ES2007S - Zooming Back To Where It All Started

Time: Sunday afternoon before Christmas, 2009
Venue: Water fountain at the basement of The Spring, Kuching
Main characters: Stephanie (S), Valarie (V)

While sipping on our canned drinks after lunch...
V: (grumbles) CORS bidding is here again. (groans) I don't know what to bid! What do you plan to bid, S?
S: Oh, I am planning to take one Singapore Studies and ES2007S other than the core modules.
V: (looks up in interest) Hmm... ES2007S? The Professional Communication module? Why that module?
S: I thought it would be interesting to learn how to write a good cover letter and resume.
V: Oh! But there are a lot of oral presentations, right? (cringes)
S: You bet! Are you interested?
V: (takes a sip from the canned drink) I will think about it. Oral presentations are not exactly my forte.
S: Do consider it! I will be choosing the Monday slot with Brad Blackstone. My senior told me he's good!
V: (smiles) Okay.

Two weeks later, I placed 1000 points from my Programme account to bid for ES2007S, determined to win the module. Eventually, I got it with 500 points. Victory!

My main objective in taking this module was to have the ability to produce a professional and impressive resume and cover letter. Also, I felt that it is essential for me to gain some knowledge in preparing for a job interview. These two skills seem extremely crucial to me as I planned to apply for internships during the upcoming summer vacation. NUS Career Centre may provide the seminars to respond to such demands. However, I prefer to have someone else proofread my work and give me feedback instead of merely attending a seminar and being thrown with all the necessary facts. I believe I still have much room for improvement, but I am now not as clueless in writing professionally for job applications, as well as knowing what to expect in job interviews. Obeying the 7Cs in my writing as well as speech would aid in giving a better impression to the employers, too.

Despite the goal I set out to achieve, I walked away with other skills that I realised somewhere during the semester that are equally important in the professional setting. One such skill I actually gained a lot is in the oral presentation. I believe I posess a lot more confidence in delivering my presentation and am equipped with the knowledge to capture the attention of the audience.

Besides that, ES2007S has changed my perception towards teamwork, especially with people I am not close with. Previously, I generally avoid modules that require me to work collaboratively on projects and even if I have to (such as core modules), I would choose my close friends who I am comfortable working with. Now, I would say working with people I don't really know has been an interesting experience. Other than widening my social circle, I have learnt a little bit more about the culture in other countries. Indeed, it was a blessing for me to be able to work with great teammates, all from different places of origin with different cultures.

Now 13 weeks has passed and one semester is almost over. We - the Firebenders (along with other teams) - submitted the final proposal and delivered our final presentation. Reflecting back, this module is one of the modules I don't think I will ever regret. Despite its hectic workload and clash with several other deadlines at times, leading to our sleepless nights and faces full of pimples, I actually had fun and made a lot of friends I never thought was possible within one semester. I left our final tutorial session with a heavy heart, bidding goodbye to all of my classmates. Although I know everyone will part ways eventually, leading our own lives, I do hope that we constantly keep in touch over Facebook.

Before I end this blog entry, I would like to thank Brad and all of my classmates for making ES2007S such an enjoyable experience for me and also Stephanie for persuading me to take up this module. Finally, thank you very much for the cake and sparkling juice, See Chai!

Oh! And everyone, good luck in your finals!