Final Reflection :)

It is amazing that I have survived ES2007S! I have never taken a module which requires so many written assignments, as I am weaker in languages compared to sciences. That is also a reason to why I dread taking arts module. But surprisingly, I do not regret taking this module despite of its heavy workload. I feel that this is the most fulfilling module I have taken in year 3. Throughout my course of study in NUS, ES2007S is the module which I am most engaged in speaking. It is also the first module which I have interacted with almost everyone in class! I feel that this class is able to be so engaging and enjoyable is in virtue of our instructor Brad, who has the courage of not conforming to the norm of teaching and thus making the lessons a different experience for us. Thanks Brad! :)

Throughout this module, I have learnt many invaluable communications skills which I think would help me in my future endeavors. If there was an extended module following ES2007S, I would definitely take it. This course has given me an opportunity to refine my writing skills through the weekly blog post. I find that blogging makes writing less distressing compared to writing a report.  I have learnt how to avoid misunderstanding by conveying information accurately, and enabling a two-way communication. Learning how to listen actively and to express proper non-verbal cues also allows me to interact with people better. I will continue to build on these interpersonal skills to establish long-lasting relationships.  

I have gained a lot of knowledge in the skills that will be important in the workplace and I will keep all the notes that I have been given. I have learnt better presentation skills during the peer teaching and in fact I have applied it on my UROPS presentation. It received positive feedbacks and I was thankful that I took this module! I believe the reason to why I have learnt so much is as we have been practicing the skills in almost every lesson. Being placed in different groups, I need to interact and work with people of different styles and characters. These experiences are steps to more effective communication with different people for me! 

A component in the module requires us to write a proposal for any improvement in NUS. I feel that this has led me to think critically which I was not used to be, and to be bold to explore new and creative ideas.  Our group was very glad that NUS Science Library and Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning showed great interest in our proposal on the “Implementation of compulsory Web of Science and Endnote learning for first year undergraduates”. Somehow I feel that my confidence level has increased after I gave the oral presentation too. :)  

Apart from the skills imparted to me in classroom, I have also learnt indirectly out of the class. The heavy workload is also an opportunity for me to increase my capacity as I learnt how to plan my work properly in order to meet the deadlines. Most of my blog posts were written when I had waiting time for my lab work and this led me to master multitasking!  

I believe that the efforts that I have put into these modules will not be put to waste. I am very happy to have known many new friends in this module. I would like to thank you all for the encouragements and support through the whole course, and our cool instructor Brad Blackstone for your patience and guidance in us. All in all, the new and closer friendships that I have built, coupled with the effective communication skills that I have acquired, makes this a very fulfilling module! :)

 Happy Graduation from ES2007S! :D

Oral Presentation :)

Thank God that the presentation is finally over! Patrick, Rebecca and I got together to rehearse for the first time on the day before our presentation. I actually enjoyed the process of the discussions throughout the rehearsal. I was blessed to have teammates who are willing to give criticism in a very respectful manner and at the same time receive correction humbly. It is because of this, we improved and I can say that we did the so much better in the actual presentation than in the ones we rehearsed! The transition was good and all of us managed to maintain eye contact with the audiences. However I think our presentation exceeded the time and we could have been more conscious of the time and speeded up accordingly. I hope they did not get bored and tired throughout the presentation. : |


During our rehearsals, I remembered I had a difficult time organizing the things that I need to say. I was not able to focus and I did badly that day. In fact, I like presentation in a way that it is like giving tuition to a class. However, the audience is different during presentation and this gave me pressures. On the actual day, I was not able to phrase my words properly and I stumbled quite a lot. I was tongue-tied so many times and I told myself not to burst out laughing like I did during the rehearsals because of my mispronunciations! Hopefully the audiences understood what I was saying as I was a little disorganized in my sentence structure. Nevertheless, I was less nervous than I expected. I think I was not that monotonous and was able to finish my part within my allocated time. Overall, I would say that the presentation was a valuable experience for me to build up my confidence! :)

Evaluating Intercultural Differences :)

Living in Singapore all my life, I personally did not encounter any intercultural conflicts with people of another race. I suppose the different cultures in Singapore are already set in my mind that they do not become an issue when I interact with them. I reckon Singapore has done exceeding well in moulding a community that embraces differences of the four races. We are able to communicate effortlessly with people of these four races, but when it comes to interaction with unfamiliar cultures, it will be more problematic.

Here, I consider a simple case study of a Singaporean supplier (S) dealing a business with a Westerner (W), assuming that each does not have an understanding of the other party’s business etiquettes and cultures. They greeted each other with a firm handshake and started the meeting. Throughout the whole negotiation process, W presented ideas and S reacted positively, nodding and smiling. At the end of the meeting, W thought that W has clinched the deal and awaited for the final confirmation from S. However, S sent an email to W to make further negotiations. W was confused and upset by W’s double-mindedness and indirectness.

To look into each character’s culture and values, we would understand why they reacted as such. As an Asian, S is more people-oriented and adapt an indirect approach to disagreement, so S rarely make a blunt ‘no’ and ‘yes’ can mean maybe and even no. S thinks that a direct ‘no’ or disagreement is rude and self-centered. Much is implied in non-verbal cues rather than verbal expressions. As a Singaporean also, the last thing S would want is to lose face in front of people, thus S controls emotions and behaviour to not to confront or criticize openly.

W is more straightforward, would not hold back to confront and would expect the other party to react the same. The Western individuals are more task-oriented, would rely on verbal expression to be more direct in order to get the task done and going. Personal relationship is second to getting the job done effectively. In this case, S would appear to be insincere and lack in integrity which in fact S was not.

All these arise from the ignorance of the difference in values and cultures. It is crucial to be aware that people from various backgrounds interpret behavioural patterns differently. Being conscious of this will aid us in relating ourselves to others better, and to minimize unnecessary misunderstandings. Proper research prior to interacting with them in any setting is definitely essential to establish effective communication arcoss different cultures. I am amazed at the diversity of intepretations of a single action. :)

My Personal Statement :) (Edited)

Doing exceedingly well in my sciences during secondary school days, I developed my educational background in science. I got into junior college and am now pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences at the National University of Singapore. Despite this, I am not setting my career path on science as I realized I cannot realize my full potential in that field. It is beyond doubt that I want to build my career on my strengths and personality to achieve excellence in it.

I was once contented in being an ordinary person, leading a routine and mundane life. That was until I met someone who has impacted me tremendously with his extraordinary visions and life. He is a leader in my church, who inspires and teaches me how to pursue dreams beyond my imagination. I was stirred and from then I decided to step out of my comfort zone to strive for greater things in my life. I started to embrace challenges which set me on a rocky road, with a positive attitude.

On June 2009, two of my friends and I started an educational business. Truly, it is arduous to manage the business and my hectic work at the same time. There are many instances when I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work to handle. Nevertheless I persist not submitting to difficulty. At every obstacle, I seize the opportunity to increase my capacity and endurance level as I strongly believe that I will emerge stronger. Planning ahead and prioritizing my work faithfully enables me to meet all my deadlines. Time is precious and self-discipline is essential for me to achieve proper time-management. Focusing my visions far keeps me away from pursuing instant gratification and gets me going. A compromise has to be made between my loved ones and work. Leading a balanced life is the key for me to not be burnout and having proper rest and recreational ensures higher efficiency at work and in school. Through all these, I was greatly comforted when our business grew steadily in the midst of our struggles. This proved to me that perseverance is a major determinant to achieving excellence.

My values and beliefs have led me to place a high value in my relationships with people. I cherish my loved ones and they are my source of strength in life. I am truly grateful to those who helped me in my tough times and I yearn to help those in need in ways that I can. It is my utmost desire to go into counseling and I am intending to take up counseling courses which will better equip me professionally. Living life only to meet my own needs is the last thing I want to do. I want to bless people with what I am blessed with and that brings me greatest joy. To me, living life to the fullest is living life with no regrets. I want to look back one day and rejoice in everything that I have done. :)

My Application Letter

Actual advertisement
http://sg.jobstreet.com/jobs/2009/8/default/20/2135123.htm?fr=J
 
Company/Organisation
Ghim Li Global Pte Ltd

Job Title
Personal Assistant / Secretary / Junior Manager

Requirements:

Primary Objectives of Position
• Provide full executive assistant and support to Executive Chairman to facilitate internal and external communication as well as co-ordinates and execute company projects.
• Undertake all duties as delegated by the Executive Chairman.
• Be the main contact point when the Executive Chairman is not present in office.
• To perform full spectrum of secretarial and administrative duties (personal & official) for the Executive Chairman.

Corporate Affairs
• Day to day external and internal email correspondence
• Submit weekly reports to Chairman office
• Screening the telephone calls, emails, correspondences and requests to the Executive Chairman and handle them appropriately.
• Manage Executive Chairman Office in her absence, and ensures all matters requiring her attention are redirected with discretion and attended to meticulously.
• Organize and maintain the Executive Chairman appointments and schedule. Confirm appointments as necessary.
• Expected to accompany the Executive Chairman to travel overseas.
• Manage Chairperson's travel

Personal Affairs
• Manage Chairperson's tax, bank accounts, investments, payment of expenses
• Maintain personal records
• Manage domestic matters
• Administer cheque issuance


My Application Letter

Blk 319 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
#07-1499 S(560319)
98455032

September 2, 2009

Human Resource Manager
Ghim Li Global Pte Ltd
41 Changi South Ave 2
Singapore 486153

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Application for Personal Assistant Position

I am very interested in the Personal Assistant position in Ghim Li Global Pte Ltd as advertised on Jobstreet dated August 27, 2009. My resume is enclosed for your review and I appreciate your consideration for this job opening.

I would like to participate in this established corporation of excellence, and would very much like to be considered as a strong candidate. I am aware of the responsibilities a Personal Assistant has and I am very keen to contribute my strengths and acquired skills that I have developed over the course of study and work experiences to further enhance the corporation’s progression.

In my course of study and work experiences, I am exposed to many areas of professionalism as stated in my resume which allow me to acquired good organization skills, management skills, and administrative skills. The leadership roles which I have undertaken and still undertaking, enable me to build excellent interpersonal skills. This heightened my ability to maintain good working relationships with business owners and clients of Ghim Li Global Pte Ltd, so that messages could be conveyed accurately and conflicts would be minimized.

In addition, I face challenges when I study and work at the same time and I am able to learn quickly and prioritize my duties. I am thorough in my administrative work and I strive for excellence. I desire to incorporate these skills into my profession and at the same time I look forward to learn more to serve the corporation better.

Being both a people-oriented and task-oriented person, I love to build quality relationships with people yet also to ensure a high standard in my work. I always maintain a gracious and respectful attitude when I communicate with people, even when difficulties arise. I strive to be an overcomer and not a quitter in all things which is attributed to my positive approach to embrace challenges.

I am confident that my key strengths and my previous experiences are well aligned with your requirements. I would be delighted to further discuss the contributions I can make to benefit Ghim Li Global Pte Ltd and I welcome an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your valuable time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,



Napalie Huang

His fault or her fault?

 

I simply do not like the feeling of being in a conflict with someone, which is why I always try my best to be in the shoes of others. Sometimes I failed and this brewed unhappiness in the relationship. However at times, it does not work out well even when you see things from other people’s view. This is when they did not do the same and crossed the limit. There are so many possibilities of igniting a conflict due to the myriad human emotions and behaviors. Conflicts between couples are especially frequent as I observed when the time they spent with each other is much more than the time they spent with others. This happens for Ken and Nat.


Ken started a relationship with Nat when they met each other in university. They used to spend much time together until Ken started having tuition assignments which packed his schedule apart from his school work. Hence, the time he could spend with her had reduced greatly. The only chance they could see each other was either in school for a short while or when they were with a group of friends.

Ken had to earn in order to support his single-parent family but at the same time, he did not want to compromise the time he spent with Nat. He tried his best to squeeze out time to meet Nat, and called her as often as he can. He explained to Nat about his difficulties and asked for her understanding. Nat seemed to be empathetic about his situation and reacted positively. Ken had finally found a night when he could meet Nat for a short while after his tuition. However, he was too indulged in his tuition and was late for the date. Nat was disappointed and angry. Ken was disappointed as well as she did not express understanding towards him. He was nonchalant to her as he was dead tired and this caused further unhappiness.

On the other hand, Nat expressed her understanding for Ken. However, she thought that the tuition assignments that he had taken were more than what he needed to. She did not express her real feelings to him about him being too focused in earning and neglecting the relationship. Nat was overjoyed when Ken could fork out some time to meet her for dinner. She truly wanted to cherish the time spent with him. She even reached the place earlier to wait for him. To her dismay, he was late for almost an hour and did not appear apologetic at all. She felt disappointed at how much their time meant to him. Furthermore, she was angry and sad as he did not respond much.

What Nat thought should be a precious time turned out to be a bitter date. Is there a breakdown in communication between them? Can Ken’s situation pull them closer together instead? How can they resolve the grudges they hold against each other?

What's the big deal about effective communication?

It is a big deal, a rather huge deal to me. Truthfully, effective communication is a life skill which I have been learning but can never comprehend it completely. We can easily find information on the internet, and in courses given by renowned speakers such as Dianna Booher, who conducts effective communication courses especially for business organisations. We can also learn by observing how other people around us communicate. Nevertheless, the secret recipe for me is still learning from my own experience. It is through my everyday encounters with different people that I slowly pick up communication skills. The reason I start to practise that is because I realise it is extremely important in my walk of life. :)

I definitely do not want to walk alone, but with many others. Effective communication is closely connected to good interpersonal skills. How is this so? If we were not able to express ourselves well and appropriately, people might not understand or might even misunderstand our meanings and this will be a barrier to build a closer relationship with them. It is essential for me to acquire good communication skills in order to develop better interpersonal relationships. It can reduce and prevent unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings between my friends, colleagues and family members. I would want to have relationships that last and effectively communication is one of the key to it. :)

My commitment also puts me in situations where I am required to exhibit good communication skills. I have to be effective in conveying and disseminating information to people, in the meantime receiving accurate responses from them. My desire to be a good leader and encourager in my church would require me to be able to express myself well both verbally and non-verbally, in order to be a good influence to them. I was rather weak in expressing my thoughts and idea clearly, and this gives me greater drive to improve on it.

I have put considerably amount of time contemplating my directions after graduation. One of the options is to be a counsellor. Although this has nothing to do with my Life Science studies, I realise that I can give more in this area than in Life Sciences. However, in order to be a counsellor, I would need to have excellent active listening skills and communication skills. It will be horrible if the person I counselled felt worse after the session! If this path is set, ES2007S will not be my one and only communication course I would take for sure. :)

All in all, it is definitely important for me to communicate effectively, to have ease and joy in both my personal life, and my workplace. :D