My biweekly journal: 18 Aug - 31 Aug
The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity, balancing between university studies, volunteering, interviews preparation and part-time work. Time flew by as I found myself drowned in events after events, yet enjoying the process of meeting new people and challenge myself with unfamiliar problems. It’s been busy and productive, but definitely worth it!
Notable events
- My First Two Weeks of Studies in SMU
For my first semester at SMU, I'm taking five modules: Financial Accounting, Writing and Reasoning, Big Questions, Economics and Society, and Italian. Coincidentally, most of my professors expect students to pre-read and prepare before lectures, so I have already had multiple assignments within the first two weeks. From reading research papers on what happiness and suffering mean to watching videos on indifference curves and the oligopoly kinked demand curve, the diverse knowledge I'm absorbing has brought both the satisfaction of learning and long hours spent in the library.
- Community Service Sessions
Volunteering and interacting with seniors after a year brought back nostalgic memories, especially when I saw their smiles and how much they enjoyed the activities. My nerves was soothed as we got into the arts and crafts we made together. I also had my first experience to converse in Malay with seniors who don't speak English, and even though my Malay was rusty, it helped break the ice between us.
- Preparation for Investment Club and Audit Club Interviews
After signing up for the EYE Investment Club and SMU FACT, I was notified about upcoming interviews. For FACT, which focuses on auditing, there wasn't any need to prepare technical knowledge. However, EYE required a pitch deck presentation on an investment idea for those wanting to join their Analyst program. Hours were squeezed out to read up on the foreign knowledge of Forex and preparation of slides. It was a frantic and rushed period together with a friend of mine who signed up for it too. I ended up submitting the pitch deck early, and I panicked when I found out the professionalism of others' presentations, but it was too late for any changes.
I was not confident after the interview due to multiple errors and misunderstandings pointed out by the interviewers, but I had left the outcome to fate.
- Attended Deloitte Discovery Day
From the corporate tour and networking sessions with recruiters, to the insightful sharing and delicious food booths, I enjoyed every bit of the Discovery Day. Even though I attended the event alone, I ended up meeting a sophomore from SMU’s School of Accountancy, and we had some great conversations throughout the day. I learned more about the FasTrack program, which has further solidified my interest in joining it. Besides, I had also learnt more about how Accounting Data & Analytics can benefit an audit career after talking with the senior manager of the IT Audit department. Overall, I was grateful to have attended this event — it’s made me even more excited about my upcoming audit internship.
- School Events: ASoc Night and JCC Natsu Matsuri Welcome Tea
ASoc Night is an annual event for School of Accountancy (SoA) students to catch up and socialize with old and new friends. I had a great time meeting up with my ASoc Camp friends and seniors, and I joined in on a few activities before I had to leave for another event hosted by the Japanese Cultural Club (JCC). Unfortunately, I missed out on taking photos with everyone, but I'm looking forward to attending more of these events in the future.
After rushing from ASoc Night, I made it to the JCC Natsu Matsuri Welcome Tea. It was an event rich in Japanese culture, and I especially enjoyed connecting with others who share my love for J-Pop. I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few exchange students at the event. I've always wanted to meet people who are into Japanese anime and music, and I think the upcoming JCC events will be a great way to do just that.
Top 3 outcomes for the upcoming week
'If the week ahead is going to be a great week, what would be the top 3 things I'd accomplish?'
- Complete the draft for Assessment 1 of Writing and Reasoning
- Continue writing on the book review/summary
- Learn the basic grammar structure of Italian
Top 3 outcomes from previous week
- ✅Have clear understanding for my first week of lectures
- ✅Start writing on a new book review
- ✅Read more on the philosophy of 'Happiness & Suffering'
