Graduation Post
Dec 2011
Today marks the last day of my exam in NTU, and also the day of my graduation. As much as I look forward to my new career (engineer/research/PhD), I also miss the day I have in NTU.
I'm writing this post to reflect what I have achieved over the past 3.5 years, under difficult circumstances. Although it might seem like I'm gonna boast about myself, my real intention is to show that if people like me this much in my school life, I'm sure anyone can also do it. Although most of my achievements are more academic-based, everyone can apply the same principles and mindset to achieve things in other arena. Don't view me as a success story, as I have yet to achieve something big in life.
I'm aware that there are people who might have more difficult circumstances than me. But I believe that most people will be better off than me, so if I can do it, I believe all of you can also do it.
Let me start off with some background, so that you can understand why it is more difficult for me to achieve big than most people:
- I did quite well for my A level (4A, 2 merits, GP B3) but did not manage to get a scholarship. This was because I was fickle-minded about my course back then, and was bad with my interview skills.
- I did not get the CN Yang Scholarship, although my grades are comparable to them (or better than some). Also because of my bad interview skills.
- I lived in Sengkang, and did not get a hall from year 2 onwards. My family can't afford a car, so this translates to 1.75hr commute for every trip everyday.
- I'm born in a lower income family (S$1.8k/month is way below the average of S$4k/month). My parents bought a 5-room flat while my dad was still a taxi-driver. Things were going well until there are many incidents that lead to my dad bringing lesser income back (eg. 911 incident, SARS). He changed his job to become a bus driver, but the housing instalments were still manageable. That's until the govt change the policy about CPF, so he has lesser CPF to pay for the instalment, and every month we have to pay $850 in cash. To help out with the instalments, I took a study loan from NTU to help pay for part of the instalments.
- My parents were rushing me to graduate early so that I can take over the housing loan, although 4 years is already difficult for engineering students to finish their course.
- I was informed that I got the Khoo Teck Puat Scholarship, but 2 days later received news that I was rejected (There were rumors that these scholarships were instead given to PRC who were already scholars, as there's an additional benefit of airfare)
- Every summer holiday since Year 1, I have been working and also clocking OT in my jobs. In addition, I was doing part-time tutoring despite a heavier ABP academic load.
Despite all these, here is what I have achieved thus far:
- 1st Aerospace Engineering ABP student (correct me if I'm wrong. It would have been three years if not for some red tapes)
- First Class Honors despite ABP workload
- Minor in Business by Year 2 Sem 1 (would have been Year 1 Sem 2 if not for some hiccups in registration)
- 1st NTU student (and maybe 1st true-breed singaporean) to be awarded the ISTAT Foundation Scholarship 2010. The only Asian recipient for that year.
- 1st Engineering student to finish FYP-URECA by Year 3, with A+ for FYP (usual ABP student started in Year 3 Semester 2. I started in Year 3 Semester 1)
- URECA Poster Exhibition Platinum Award in Year 3
- 1 overseas research conference (ISB2011), 1 local research conference (BES5SM), 1 Journal Article (IEEE)
- GIP at Georgia Institute of Technology. Did URECA research together with 21 credit academic load. Took AE2020, AE3515, AE4451, AE4580, ME4210, MGT3102, AE2699, the hardest subject combination ever and set the trend for future aero batches.
- Dean's List in Year 2
- DSO-URECA (A+)
The prices to pay for these achievements are huge as well, so I don't think not much people would want to emulate:
- Spend near S$20k for GIP trip, with S$3k from scholarship, S$8k from own pocket (URECA, Tuition, Holiday work) and still owe S$9k to bank
- Lost my girlfriend of 6 years
- Quitted LDP due to lack of time for commitment
- Buang my Year 1 Sem 1 results, during a period when I'm in a dilemma of what I want in life.
- Failed to help my good friend stay in NTU after getting academic warning
- Shadow figure in school (appear during lecture, disappear after that)
- Not much social life
Of course, I have the following people to thank as well:
- My parents and family, for attending to my needs ever since I don't stay in hall. And also baby Kira for constantly disturbing my studies (she's the baby that my mum help to babysit), and my girlfriend for helping each other with schoolwork.
- Asst Prof Holden Li. He let me realize that research is my forte, and it was great working with him for the past 2 part-time work as well as both URECA and FYP. He has trained me to become more independent, and make tools and resources available to me to the best that he can manage.
- My best friend Joel Goh. It's great to know you since orientation, and thanks for being there through thick and thin for the whole aero course.
- LDP buddy Tan Kheng Hiang, who has been an inspiration to me himself. I still remember the day when we scale the obstacles in ODAC together, and your story of how a guy from NTU manage to get into MIT for PhD because he held on to his vision.
- My GIP-GT friends (Dickson, Louis, Aik Tio, Jianda, Alvin Pee, Siang Ning, Aik Ling and Chin Sian). GIP wouldn't be that fun without you all.
- My buddies in Aero not mentioned in previous list such as Capt Chan Yi Xiang, Ma Hau Yee, Wenhao, Yiyuan, Guangyao, Ze Lin, Joshua, Chor Yen (my helpful cityville neighbour)
- My IO friends Kendrick, Ronnie Fun, David
- All other aero friends that I worked with in one way or another (which is almost the whole of aero cohort)
- All other NTU friends I have worked with in many modules
- Aero senior Ming Feng (2010/2011 batch) for helping me with GIP subject matching, AE0637 as well as many other stuff.
- Aero seniors from Aerospace Society Jian Yang and Yeunn Ject, for advising me on academic matters and also recognizing my abilities
- Aerospace Society friends Joo Sheng, Qiong Wei, Chee Wai, Xiaolong, Wang Hao, Melvin, Yong Wee, Xiaohong, Delie (2010 committee), as well as Eugene, Meng Han (2009 committee)
- Friends and Seniors from UOC Z-Group, UOC Committee 2009, LDP
- My marathon buddy Jeremy Tay
- JC buddies from CBE Jian Hong and Guo Jian
- DSO buddy Shaun Lin, colleagues and interns (Hongyi, Kian Guan, Lester, Soon Ghee, Joo Wah, Kian Huat, Joey, Xianglin, Anthony, Su Feng etc) and supervisors Feixiang
- Juniors I know from URECA exhibition (Yu Qi and Zhiren)
Graduation also marks a new point in my life, where I better work my ass off to pay off all the debts I have accumulated -_-"
Making the Impossible Possible
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