A Long Chat with Mum

I always feel very blessed to have my mum and dad working in the corporate sector for years, as they are always able to provide me with a great perspective on issues pertaining to the working world. Just had a long chat with mum, which in fact is a very rare thing considering how busy we usually are, and I was speaking to her about the job market. I've always looked up to mum for her experience and critical thinking ability, and for all that she has gone through in life. Again, she provided me with great thoughts and encouragements, going through the different options for me, and weighing the pros and cons of each. I also talked to her about some of the possible plans I had for the future, and she was real supportive. With that assurance, I feel more comfortable with what's ahead. You know, often we get differing views and opinions from friends, but nothing beats views and opinions that come direct from the mum. It also helps that mum is always neutral and unbiased in her stand.

Mum adviced me to take what others say with a pinch of salt, as what really matters should really be what I feel is right. That is so true. I still remember how at least three different friends gave me the "what? why the government?!" response when I told them I was going to try the civil service internship programme. The problem was that when I ask back "why not?", they do not have an answer, so much so that I really don't know what the basis of their sentiments were. Now don't go thinking I'm writing some pro-government statement here or anything, because I'm neither pro nor anti. If you give me a good reason answer to my "why not?" question, I'll gladly accept your points and take them into consideration. Bottom line is, every view and opinion should come with a reason and a backing, and not just from simple hearsays and influences.

On random issues, 2 year old super weak laptop battery finally changed, I'm putting on toooooo much weight and hk is not going to help, the much forgotten exchange awards just made me richer, and I'm thinking of changing this blog skin. Change is always good :)

The Path Ahead

It's so true when I was told that life will suddenly be so aimless now that internship is over. Somehow or rather I still wake up around 8am everyday, and am still not used to the break in routine I was so used to for the past 2 months.

Suddenly, having been exposed to the 'working world', I'm starting to think much more about my future. I have always taken a 'one step at a time' and 'see how' approach to this matter, but I guess the internship has got me thinking ahead. What job? Which sector? What factors I really need to consider? What do I really want?

Having NEVER done well in my academics before, and having only improved my grades after my first sem in NUS, I have only just realised that I missed out on quite a few scholarship opportunities. You see, it has never crossed my mind that the words 'scholarships' and 'I' ever came together, but now that my results have miraculously started to improve, I started to realise that the two could now possibly come together. But then again, I don't have many semesters left, so ... yup a little too late perhaps. Oh well, be contented with what I have.

Speaking about the future, one thing's for sure though, is that I wouldn't want to be an insurance agent. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them, and I understand that insurance agents hold proper jobs too. But I guess its just not my type. You see, my army friend just messaged me out of nowhere after not speaking to him for almost 2-3 years. Not that I was doubting him or anything, but he took a very indirect approach, and finally after 15 minutes he identified himself as an insurance agent. To be honest, I wasn't scared at first, until he carried on and onabout this dealings, and then I saw his real agenda in messaging me. I sure don't want to be someone in his shoes, and sure do not want my friends to feel like how I just felt.

A Close to Another Chapter

Internship ended. I think I have been typing so much for the past few weeks, so much so that I'm feeling a little tired to type a long entry about internship. I have so much to say, but oh well.

Just simply, it was a wonderful experience. Not entirely perfect, but still a great one indeed. I saw more, I heard more, and I gained alot. I've got a much clearer picture of what lies ahead. Feeling a little strange now, as the daily routine for the past 8 weeks will come to a stop. I'm sure gonna miss some things.

Thinking about what lies ahead now, even after SEP in fact. It appears that I may forsake my one sem exemption, for reasons aplenty. Apparently, as much as how many of us diploma holders are now able to make it to local universities, we're still an obvious minority, which explains why some school systems are simply not catered for us.

Seven Down, One to Go

Tomorrow marks the end of my seventh week at internship, with one more to go next week. It seems like not too long ago that it started, yet at times it seems like its been a while, having gotten pretty used to the same routine every day.

I'm glad I took up an internship programme, instead of just a normal self-sourced internship. It definitely provided me with more than I asked for, in terms of insights of the different places we visited, as well as insights from the different levels of people we have met. The latter being the more valuable of course.

The pace has been picking up real fast since a couple of weeks back, and next week will definitely be even tighter and faster. I haven't really said much about my internship, and I probably will not. All I can say is that, I started off this internship with aims of getting a taste of the civil sector, and as much as how some things could have been better, the impression and experience has been pretty good, well more than pretty good actually. Of course, the path ahead would be clearer after my next stop, the private sector.

I always believe in keeping my options open, but I do have to admit though, that I'm currently swaying to one side.

" What's important is that an ideal job should not just encompass the work you love to do, but also the people whom you love to work with around you. "

Nice

This was digged out from my archives, something I wrote last year.

" eventhough we kept joking that we wanted to see each other again there next year, either to take more photographs or to get another chance at the good food, deep within we all know that we really wanna do well again so that we can get another taste of the ceremony next year "

I never once doubted them. The only doubt I had was perhaps on myself. Thankfully I was wrong. Looks like we kept to our word. Nice. What's nicer, is that more have joined us.

To be honest, it may just be a piece of paper in a couple of years time, but for now, I'll take whatever pride and pleasure it gives.

School All Over Again

Initially typed an entry yesterday, but not knowing that my Internet connection was lost, I pressed 'publish post', and then it went to the 'page cannot be found' page. Poof! My 20 minutes of typing gone.

So now, a very summarised version of that post. Work has been something like school all over again. The pace is picking up real fast, and deadlines coming in. Probably resulted in my absence from blogosphere, and also absence from almost the entire of Arts Camp. Overall, the going has been good so far for work, so I'm not complaining. As for Arts Camp, well done hg and team. My apologies for my absence.

Had a visit to the Tuas Incineration Plant today, and as strange as it may sound, it kinda made me realise that there are definitely still placess in Singapore I still haven't explored, and things in Singapore which I still didn't know of.