I've been meaning to do this for the longest time, and now I have. Check it out! Still mulling over whether to purchase it leh. $110 SGD is a lot of moolah.
Donations, anyone?
Showing posts with label graduation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graduation. Show all posts
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Thursday, November 08, 2007
So, what's it gonna be?
"Why don't you want to be a journalist?" he wrote.
It wasn't so much the chiding tone of my tutor's comment on my assignment which bothered me, it was the genuine disappointment and frustration I sensed as he penned the personal note.
Perhaps this is my ego speaking; maybe he says that to all his students who express an interest in jumping to the dark side that is PR. Maybe he just enjoys throwing graduating students a conundrum or two.
Here, have a dilemma.
Given the spirited debate we've been having about jobs and graduation, this comment could not have come at a better time. It's a time where we are forced to defend our stand that we are dreamers; that we are people who are literally living the dream. A time where we decide, then stick with our choices.
Yet why is this bugging me so much? That my choice could be wrong.
Can I trust a boyhood ambition to be a journalist? Have I sold myself short, or was it never really my dream - my real, impassioned dream - to be one in the first place? All of a sudden, I don't know. And if my confidence in my decision wavers so easily, does it suggest that I somehow subconsciously don't believe it to be true?
I guess the only relief is that a decision does not have to be made right now. We shall see.
It wasn't so much the chiding tone of my tutor's comment on my assignment which bothered me, it was the genuine disappointment and frustration I sensed as he penned the personal note.
Perhaps this is my ego speaking; maybe he says that to all his students who express an interest in jumping to the dark side that is PR. Maybe he just enjoys throwing graduating students a conundrum or two.
Here, have a dilemma.
Given the spirited debate we've been having about jobs and graduation, this comment could not have come at a better time. It's a time where we are forced to defend our stand that we are dreamers; that we are people who are literally living the dream. A time where we decide, then stick with our choices.
Yet why is this bugging me so much? That my choice could be wrong.
Can I trust a boyhood ambition to be a journalist? Have I sold myself short, or was it never really my dream - my real, impassioned dream - to be one in the first place? All of a sudden, I don't know. And if my confidence in my decision wavers so easily, does it suggest that I somehow subconsciously don't believe it to be true?
I guess the only relief is that a decision does not have to be made right now. We shall see.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The case for perspective
Because I like reading valedictorian speeches, but am unlikely to ever be called upon to give one, I decided to write my valedictorian speech right now, haha.
So here goes... To the graduating class of WKWSCI 2008, the kickass valedictorian speech you will never get to hear because of my string of C's in Yr 1, haha.
***
For inspiration.
***
Perspective. If there was one word I learned in four years at SCI, which embodied the difference between good and great in communications, this is it. More accurately, the ability to understand the person you are communicating with; to put yourself in his/her shoes.
In short, perspective.
Indeed, the truly great in our fields of Journalism, PR, Advertising, Research and Broadcast, all have the ability to distance themselves from the mediocre because they have the ability to empathize with their interviewee; client; public; audience; sample population; vox pop participant.
In no other field will this ability to feel for your fellow man be more prized than ours. How do you place a price tag on EQ? Perhaps that is why we tend not to be paid very much at all (or insert other random joke here).
How will we as journalists write stories about people if we can't put ourselves in their shoes?
How will we as PR professionals deal with unreasonable clients if we can't see for ourselves the pressure they themselves mus be feeling?
How will we as advertising creatives continue to produce work of outstanding creativity if we do not have a perspective which is unique?
How will we as directors and producers be able to grasp what the average Singaporean wants to see if we cannot take our turn on the couch?
My friends, for four short years I have had the pleasure of being in your company. Through the many projects, exams, time spent catching up at the benches, I have come to realise how truly diverse we are; and how incredible it is that, despite that, we have become more than just schoolmates.
I will always remember the parties, the mass study groups we had late into the night, the passionate discussions in Cenite's Modern History class, where we had to come face to face with why we behave the way we behave, and it wasn't always pretty. I will remember Hedwig's advice to always use "said" instead of "quipped", Mr. Duffy's groovy car, and how to quote people in APA style.
So thank you teachers, for helping us gain a deeper appreciation of the world we live in. To the class of 2008, I wish you good luck in all your future endeavours.
Thank you.
