:: it's time to reflect and learn ::

"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." It all started from cs1101s. When I started to really learn, not only academically wise but to really start thinking and solving problems. It was so different from what I've encounter and it was an eye-opener. Then came cs3216. I was hesitating at first, whether to take this module and in all due respect, 3216 is not only an overload module but also "useless" in my academic pursue since it goes no where in my double degree. However, I knew that it would teach me much more than what the textbook does, it would teach me real-life experiences. In addition, i was still so new to computing and i never really knew what should i do. I was eager to explore, coupled with the fact that it would be the last time prof will be doing it, I sent in my application.

This whole journey through 3216 has opened my eyes to so many things. Not only did i gain academically wise but 3216 opened my eyes to the deeper aspects of life that I've either taken for granted or was just too naive. I've learnt so many things, experienced so much. I won't go into much details about the technical aspects of the things I've learnt since i believe it's secondary to the life lessons and experiences that I've gain. Illustrator, photoshop, flash, SQL e.t.c., these are just some technical stuff that I'm sure everyone's learnt over the course of 3216. Put it this way, most of us, especially freshies like my group signed up for 3216 and noobs like me know nothing about whatever that was required of us. The most important learning point is not the technical stuff but rather the willingness to learn, the resourcefulness in which we search for things that we need but not know and most importantly, how to teach ourselves. (Google's been my best friend) I find the education system these days are lacking rather severely, many students just learn what their teachers teach them, in other words, they were spoon fed but they never seem to know how to teach themselves. Through 3216, we were taught to teach ourselves from scratch. While I can't say that I've totally learnt everything that I need to know computing and the various programs but I know that I won't be lost and that if I need anything I know how to learn them myself, or source for help. Which I'm pretty sure everyone in 3216 can do.

That aside, I've also learnt how to make things work. Gone were the naive thought that as long as you are good at something you can succeed. Well, it is mostly true but i realise that hardly everything can be a one man show since we aren't all perfect. Add on to the fact that most of work nowadays emphasise on teamwork. If you can't work in groups, it's going to be a tough time. We need people who are different from us, to help us in areas that we are weak at while we concentrate on our strong areas. It is important that we learn where our weaknesses and strengths, so that we can keep on improving. For me, as a human, we have to keep learning and evolving, afterall, we are better today then yesterday, otherwise we'd just be at a standstill and life'd just be so dull. 3216 has really helped me in the area of self discovery and I'm starting to learn to love myself more.

Along with that comes teamwork. I've worked with different people and I must say this particular group work have left a rather huge impression on me since i've never worked in such a close knit group for something so huge (most of the projects in the past are either rather small scale compared to this or that we have a lot of manpower). I've learnt it rather keenly that everyone is unique and have their special quirks and working style. It is important that we learn how to accommodate each other and allocate the work between us such that we optimized our working capacity. The key and in my opinion, the most important part of a group work is communication. Miscommunication can cause a lot of trouble and is an art that one has to keep refining. A lost of idea between groupmates are fatal and can costs us a lot of precious time.Apart from that is to also keep learning from one another. No one is perfect and we can learn from others and by observing the world around us. There can never be enough of learning. 三人行必有我师焉，择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。 For people who doesn't understand, it simply means that we can learn from anyone, be it their strengths or from their mistakes.

3216 has taught me a lot about patience, the importance of communication as well as responsibility and also how to be resourceful. Patience wasn't one of my stronger suite before this semester but I've learnt that different people understand things in a different manner and at different pace. It allows me to be more patient and understanding. I understand that every single one of us plays a very important role in the group and that if anyone is gone, codename penguin will collapse. With that comes responsibility. It is very crucial in a group like us that we deliver what we promise and give our 100% since all our work are interlinked and dependent on each other. All of these just link back to our working attitude in life. No one but us and only us are responsible for our own actions and results. We have to work hard and there's no shortcut to success.

There is also the issue of personal interest versus what is best. Group dynamics was one of them. To choose your friends or people you can get along with or to choose people who can do the job. It's a dilemma and i think choosing the balance point is very important. However, when you are thrown out from the sandbox known as college, I doubt life gives you much of a choice as to who you will be working with unless you are your own boss and get to choose who you want to work with. Moreover, life's unpredictable and it's hard to come by people you really work the best with. For me, it is important to apply the lessons we've learnt in teamwork and treasure your group mates for they are the one working alongside you.

Life's unfair and it is hardly simple. A lot of times we think that our ideas will work and everything will be fine but guess what, reality often turns that up-side down for you. You'd realise that reality differs a lot from what you think and until you try it out, you'd never know if it works. Many times our ideas failed and we have to keep trying. I guess in the end, we must learn to be able to change spontaneously and not cling onto our ideas too much since we have to keep changing and improving. One good way is also observe and learn from successful people around, see and  understand what makes them so good and adapt from it. Afterall, most of the ideas are development of other ideas, as a designer, i take inspiration from other people's work and this can be applied to every aspect of our lives. In addition, it is also important to network and create connections, to find people to help and guide you. Laurence's taught me that.

Most importantly, I've learnt perseverance, developed my passion and kept up the never give up attitude while learning from my mistakes. I've cultivated my will and determination to keep on standing no matter the number of times i fail or fall down. Whenever things start to go wrong, the worst thing one can do is to start pushing the blame onto others and pointing finger. For me, i think it is rather pointless. What's done is done, there's no turning back and no amount of whining or finger pointing is going to solve the problem, only active work can do that. Solve the problem and learn from it. Only then can you keep growing from it. Not only that but also provide action to your thoughts. Many times in life have i been passive but that shall not be the case anymore. Nothing's absolute in life and studies' definitely not it either. I totally love this quote "Life'll be fine in the end, if it isn't, it's not the end yet."

Never give up, keep on learning and make sure to count your blessings everyday. I'll be better today than I am tomorrow, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger so let's all be a sucker for pain.

With that I must also thank proffy for allowing me this chance to explore and discover, the wonderful tutors for all the guidance and endless things that i've learnt from you guys. My wonderful coursemates, i've learnt a lot from you guys as well:) 3 cheers for 3216 !! heh, that ryhmes :)

:: the flip side of life ::

Life is not as simple as it seems to be. Many people, in fact most of them just like to skim the surface and look at life at face value. How grossly wrong they are sometimes, how naive many people are and still is, stubbornly refusing to look further than what their physical eyes tell them.

I've reflected back upon my life and what i observed about many people. Life's much deeper than that. There's a flip side to what we always see on the surface. I still remember back at the CEO session, where prof mentioned that entreprenuership is over sold. I agree fully. Many people only see those people as being lucky, that they are "talented" and are successful, living a peaceful life full and enjoyment. How wrong are they. They don't see the struggle underneath it, the constant stress, the ups and downs. Not only those big shots but also normal people around you. Those that excel in their studies. Many just concluded that they are smart. While you can't deny that they are interllectually capable, people tend to forget that they are also the hardworking people. Most tend to overlook their hardwork, their constant revision and what not.

Life's never just black and white but in shades of grey. There isn't just one side of life. There are people who are rich but with it comes the stress. There are people who dun really do that fantastically well but they are happy. Several studies showed that while singapore is one of the more developed country we are rather low on the happiness scale. On the other hand, the happiest nation just so happen to be the poorest. That makes me wonder now, so what's the goal of life. Be rich? Be happy? or just to be able to live....they're always the pros and cons and i guess we just have to find the balance in it.

More importantly though, i think we should learn to treasure what we have. Most of us simply take things for granted and we will never know how much it means to us until we lose it. I'm starting to learn how to take time and appreciate the little gifts in life that we have and that to give my best in everything I do. Not just sit there and admire people but to put in effort to achieve what I want since i know nothing comes for free. At the same time, also taking time in enjoying life and slowly change my mindset to see things positively, afterall you only live once so why inflict unnecessary pain on yourself. Even though it may look bleak, i believe the dots will eventually connect in the future. Afterall, everything will be fine in the end, if it isn't fine, it isn't the end yet. I've learnt that in small little everyday occurences and it's time to start believing and learn to enjoy life to the fullest, even as i struggle through things in life ^^