Mental state
A semester of "I want to graduate and earn money already". Even if I'm afraid of the challenges, changes, learning curves and all that it will bring about... I think that it has been enough time in this phase of life. Overall, it's not too fast or too slow? Have to admit that it's a bittersweet (and ball-of-anxiousness) semester and I'm grateful for the opportunity regardless of all the smaller details
This semester is also a semester of asking for help with 2 modules (LSM2191B & EL). I also wonder if my brain cells are getting rustier (my friend says no, it's natural to not get things the first time) because it feels like some lecture contents were a major miss and required reviewing multiple times. I still don't get some of them tbh
Separately, it's somehow fascinating we can be in end y3s2 or y4s1 and still be meeting new faces in 4k mods. Maybe EEB cohort isn't as small as I thought
Modules
Chose two 4k LSM modules based on interest and lecturers. And a HS2k and an EL, which may require my SUs later. Partially regret taking all CA modules because the past ~2 weeks was not fun. Still have one last assignment due
Also took LSM2191B and was asked a million times why I didn't take it earlier - a mixture of didn't think I need it for research and couldn't get it at a slot I wanted (to avoid year-long UROPs) so postponed it. The rep of "start early" & requires a bulk of effort, is truly what it is... I don't get why it must be compulsory, but it is definitely telling me what I'm bad at... Maybe that's the purpose. There was also a "what to do situation" cause the TAs & one of the Prof know that the other Prof doesn't explain things at a beginner level. The latter expects a higher than beginner level of thinking which gets a portion of us quite confused? Hmm systematic things strike again
One of a mod's group assignment (non-LSM, can SU) reminded me that writing group report with a mix of people from different majors, can be quite a hellish process. If it's a different form of group assignment like group presentations or group posters, we can focus on having a coherent storyline/main point better. Can't imagine the struggle that scientists go through when they co-author papers...
Overall, having 3 classes of 4-6 hours amongst the weekly timetable is more mentally tiring than I expected. Though I have to be fair and highlight some fun parts that I can recall right now - EL tutorials & final reflection, 2191B lab sessions, LSM jurong fishery port field trip & behavioral study assignment & dissections, and LSM case study assignment
What I may miss
Which is just part of the experience of having had
- Bumping into long time no see course mates and having a short catch-up or long yap
- School's food prices!!
- Times when friends/acquaintances let me chill in their rooms
- Watching science campus awaken with daylight: leaf blower staff working, animals emerging, canteen opened bright and early with more people streaming in over time
- Access to scientific papers: though might have alumni access/ can email researchers
- + more along the wayyy
Side thoughts of the semester
- Sometimes I cannot help but wonder what if - in an alternate life, I joined NTU ASE instead HAHAHAH something I'll never know~ Grass often seems greener on the other side. Focus on watering our own grass, as they (who) say
- The difference between a knowledgeable person vs a person who knows how to communicate the knowledge to empower others
- The difference between having your own values vs crossing the line to expecting people to conform to your values
- Kudos to those who designed the calculations/weightage of MCs for graduation requirements
Next semester
- UTOPS. Extremely scared but will probably just deal with whatever that comes, and hope that the discomfort is worth the experience (O.O)
- LSM mod to fulfill minor. May my brain cells be extra absorbent
- Job search?? Doesn't help that the market's not well and career advisors telling us to "start early"...
- I guess the last entry y4s2 would be a final reflection/summary of takeaways
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