I survived my first week of work without any major positives or negatives. I like that. At the beginning, I wanted to post a detailed description of what I encountered and felt but I don't feel like doing that anymore. I really like the job scope of my current job, and although I'm obviously not doing much of what I would be doing a lot next time currently, I still like the idea of it. I feel that if you like what you're doing, you will have that extra boost of encouragement to excel in the tasks and hence do well. For now though, I will do whatever assignments I am given and carry them out perfectly and just, to the best of my abilities. I believe if I just do that, no one can complain and I make myself happy so it's a win-win situation. I enjoy the working environment. I have many colleagues, mostly female, and young. The office is always busy, and casual at the same time. I also like the fact that I am working with big companies whom are our clients, and I've always been interested in advertisements in general. A receptionist greets me every morning on the way to my desk, and I would take a peek inside the CEO's office before reaching my seat. I am still adjusting to this life, in terms of my body clock and the work-life balance. I still have so much to learn and know and I still do not think I am productive or assisting enough as I could be doing. I am not desperate or worried though, as I am still very much fresh meat and I know with a little bit of patience from myself and my work-mates, that day would come sooner than later and I personally cannot wait for it. I cannot be bothered by what people think, but just set my mind to my goals and objectives and work hard to reaching them. At the same time, I will be approachable and curious but will not be too excessively and unnecessarily inquisitive for fear of being an annoyance. My immediate aim is to be accepted into this community and my medium-term objective is to be able to properly balance my work and personal life. My long term goal is to be excellent at my job. Despite the pay, my salary would not be a discouraging factor to me as money is not my highest priority, for now at least and that's something I'm thankful that I'm privileged for. Ultimately, I hope I can continue to find the motivation to my working life and I hope this post would serve as a reminder whenever I question myself. I know inside I have what it takes so I really do not want anything unnecessary to stop me. I will take things step-by-step as after all, you can only beat what's in front of you.
And fundamentally, I will do all that without losing myself in the process.
AYCY
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
I met a friend for lunch at my university today and I was left pleasantly surprised at the fact that the campus looked and felt better than the memory and image I held onto from the moment I left the campus, spent an entire year in another campus abroad, and till yesterday.
I arrived mid-afternoon and somewhat understood the complaints I've heard on the huge surplus of students ever since I left and the consequent lack of parking spaces. While most classes are held in the morning, despite my arrival time, I still had to navigate my vehicle several rounds around the congested carpark with smaller paths caused by illegal side-parkers. Eventually I parked my car in the outdoor student's parking under the scorching heat, walked under the scorching heat past the familiar and still dodgy-as-ever-looking bridge over a dirty huge river-drain and began my attempts to stride past the security guards with the confidence of a Monash University, Sunway Campus student. I was successful.
I took a look at the banners hung vertically from the metal posts which greeted every student walking to campus from the carpark and noticed they were slightly different in design but still carried the same, promotional, messages of the university. Cliched images of the various schools the university is comprised of. I suddenly politely moved out of the way of an oncoming group of friends, and recalled how I almost always used to do just exactly that just 2 or 3 years back while carrying my Billabong slingbag on the way to class which I'm 8 out of 10 times, late for.
I made my way to the first washroom I was walking past, just like how I habitually did those 2-3 years back before making my way to class, late or not. It carried the same stench, though unlike most public toilets in this country - not a horrible one, which probably explains the number of times I paid a visit to the room during those times.
As I continued my journey to the planned rendezvous, the strange and somewhat overwhelming Monash Sunway odour, which I cannot describe no matter how I try - just note that it is far from being a bad smell, along with the increasing volume of students' chatters and random RnB music playing from some speaker somewhere, welcomed me into the student's foyer right before the cafeteria.
And it is around this time during those years back when I make my way to the elevators to my classes.
I met my friend, and despite the change of staff and not-so-positive reviews, decided to have the same noodles from the Indonesian food stall with the same fried chicken fillets I used to eat so regularly last time. I even went to the extent of ordering the same drink, Neslo Ice, to accompany my lunch. That being said, the noodles did suck but at least the drink made for it by being served in the same transparent plastic cup and tasting not too different - as far as I can remember anyway. And yes, I also sat at a table which I actually remembered sitting at before as it was the one and only time a photo was taken of or by me, I don't actually remember, in the campus cafeteria.
After lunch, I made my way to the library and told or bragged to my friend before entering that I, "used to carry huge stacks of books in and out of the library last time!" The entrance looked the same at first glance I don't quite remember but the 2nd and 3rd floors were renovated quite a bit. They spoil the students with long and colourful couches and beanbags now. And they also have another exit on the 3rd floor. Somehow, I found that to be very interesting.
I also felt that this little excursion could not be completed without a visit to the Arts floor where I also spent quite some time when I was a student in the university. And I liked what I saw. Despite a little shifting of lecturers' offices, it still felt the same. I took my time reading the flyers, pamphlets, news pieces, and students' works on the notice boards. The pigeonholes where I inserted my (most of the time, late) assignments were exactly as how I last saw it. I even got the chance to see the Arts secretary collect them at 5pm sharp. Oh, those days were exciting.
I understand if you must wonder, why the nostalgia over something which I spent relatively not so many years of my life at? Or why the nostalgia over something which was still again relatively fresh to me as 2-3 years does or might not seem like a long time.
My answer to that would be I don't really know the answer to that. Maybe university was such a pivotal time to me in various aspects especially from a personal viewpoint. I must feel that I've gained the most out of my time in university. Or that I've changed the most during my years over there. I believe both are equally true. Either my course has really matured my mindset, or it is something which is outside my course, or both, one thing I know for sure is that I really enjoyed my years as an university student and have the most appreciation to it for the ways I am approaching my life today.
Perhaps it also has to do with the fact that I'm ending a chapter and will be moving on to the next in no time. No time is Monday, to be exact, where I start the new chapter of my life - no cliche, cheesiness, or corniness intended. Today represented the closure I could do with and it is one period of my life which even I surprise myself at how much significance I'm appropriating it with. It has probably got to do with many more life-changing experiences which I cannot think of or maybe just do not feel like sharing. Nevertheless, I came out of it an incredibly better person than who I was before and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Coincidentally and funnily enough, I have a little gathering with what is currently remaining of my high school friends this weekend. I say to that that there is no better time to put another fullstop to another momentous part of my life before I began the episode which I know will be probably the most significant yet.
And as much as I might not show it, and while this might seem out of place in this post, I am someone who is very appreciative of my friends and I am very grateful that I have a stable support system to fall back on when things start to go a little shaky. For that, I feel that the proper pieces are put into place for me to move on to the next phases I would face.
I'm Alex Yeo, 21 going on 22, loves when things go to plan accordingly, although I don't mind some spontaneity from time to time. And oh, did I mention I am pretty emotional and somewhat philosophical too? I also hate cockroaches with a passion.
AYCY
I arrived mid-afternoon and somewhat understood the complaints I've heard on the huge surplus of students ever since I left and the consequent lack of parking spaces. While most classes are held in the morning, despite my arrival time, I still had to navigate my vehicle several rounds around the congested carpark with smaller paths caused by illegal side-parkers. Eventually I parked my car in the outdoor student's parking under the scorching heat, walked under the scorching heat past the familiar and still dodgy-as-ever-looking bridge over a dirty huge river-drain and began my attempts to stride past the security guards with the confidence of a Monash University, Sunway Campus student. I was successful.
I took a look at the banners hung vertically from the metal posts which greeted every student walking to campus from the carpark and noticed they were slightly different in design but still carried the same, promotional, messages of the university. Cliched images of the various schools the university is comprised of. I suddenly politely moved out of the way of an oncoming group of friends, and recalled how I almost always used to do just exactly that just 2 or 3 years back while carrying my Billabong slingbag on the way to class which I'm 8 out of 10 times, late for.
I made my way to the first washroom I was walking past, just like how I habitually did those 2-3 years back before making my way to class, late or not. It carried the same stench, though unlike most public toilets in this country - not a horrible one, which probably explains the number of times I paid a visit to the room during those times.
As I continued my journey to the planned rendezvous, the strange and somewhat overwhelming Monash Sunway odour, which I cannot describe no matter how I try - just note that it is far from being a bad smell, along with the increasing volume of students' chatters and random RnB music playing from some speaker somewhere, welcomed me into the student's foyer right before the cafeteria.
And it is around this time during those years back when I make my way to the elevators to my classes.
I met my friend, and despite the change of staff and not-so-positive reviews, decided to have the same noodles from the Indonesian food stall with the same fried chicken fillets I used to eat so regularly last time. I even went to the extent of ordering the same drink, Neslo Ice, to accompany my lunch. That being said, the noodles did suck but at least the drink made for it by being served in the same transparent plastic cup and tasting not too different - as far as I can remember anyway. And yes, I also sat at a table which I actually remembered sitting at before as it was the one and only time a photo was taken of or by me, I don't actually remember, in the campus cafeteria.
After lunch, I made my way to the library and told or bragged to my friend before entering that I, "used to carry huge stacks of books in and out of the library last time!" The entrance looked the same at first glance I don't quite remember but the 2nd and 3rd floors were renovated quite a bit. They spoil the students with long and colourful couches and beanbags now. And they also have another exit on the 3rd floor. Somehow, I found that to be very interesting.
I also felt that this little excursion could not be completed without a visit to the Arts floor where I also spent quite some time when I was a student in the university. And I liked what I saw. Despite a little shifting of lecturers' offices, it still felt the same. I took my time reading the flyers, pamphlets, news pieces, and students' works on the notice boards. The pigeonholes where I inserted my (most of the time, late) assignments were exactly as how I last saw it. I even got the chance to see the Arts secretary collect them at 5pm sharp. Oh, those days were exciting.
I understand if you must wonder, why the nostalgia over something which I spent relatively not so many years of my life at? Or why the nostalgia over something which was still again relatively fresh to me as 2-3 years does or might not seem like a long time.
My answer to that would be I don't really know the answer to that. Maybe university was such a pivotal time to me in various aspects especially from a personal viewpoint. I must feel that I've gained the most out of my time in university. Or that I've changed the most during my years over there. I believe both are equally true. Either my course has really matured my mindset, or it is something which is outside my course, or both, one thing I know for sure is that I really enjoyed my years as an university student and have the most appreciation to it for the ways I am approaching my life today.
Perhaps it also has to do with the fact that I'm ending a chapter and will be moving on to the next in no time. No time is Monday, to be exact, where I start the new chapter of my life - no cliche, cheesiness, or corniness intended. Today represented the closure I could do with and it is one period of my life which even I surprise myself at how much significance I'm appropriating it with. It has probably got to do with many more life-changing experiences which I cannot think of or maybe just do not feel like sharing. Nevertheless, I came out of it an incredibly better person than who I was before and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Coincidentally and funnily enough, I have a little gathering with what is currently remaining of my high school friends this weekend. I say to that that there is no better time to put another fullstop to another momentous part of my life before I began the episode which I know will be probably the most significant yet.
And as much as I might not show it, and while this might seem out of place in this post, I am someone who is very appreciative of my friends and I am very grateful that I have a stable support system to fall back on when things start to go a little shaky. For that, I feel that the proper pieces are put into place for me to move on to the next phases I would face.
I'm Alex Yeo, 21 going on 22, loves when things go to plan accordingly, although I don't mind some spontaneity from time to time. And oh, did I mention I am pretty emotional and somewhat philosophical too? I also hate cockroaches with a passion.
AYCY
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