Friday, May 29, 2009
End of Week 2 =)
Very quickly, it's Friday again!!
With the weekend coming + the weekly dress-down day, the mood in the office, from what I feel, is significantly more relaxed, and there is a sense of freedom in the air.
Plus the fact that everyone looked a lot younger and more carefree with their casual clothes! The increased good-looking factor makes every Friday a very enjoyable one too.
How's internship so far? For me, it opened my eyes a lot. For one, my supervisor is a very deep-thinking one, someone who wants me to bang into walls and grow on my own, and someone with vast experience in the private sector, without being very old.
It made me kind of realise that how the formulation of the really 'right' policy is not that easy - definitely a lot more deep thinking from what we are used to the classroom. In the classroom, you can say anything you want - it's all purely academic. But when you have the
power to change things, that's where it becomes 'scary'. You don't jump into conclusions that easily, and everything you do change lives. Not just of people now, but people of the future - the whole country basically.
I've learnt more applications, or thought a lot more on economics than I've ever been, and it exposed me to how un-knowledgable I am. It has been a truly humbling experience, but I have totally enjoyed it. Now I know how it feels to be a small fish in a big pond. I have to absorb a lot more before I become a 'big fish' myself, and that by itself, is really tough.
Other than my supervisor, I've been inspired by Dr Lee Soo Ann (my Singapore economy prof), and Dr Linda Lin, both who were speakers of the talk I went last Friday, by the NUS Economics Alumni. AS I hear views from many sides of the coin - academia criticising vs a civil servant giving his well-rounded views on Singapore's policies, I feel that I've been really filled with knowledge about the economy and economic development in general, and there is really so much that I have to learn.
Not sure I am suitable for this kind of job though, as I still ain't someone who knows that much, so everything I previously thought I was so smart to criticise is easily debunked. Again, I feel so humbled, but I'm enjoying it. It's another kind of intellectual stimulation I never thought I would be able to go through, and to be able to do so in a sheltered environment is a blessing. So I'm really grateful for the experience, and grateful that I even got in in the first place (long story).
Maybe the sole complaint would be waking up 'early' (well, I think all Arts students are nocturnal animals).. AND THE BLOODY MRT SQUEEZE EVERYDAY!! Totally hate it, but well, 15 minutes, bite your lips, and it will be over.
Pretty nice that the other interns are slowly streaming in after a boring first few days too.. they bring me some sanity in the twirling and 'expert' world of 'adults' (I don't feel like I'm one yet, seriously).
And today is results day! As usual, I would frankly tell friends my grades if they ask me directly, but I would not post here. Got a total pleasant surprise really! For one module. It's amazing that when I feel that I learnt something really useful in the module, I got the grades to accompany it also. In this grades-driven place, it really gave me the confidence to learn, while maintaining the grades the school/society requires.
So far, so good! I hope to be able to submit something useful, and provide some good suggestions to my superiors when I leave in 7 weeks. For now, I'll continue to enjoy the intellectual bombardment I'm getting everyday =D
I understand that everyone wants to feel good by being better than others, but what is your purpose of asking other people's grades? Do you truly care for them, or you just wanna 'haolian' what you've got? So do you, secretly or openly, hope that others do badly so that you can be 'better'? If these people are your friends, should you be feeling so? If you want people to respect and celebrate your 'achievements' (and you can wonder why I use inverted commas), offer you encouragements etc, you have to first learn how to feel truly happy for others (when they do well), before people will do likewise for you. I can't say I'm the most sympathetic or caring soul around, but you do give me that feeling, really. Come on. As I've say before in my old posts, always compare with yourself. Others being bad does not make you any better, and others being exceptionally good does not make you any worse. Learn to care for your friends with a true and sincere heart, and in turn, people will naturally respect and love you, something you have been craving all your life. Before you receive, you have to give. That's basic mutual-exchange in a free economy, isn't it? =)
lowtide blogged @
9:54 pm
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The R word
Having experienced it exactly 10 years ago, I totally understand how it feels, and I never, ever, want to experience it again.
Blackburn's safe, and how relieved I am!
However, having been through that feeling, it pains me to see the fans crying on their teams' impending relegation. That feeling sucks, I still remember it til this day.
And I still remember the tears of joy hiding in my eyes when I knew Blackburn secured promotion after 2 long years. I was in Sec 4, using the computer in AHS's comp lab (I had no internet in my home then).
Hmm, it's just football in a faraway land, isn't it? But somehow these non-issues just impact us so much.
Shall update a bit on my life, when I have the time!
lowtide blogged @
10:55 am
