Proposal: Problem Statement, Purpose Statement, Benefits. Draft 1.

Problem Statement

MICE industry in Singapore is set to expand at an unprecedented level, but the programmes offered by NUS may be insufficient to prepare students who are well placed to take up major positions in this industry. This is especially in terms of ensuring that students have the awareness and skills to handle the communication needs that are needed in this industry.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this proposal is to first convince the NUSEU that a large number of NUS students may not necessarily have the right soft skills to adapt immediately to the MICE industry. Our primary research has shown that fresh graduates, in general, tend to be inexperienced in reading others' and being self-aware of one's own body language (non-verbal cues), in negotiation and persuasion skills.

Hence there is a need to introduce a new module that provides students with the written, verbal and non-verbal skills that they may require for this industry. Hence, when the NUS gradautes enter the industry, they may find themselves at a competitive advantage.

Benefits

The introduction of such a module would greatly benefit those students interested in entering the MICE industry. This is not only a growing sector but is also the tourism sector fresh graduates looking for a white collar job, would most likely be associated with, either directly or indirectly.The module that we hope to propose will address this incongruity in the needs of the tourism industry and those possessed by fresh undergraduates. While a large reason for this lack of knowledge can probably be attributed to their lack of first hand work experience, such a module can provide as a foundation for them to be at a better position to understand and grasp the needs of the MICE industry. While this is module caters to the communication needs required in the MICE industry, the skills learned can be applied to many other sectors.

Job Cover letter Draft 2

February 21, 2010

(Name of recipient)

(Designation)

(Company)

Dear (Name),

It is with keen interest that I write this in response to the BIP advertisement placed on The Straits Times. Kindly give me this opportunity to describe myself and my interest in this position.

I will be graduating in June of 2010 from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelors Degree in Bioengineering (Honors). During the course of my degree, I have gained many skills, theoretical and practical, relevant to the position I am applying for. My Honor’s Dissertation provided me with vast experience in cell culturing, staining and imaging. I also gained great insight on the operation of FACS, Confocal and Fluorescence Microscope and the synthesis of PDMS. This project showed me the importance of patience, perseverance and, most importantly, the significance of honesty and transparency in expediting the progress of research.

As an intern, with Applied Biosystems Asia Pte Ltd in 2008, I had to independently conduct the ‘Verification and Validation’ (V&V) of their Polymer Chain Reaction (PCR) machines. This deepened my understanding on V&V and broadened my knowledge on PCR process, the dyes used and the mechanism of the machines. I have also had the humbling experience of working as a Customer Service Officer for the CPF Board in 2006. I was able to polish my interpersonal communication skills by interacting with people from diverse socio-economic background. I also showed initiative in proposing specific policy revision, based on customer feedback. Consequently, in recognition of my competency, I was given the added responsibility of training new staff.

New and challenging activities have always enticed me. I joined NUS Capoeira Club to train my mental and physical endurance and to widen my cultural knowledge. As the Welfare Head of NUS Capoeira, I organize various bonding sessions. I was also passionately active in ‘Students Against the Violation of Earth (SAVE)’. From organizing various events, including Green Carnival, I was part of the campaigning, marketing and logistic committee and was chosen to be the Master of Ceremony on several occasions. Despite being just a SAVE member, I was awarded the prestigious NUS Student Achievement Award ‘09. This, to me, is a testimony to my hard work, dedication and commitment towards any project. I was also the Costume Designer of Yatra, a fund raising Indian Musical event. The daunting task of working on a shoe string budget with no prior experience was challenging and exciting. My determination and hard work paid off when I was awarded another prestigious NUS Student Achievement Award ’09 for Yatra. In 2005, I was the Vice President of Science Society during which I honed my leadership skills. I also got to co-chair SCIesta, a day-long camp involving for 150 students. These experiences trained me to multi-task, co-ordinate and lead.

I am a hard working, sincere and dedicated individual with the desire and the attitude to learn quickly. While, I can be a team player, motivating my peers towards a common goal, I also have the confidence to work independently. And I am sincerely interested in this internship program as the practical skills mentioned in the advertisement are relevant and appealing. As holistic as the NUS Bioengineering program may be, it falls shy in providing students certain areas of knowledge and experience; knowledge and skills that this internship program will provide.

If I have not convinced you enough on my desire or worth of taking up this internship, kindly grant me the opportunity to discuss this with you. My contact details are listed below. I look forward to hearing a positive reply from you.

Warm Regards,

Lalitha Lakshmi Ramkumr

Block ###, ##-###,

@$%$@ ##, S(#####)

Email: @#%*%#@gmail.com

HP: +65-#####

Help me understand.

One thing that has always baffled me is the stark difference in the amount of student-to-teacher interaction during a class session. Allow me to explain what I mean by this.

I am sure you’ll have been to tutorials with students of Indian nationality. Have you’ll ever noticed that quite a number of these Indians tend to be more “interactive” during class? And by “interactive” I mean that they tend to show less hesitation to either pose a question or respond to the tutor’s questions. This habit, I believe, stems from the Indian educational system. I studied in India for thirteen years. In India, by the time the tutor (or teacher, as we address them) gets to finish her question, the vast majority of the class would have raised their hands yearning for the chance to respond. And mind you, not all of us always knew the right answer. Yet, we always had an itch for our opinion or comment to be heard. Having studied under such an environment in five different schools, in different parts for India, I had assumed this to be the norm in every school.

Little did I know that I was in for a surprise. When I shifted to Singapore, during the first 2-3 weeks in my secondary school, I would instinctively raise my hand, eager to answer any question posed by the tutor. Neither did I hesitate to clear my query or request the tutor to repeat a concept or principle which I had not understood. This all may make me sound demanding but this was out of habit. By participating in all these, I am showing my interest and hence in an indirect way showing respect to the tutor. But soon I began to notice that my classmates rarely attempted to respond to the tutor. And this was in spite of having the tutorial answer in their hands. This utterly puzzled me. I could not comprehend why my classmates would not answer.

And I believe, this is not just my secondary school or, to a lesser extent, my junior college. I have spoken to many of my Singaporean friends about this and they are either guilty themselves or have come across such similar scenarios.

Here’s my question; why would you not offer to answer a question if you have the answer with you? Why would you not let the tutor know that you do not follow what he is saying? And worse, choose to complain about how incompetent he is at teaching? It can't be indifference towards class discussion, right? I have tried speculating many possible reasons for this. Maybe this is just the norm. Maybe it is the fear of saying the wrong thing. This anxiousness may come from the cautious tendency many Singaporeans have. Maybe it is the fear of being jeered at for “talking” too much during lecture. So those who want to get the ball rolling may start feeling like they are gossiped about and hence may quite down. Maybe it is purely out of respect. Maybe they do not want to interrupt the class by asking a question; the answer for which, they believe, their classmates know. Or maybe it is their inner belief that if they go home and read up on their own, they will eventually understand it. Such an independent streak and self-belief is honed at a very young age by many Singaporeans. I do not mean to offend anyone from this post. It is just my observation and my (possibly ignorant) opinion.

Unfortunately or not, over the years I have began to follow suit and have drastically reduced my “input” during a tutorial. Even though I may have accepted and adopted this norm, I have yet to fully comprehend it. Enlighten me please with your comments on this.

Application Letter Draft #1.

Background: This is an application letter for a research-based internship publicized in the newspaper.

XYZ Internship Programme

Centros Company

13 Biopolis Centre

Singapore 570113

Dear Ms. Smith,

This is in response to XYZ Internship Program advertised in the The Straits Times. Attached is my resume and supporting certificates as per requested. Kindly inform me if there is any additional information required of me.

I am currently doing my Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering and am expecting to graduate in June 2010. Through my curriculum, I have gained both theoretical knowledge and practical experience on skills relevant to the internship, such as cell culturing and imaging. Through my final year project, I gained considerable practice and knowledge in culturing and imaging techniques. Moreover, through the project I learnt to be a better team player. It taught me the importance of honesty and transparency, to expedite the progress of research, and the importance of interacting with people from different areas of expertise to gain varied opinions on the same project. I have also learnt to show great amount of perseverance from this experience.

My vast CCA experience has made me a fair team player with commendable people-skills. I was able to improve on my leadership skills through projects like the Green Carnival (’08 and ’09) which involved introducing university wide changes to introduce a more environmentally friendly collegiate life. I also got to co-chair SCIesta, a day-long camp involving for 150 students. These experiences trained me to multi-task, co-ordinate and lead.

I am sincerely interested in this internship program as the practical skills mentioned in the advertisement are relevant and appealing. As holistic as the NUS Bioengineering program can be, it falls shy in providing students certain areas of knowledge and experience; knowledge and skills that this internship program promises to provide.

If I have not convinced you enough on my desire or worth of taking up this internship, kindly give me a chance to meet you. You shall not regret it.

Warm Regards,

Lalitha

(+65-91819464)

What I shall do.

Since this is an ongoing problem, I can only suggest the possible course of action that I intend take. Based on my friend's feedback..

1. I will hear out my father’s point of view; the entire argument. Reflecting back I now realize that out of frustration I tend to interrupt my father’s argument with my own without actually hearing him out. This bad habit of mine needs to stop!! I shall ask him more questions to better understand where he comes from. As Kenny had suggested, this would not only show my father that I am not only trying to understand his view point, but I am also respecting it by listening to it thoroughly.

2. I shall come with a plan for the next couple of years. (Thanks Jiv n Ken!) This would include for what duration I intend to work, when I intend to do my GMAT, when I intend to do my higher studies and possibly include where. This would give my father and myself a clearer picture of my plans.

3. Explain clearly and patiently to my father why I feel working first would be better for me. I would like him to fully understand this and how this is what would work best for me.

Thanks for your suggestions and support! =)

What do I do???

I am currently in my graduating semester. While I can’t wait to get out of NUS, I am still quite confused over whether I should start working right after graduation or continue my studies for a graduate degree. And this is where my father and I often log heads.

Personally, I would prefer to start working. I want to gain more work experience. I want to take chances and try working in different environment. Through this I hope to figure out what working style would suit me best. And I want to gain a better insight and understanding of what the various departments in the company does. Based on all this, I hope to be able to make a wiser decision in choosing the type of graduate degree program. Especially, since I am considering the possibility of changing my major for my graduate degree.

My father though is a little anxious about this. He is worried that if I do take a break from my studies, I may loose interest in pursuing a graduate degree. He is also worried that if I take a break I may find it more of a challenge to adapt back to the “learning mode”. Moreover, his values and views are strongly affected by the Indian culture. And in India, the vast majority of undergraduate students leap straight into their graduate studies. So part of his argument is that if the crowd follows a path, there has to be some valid reasoning behind it.

So my father and I keep going back and forth with our arguments. I do respect my father’s view. After all he is much more experienced and has my well being at heart. But I really would prefer working first. This is not only due to my reasoning mentioned above; I also have this nagging inexplicable “gut instinct” that working is what would be right for me. I do believe that he would ultimately give me the freedom of choice, but I would definitely prefer it if I could get his whole-hearted approval. Do you think my arguments are valid or reasonable enough? Or does is father’s concern more valid? How else could I make my father see my way?

Past. Present. Future. (Post for Week 2)

5 cities. 8 schools. 13 homes. This is the story of my life. My father had a transferable job, so relocation has always been an intimate part of my life. The immeasureable number of experiences from this constant change has made me who I am today. As exciting as it may sound now, I did have my fair share of challenges and difficulties. With each new journey, I was thrust into a completely new environment. I had to make new friends fast, understand the new educational system, learn the regional language and readjust to the new culture and lifestyle. In retrospect, it was during this transition period that I began to realize the importance of interpersonal relations and honest and open communication. I learned soon enough that having the support of one’s friends and the understanding of teachers made this transition a lot smoother.

In the more recent past, I’ve been intrigued about how people form opinions about others. What makes Goh Chok Tong or Barack Obama such great orators? What makes Jennifer Aniston the more popular “friend”, or Jim Jones (of Jonestown) such a compelling leader? At the common denominator, they are all effective communicators. They are able invoke from their audience the type of response they desire.

This led me to a good deal of self-reflection and self-awareness. I wanted to go a step further by bringing these subconscious subtleties (often manifested in what I often referred to as ‘gut instinct’) to a conscious level. I started reading books on body language. For instance, now I realize that the self-inflicted jokes that I so naively used to crack to “break the ice” when I was young, showed my vulnerable side, making me appear more human to my new classmates and hence more approachable.

I have just so much more to learn and realize about good communication skills, that taking this module seems like a natural choice to me. This is especially important to me for two main reasons. When I enter the working world soon, I know that through hard work and sheer determination, I would be able to grasp the technical skills required. But it is the more elusive soft skills that to me are of true value which (hopefully) would distinguish me as a leader. And isn’t good communication a mark of a good leader? And another important reason is that I want to travel the world, visit different places from the conventional to the exotic. I want to learn more about the different culture and get to know the people who live there. By improving on my communication skills and by being more aware of the non-verbal signals produced, I hope to make these trips more insightful and memorable.