FINALLY!!!

Oct 18 2011 was my thesis defense. After 4.5 years
of hard work, this was the day. There is an
oral presentation followed by a Q & A
with the audience and then another
closed door Q & A with the
examiners.

A month ago, the office staff told me that she was
arranging a date for me for the defense and
I was immediately quite anxious.

Talking for 30 minutes in front of the crowd
require some getting used to.

So much was at stake. I have other plans & I
don't want to fail the defense & be stuck
for the next 6 mths.

I was a bit excited when the staff told me
to keep my Nov 18 for the presentation.
The next 3-4 days, I think I could
feel the anxiety. The funny thing
is it's just didn't last.

As the days get nearer, I was looking
forward to it. After all, if I cleared
it there will lotsa fun time
celebrating with my
frenzs.

Boss asked me to rehearse in front
of my lab colleagues. The delivery
wasn't that smooth although I
was quite pleased because
I didn't really feel much
anxiety while delivering
my presentation.

Boss told me that my examiners specialise
in immunology so I should try to make
sure I equipped myself well to
handle the questions.

The actual defense went very well. I was
really calm and I feel in total control
during the presentation. It is one
of my best 30 min presentation
that I have given.

Years ago, I remembered I was 'suffocated'
by my anxiety, tt time I was criticized by
the examiners of the module. It was
my first long presentation, quite
memorable.

Time really do flies, the 4.5 years of hardship
finally eases away. I am glad to have
very nice colleagues and an understanding
boss who provides the platform for
me to complete my postgraduate.

Boss was very patient during the 4.5 years.
There was a barren period of 2 years when
I have no results. The stress is immense
because I was thinking how I am going
to graduate on time.

_______________________________________

In the past week, I finally went to my first
interview. After submitting more than
10 resumes, I didn't receive any
interview. Justin told me
his company is hiring.

After three rounds of interviews, I got
the job! Thank you, Justin.

It is a sales job. Some pple find it
pretty strange because they
think it is quite a waste.

When Justin broached the idea to me,
I actually quite like it. I don't know whether
I will be a good salesperson but I
guess I am good at certain
aspects of the job.

It will be quite different from research.
The stress is at a different level. Actually,
contrary to what people think, PhD is
actually quite stressful.
In the end, my project almost
failed. It was so close to failure.

I think I 'lost' my life during this 5 years.

Most of my frenzs don't agree and
said I have work-life balance. I
think the residual fear was
slowing sipping away
my energy.

Research is a very unique kind of job. So,
I really have no regrets doing my
postgraduate. If I have it all
over again, I will still do
it.

As for sales, I have no idea how it is going
to be like. It is going to be an adventure.

I do feel a pinch of pain leaving research.
I couldn't forget colleagues like Karen,
Junli & Larry who really give me
a lot of support.

Karen is tough to others but she has always
been a kind advisor. She was my mentor
through my initial stage when I have
close to 0 technical skills.

Junli is generous and always offer her
equipments for me to use. I am
ever grateful for her generosity.
That, we share the same
birthday is also quite
a coincidence.

I remember I always thought that Larry
was rather cold before I actually know
him. I think he really embraces
research. He has been very
nice to me as well & he
gave me valuable
advices when I
needed them
most.

Even though there is plenty of hardship, I
really have fond memories of the people
I met in Paediatrics. I get emotional
when I think about how this 5 years
is going to end.

I also have fond memories of the attendants
which I chat with from time to time.

In these difficult years, I have coached
my students Janelle & Jonathan
from secondary school all the way
to JC. I remember those Fridays
after lab and teaching them till
11pm. Their parents are
very nice. It is amazing
that I coach them
for 7 years
already.

_____________________________________

I was at Avatar on a Saturday night with
Kian Leng & Yijun. The place is quite
big & I think the DJ is not bad.

The cocktail is also good, you can really
taste the vodka. My frenzs actually
complained that the cocktail was
too strong.

For me, I am trained by KK & pals,
so it was ok for me. I am still a
bad drinker and in comparison
to KK, we are miles apart.

KK asked me to be his 'brother' for his
wedding and I told him tt it is bad
being his 'brother' cuz he got
too many 'enemies'.

KK is really a great & fun pal. With the
group, it is always fun.

Anyway, the major pitfall about Avatar
is that it just doesn't have the crowd.
I like the bar beside it, the DJ is
super duper awesome. Though
the place was empty, the music
just made me reluctant to
leave it.

We went back to club Avatar & I saw
a female DJ there. I think
female DJ is generally
v cool!

Anyway, we took a cab & when to
Clarke Quay. We loitered around
& decided not to pay a second
cover charge. In the end
we went for supper.

So, it is quite a weird clubbing night, but
quite oki. for me.

Kian Leng got the clubbing bug &
he wanted to be back before the
year ends.

Yijun also asked abt clubbing on New Year
Eve, I think my friends are gonna kill
me if I 'ditch' them to go clubbing so
I rejected her even though she
said she managed to persuade
a super 'VVVVIP' to go
as well.

_____________________________________

I will be off to Shanghai with Edwin. We will
be joined by his friend over there.

Generally, I prefer beach resort holiday to
sightseeing. I am actually quite
laid back & tt pace of life
suits me perfectly.

But, I only decided on the trip just 2 weeks back,
so it was quite difficult to plan a group
trip to a beach resort.

After the trip, my schedule will be quite packed. So,
I am quite disappointed that I don't have
one full month for myself before
my work starts on Jan 3.

Let's hope Shanghai will be fun!!!