Wishing for a miracle to happen each day

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 has been a really amazing year, filled with many trials, love-hate relationships and of course, achievements.

I started off 2014 fresh from my experiences of being overseas (on a student exchange programme) and fresh from the knowledge of the illness of a beloved family member. It was a struggle to get used to a new lifestyle to accommodate new changes in my family. 5 years to live they said. I pray it will be at least another 30 years.

In January, I embarked on a life-changing internship to Chevron Oronite Pte Ltd, which changed the way I viewed Chemical Engineering. I got to finally work on Jurong Island full-time, as per what I promised myself (and A*Star administration) so many years ago. I recall the day I had my 1st round interviews for A*Star. The 3 scientists in the room asked me where I saw myself in a few years' time. I told them, I hoped to work on Jurong Island - it was a lifelong dream, I told them. And they were surprised. "Girls don't usually want to work there!"

A few years on, I can safely say...I enjoyed the experience and found something that I was passionate about. Chemical Engineering. One day I hope I can go back into the industry and contribute.

Anyway, back to Chevron. Chevron saw me make many new friends and colleagues. I was sad to leave, yes, but it was an experience to remember. I had such a great time there and I believe that I proved my worth to the engineers. I am an A*Star scholar and I produce A*Star quality work.

So during my time in Chevron, I also simultaneously took 2 night modules and headed Project C.A.N. XI,.

C.A.N. was a project which pushed my boundaries. 40000 units of food items and 3000 kg of rice. AMAZING. I had the chance to work with crazy like-minded peers and had the chance to learn many new things - I handled grants, managed relationships and spotted talent.

After completing my internship in June, I proceeded to head C.A.N. for its final preparations. In July, we finally executed the project. Despite hiccups, C.A.N. is now en route to Student Achievement Awards 2015 :D I hope we win!

In August, after completing C.A.N., I proceeded to take more modules and started work on my Final Year Project. Amongst the modules which I took was MT4002, which was a amazing module which saw Jeff Funk teach the subject with zest. I thoroughly enjoyed it. CN3135 and HAZOP was fun too. So yayyy.

Back to FYP. For FYP, I took it under Prof Neal Chung, working on membrane technology. Prof Chung proved to be a lovely grandfatherly person who was often asking after me in the laboratory. When he got to know that I was thinking of pursuing a PhD, he was ever so encouraging, telling me that I should go for it and come back to NUS if I couldn't get into a programme overseas. Then there was Dr Li Xue, my mentor, who was a wonderful newly minted doctorate with great ideas for future direction of the project - she was a good "explainer" of concepts and helped me along alot along the way. Cheng Zhenlei, a PhD candidate at the lab, was yet another memorable figure. He was ever so willing to help me around the lab and was indeed a person who taught me alot of the techniques needed for membrane study.

Membranes. I think they aren't really my cup of tea as I do not have the green fingers for good results. But still, I'm glad to say that I have a shot at publishing my work within the next year. So that sounds like a good prospect for 2015.

Oh so anyway, 2015 will be a year where I will publish my second research paper in my entire life and it will be a year where I find out if I will be going to graduate school after all.

Everything is not confirmed, so I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

So anyway...new year resolutions. Let's start by reviewing last year's:

So in 2014...
1) I shall maintain my run schedule even whilst going on IA.- Kinda Met
2) I shall continue to improve academically and sacrifice everything necessary to reach this goal. - FAILED
3) I shall keep up my study schedules and timetables to keep graduate school applications on track. - MET
4) I shall keep up my eye exercise schedules, control and limit my food intake to keep my illness at bay, so as to ensure that no vomiting or nausea signs occur in school or at work. - MET
5) I shall aim to spend more time at home, helping my mum with chores. - MET
6) I shall aim to not alienate friends and keep up my social life, meeting new people, not turning into a social hermit. - MET
7) I shall aim to make 10 new friends this year. - DEFINITELY MET

Well...I deproved in this academic year...but haiz. nvm, we'll see how that goes with A*Star later on...

In 2015...
1) I will run 3 times a week
2) I will reduce my presence on social media
3) I will get a guy (or at least get to know more guys hahahah - this one is dictated by my girlfriends)
4) I will travel, perhaps with friends

Yep. 4 hard goals for 2015.

Happy New Year everyone!

~7:26 pm

* * *

About me:

Rita
a.k.a. Pearlz, BuBu, Dugong
Twenty Three!
(as of egg day : 25/10/92)
~~River Valley High School~~
~~Fairfield Methodist Primary School~~
~~0.5 Bizarrian & 3/4 Emo-ian~~ & ~~5/6 Ding-Dong-ian~~
~~NUS Chemical Engineer~~
NUS Industrial Engineer
~~RVGG~~ - ~~Mynah~~ - ~~Oriole~~
~~Venture Scout~~ - ~~Science Society~~
~~NUS Students' Community Service Club~~
Part-time tutor

Descriptives:
1. One crazy ENTJ gal who loves milo with anything and can't live a day w/o it
2. Adores Chemistry
3. Loves Yellow, White, Blue and lately, a little orange
4. Loves writing poems, reading and blogging
5. Can be an entertainer or a hardcore studious girl at will
6. Crazy about sports & the outdoors
7. LOVES BEARS! whoots!
8. Quote to live by: Enjoy what each day will bring,you must ask to know,listen to grow,and let your imagination sing! [adapted, Caz's Rules]

**The top specialist in the Department of Rita-rdeds in the Mental Health Institute :D**

[[ The Wishlist ]]

New book!
~~get crazy...~~
Good Results
No tutorials!
Have loads of sleep
New clothes(from head to toe)

*Keeping A Smile On My Face :D*