zeligdhilee breaking the MUSIC.
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Thursday, July 05, 2007
July Blues
Yes peers, I'm suffering from July Blues right now. What does "July Blues" first mean to me? My faithful readers will first know that this month is my birthday month! The "Blues" come in as I realise that I am indeed getting older and older each day. Birthday celebrations may be a fun thing and a useful tool of maintaining friendships, birthdays also means increased responsibilities. For example, a person turning twenty-one passes into adulthood. To symbolise his passing into adulthood, he is given the "key" to independence. Yes, the birthday cake is often shaped as a "key". It is a key that one cannot throw away, which will follow us till death. Such a "key" symbolises the opening the formless access to one's real life. It symbolises the rising of an individual to decide how he wants his "house" or life to be. So whenever every birthday passes, I reflect upon myself on a single issue: How do I make full use of my life in the upcoming year?
I do not wish to answer this question at this moment. Nevertheless, it'll take a very drastic and dramatic event to change my perception towards life, friendship and academics each time I pass the nineteenth of July. Incidentally, USP's Freshmen Orientation Camp (FOC) is held from the 17th to the 20th of July. Having both a university-based camp and celebrating your birthday at the same time is a horrible nightmare. One would not know whether one will laugh or cry when his birthday passes. However, there is something I'm very sure that'll happen to me as a result of attending of USP's FOC. I'll definitely become a more sociable and confident person. The fundamental purposed of all university camps is the element of bonding. However, the element of bonding is often so overshadowed by the "fun" element which has been overemphasised in every single FOC in NUS. I wonder why seniors use the word "fun" before "bonding". Why do we have to incorporate "fun" into "bonding"? What exactly does "fun" mean? Yes, these are the kind of things that is integral to life in the USP. We question everything from the abstract to the obscure.
July Blues is certainly occurring in this Second Special Term. General Biology isn't very easy to conceptualize as things get more abstract. DNA replication, Biotechnology and Gene Expression are just one of many issues that make me even more confused these days. I've three assignments to complete which requires to do some reading. LSM1301 is a relatively easy module. Given its open-book nature and its tricky MCQs, it is imperative that I must get my A grade in the most ruthless way possible. Of course, one must also look at the brighter side of this module, and hence, I've some pictures to show you all:
DNA Replication in progress
For your information, these glowfish you see are not for sale as they've not been approved for sale as ornamental fish by the AVA. Hence, stealing of such fish from the Life Sciences Lab is a serious civil offence. In case you were wondering, these glowfish are an invention of a NUS Life Sciences professor. Check this link out to find out more about the use of DNA in the process of growing these 'glowfish'.
More pictures of the glowfish for you to enjoy:
And all of us have free beer to take home! Fermented right in our Life Sciences Lab!
So I think it's time for me to drink away my sorrows, but I'd have to wait for another 14 days (secondary fermentation)!
Good night for now!
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zeligdhilee breaking the MUSIC.
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