Graduation

Hi!

I have officially graduated from my University and have officially obtained my degree on the 1st of August!

However, because I have done internship instead of Final Year Project, I officially completed my degree on a later date than those whom have done FYP. Resulting in my degree certificate to not be ready for collection during my convocation and I was emailed today (2 days after my convocation) that my certificate is ready for collection. Thanks NTU, whats the purpose of convocation when I can't get all the relevant certificates on that day and that I needed to make an extra trip down to collect it. 

But anyhow, the lame-ness of the issue is not the purpose of this post.

While I made the extra trip down to school to collect my certificate, it hit me that I have worked so hard in the past 3 years for this piece of paper I am holding. A piece of paper.

There are definitely memories, photos, friendships, good times, bad times and last but not least the piece of paper.

At that moment, I am like WOW this is the end huh. The end of the legendary paper chase.


-end of random reflection-

Author Recommendation

Hi all,

As my hunt for my career continues, I have resumed to reading during my free time and recently, through a facebook post by a friend of an article 53 books you will not be able to put down , I went to the library to hunt them down.


Unfortunately, most of the books in the list were either not available in the library I went to or have been borrowed out. But one of the authors in the list was Octavia Butler. Which reminded me that she is a "not bad" author and that I liked her writing.

28. Kindred by Octavia Butler

Beacon Press

Leslie Howle

In the midst of her 26th birthday celebration, Dana, a black woman living in 1976 L.A., finds herself abruptly transported to a slave plantation in the antebellum South. She continues to be rocketed between the time periods and left to reckon with her place in both. Butler’s trademark realism makes this a gripping and unforgettable read.

—Mariella G.

- extracted from buzzfeed.

Previously, during my university times ( T.T, I feel so old now that I have completed my official graduation) I did a module on Monsters in Literature and Film. One of the literature we were required to read for the module was Fledging by Octavia Bulter. 

Through the module, I discovered Octavia and liked her style of writing and found it unique that it is from a perspective of a black woman. Not that I am racist, but I believe that Octavia may have experienced some racism growing up or being around and it was reflected in her writing. Which was really interesting as it touches on some topics of how we treat people of colour and how people of colour would feel and though about in some of her writings. Which I find quite relevant as I am living in Singapore, a multiracial country with people from all ethnicity and religion living harmoniously.

In Fledging, it is about a genetically modified black vampire girl whom is immune to sunlight due to her skin colour. In the story, her family was hunted down and destroyed due to their attempts in unconventional vampire creation, where by some of the communities in the book, is a threat and repulsive as it degrades the vampire's "purity" and "superiority". In the story, the girl has to prove to the people whom hunted her family down that she is a "better version" of their community and that it is not a derogatory of their kind. 

What I liked about Octavia was it her stories are quite unconventional (a different kind of vampire in Fledging as compared to the "conventional" pale skin handsome vampire in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series) also, it touches on racism. I felt that for a person to write stories like Fledging, she must have been through quite a bit to come up with that perspective where the young girl have to prove to all the adults and officials that she is of no harm and that she is just like them. Which makes me ponder about how we and the society are treating people now. And how a general misconception may affect the recipients. 

So far, I have only read Fledging. Seeing that her other books were recommended by buzzfeed, I am certain that her writings are worth a read. 

Quote of the week

Hi again,

I just want to share with you a quote that i read off instagram which I find it really meaningful.

Do not compare someone else's chapter 20 to your chapter 1. 

All the best to everyone in whatever you do. ^^

Troubles of a job hunter

Hi.

It has been 1 full month of my official unemployment.

I have ended my internship on the 10th June. Went on a holiday for 1 week and returned on the 18th June.

I started sending applications immediately after I got back to Singapore.
The total number of applications I sent till this day is probably 30 applications? Mostly through online portals such as jobstreet and jobsDB. 

But I've not received any calls for interviews yet.

This month has been a never ending cycle of waking up at 10 in the morning, having lunch, sometimes going out with friends, doing some calligraphy work in the night till 2 in the morning and restarting the cycle again.

It is mundane, aimless, but with lots of freedom. 

But this freedom is not for everyone and should not continue long term.
If I am not wrong, this is the first time that I  had so much freedom.

In the past, on every holiday, I would work part time. or participate in some school activities to fill up my days. This is the first where my main objective of waking up daily is to do whatever I want.
It was nice and enjoyable when this freedom persists for one or two weeks.

However, its has been almost a month now.

The stress and reality of not working, not having something to look forward to daily hits.

I mean like, why is it so hard to find a job?
- Poor economy
- Hiring managers need time to review the resumes
- My resume sucks
- I do not have the relevant skills
- Too many fresh graduates out there
- Everybody has a degree, employers want someone with 10 years of experience
- My job expections are too high, --> I want a good environment, decent pay, good learning experience.

I do not know who can I turn to for help. Approaching the staff in my school's career office may not help much. They will most probably just vet my resume, tell me sites where I can send my resumes.
Which, to be honest, does not help much.

Nevertheless,

I am really really glad that I have supportive parents that does not give me additional stress to my unemployment and still give my pocket money. I am also glad that I worked part time previously and have enough savings to last me for quite sometime. 

For now, I guess all I can do is to just wish myself luck in my job hunt and hope for the best.


good luck to all job hunters out there as well.