I want to get my Masters before i turn 30

Mmm.. suddenly I feel a strong urge to get a MBA before I turn 30. well, before that.. I shall earn my first class honours or at least a second upper for my undergraduate studies.

Msc Maritime Studies? MBA in Finance? Masters in public policy and government? Masters in BA? Mmm.. let me think about it seriously. My military career is not going to stop me from achieving my dreams. If I had to leave to complete my studies... mmm.. maybe I would. Well, the best scenario would be that I can be allowed to do my Masters while I serve my bond. Seeking for higher education..

I must be the top 1 percent in the world.. in terms of?... mmm... i will think abt it. haha

I knew very little abt the middle east crisis.

For the past one week, major newspapers around the world have been reporting on the conflicts and confrontations between Isarelis Forces and the Hezbollah (in south lebanon). I never knew anything in depth about the middle east conflict until I spoke to this Austrain reporter on Saturday afternoon. Afterwhich, I went on to search on the internet for more information about this crisis and other news which are related to the build up of this military confrontation...

Apparently, Hezbollah ignited this conflict by kidnapping 2 Isarelis soldiers.. and that caused Isarel to retaliate with disproportionate amount of force by launching series of air strikes in south lebanon. I was shocked and disturbed by the number of innocence who were killed in this confrontation.. mmm.. there is just to much to write ... but basically. the civillians are often the ones who die and suffer from such 'political' disputes...

Someone wrote: If the US or its ally uses force, it is for security purposes. If anyone else uses force, it is called terrorism. Interesting.. isnt it? maybe we should all sit down and start thinking abt this.

World Peace.

Harvard University

The best of the best. When can I get there? Will I ever get there to study one day? Maybe for a MBA, or even just for professional courses or formal events which certifies my participation. haha.

I want to be the best among the best. I want to be on top of the world. Working hard now.. pray hard that one day, I can join the rank of the elites. Not elite class in singapore, but global elites.

Working hard. maybe one.. who knows for sure? Desire for learning continues. desire for intellectual stimulation is tremendous. Desire... I have the greatest desire to reach there one day.

2 more weeks to go

time flies. 2 more weeks to go. 3 more exams at UCLA and I would have completed 2 psychology modules at UCLA. The experience is fantastic.. it is truely amazing and I love it here. Well, although the trip is pretty pricey but I cherish these special moments. It is all worthwhile.. making new friends, learning new stuff, travelling independently, seeing new things, experiencing a new culture. I will never forget abt this beautiful experience.

I look forward to Yr 2 sem 1 in NTU. Hope that there will be positive changes in the learning environment. I look forward to learning and to growing both intellectually and physically. I pray that one day, back at home, we will truely become the best in the world. not only academically but also in the areas of arts, culture.. living etc etc..

It is not about the little little things in life; it is about the special moments that we'll remember.

first piece of work completed.. social psychology

Spent my entire sunday working on this piece of assignment. cant believe it! I am pretty disappointed with my speed.. not much inspiration. But the good news was that i completed the assignment under little stress.. quite enjoyed the luxury of time... it was a peaceful sunday. Maybe it was also a good idea to stay home and 'rest'.. and that i have completed my work, maybe i can go out on Monday. haha.

Still have an exam to study for though. Dev. Psych test on Tuesday.. heavy weightage.. dun pray pray. And I will receieve my 130 take home exam on Tue.. to be submitted on Thurs. expecting a busy week ahead! I hope to get reply from the childcare centre soon though.. meanwhile, I shall do some research on report writing on infant studies. Must score for this written assignment.

That's all. I pray for a fun-filled and enriching week ahead!

In social relations, Self esteem is mantained through:

1. Social reflection
2. Social comparison

Abraham Tesser's: Self evaluation maintenance model. This theory explains why we draw closer to or away from successful people we have relationship with due to our desire to maintain self esteem.

- self esteem increases when u engage in social reflection
- " " decrease when u engage in social comparison

Emotional bond determines the stronger the self esteem effect.

Determinants of whether one engage in social reflection or comparison:
1. relevant of event to self concept
2. Certainty abt abilities in the certain domain

Reduce self esteem threat:

1. exaggerate the ability of victor
2. downward comparison
3. emotional distancing
4. disidentification with task

What is the diff between "I" and "me"?

Studying in Powell Library

Studying has never been so 'fun' and 'exciting' for me. Am I going crazy? haa.. well I guess that for me, the studying environment plays an important role in determining my 'productiveness' and effectiveness' in learning.

The Library is indeed a great place.. the traditional western architecture is simply beautiful.. feels as in I have been set back 50 years... just like what we often see in Hollywood movies... Intellectuals browsing thru the shelves and reading very chim aricles. ahaha

I have borrowed my Dev. Psych text and I shall work on it tonight. Also, I will need to start work on my observation study liao. Pray hard that I get my slot cos the Child Care centre offered me a slot which I had lesson and hence I called them this morning to change the slot.. Please approve my visiting.. ahaa.. else die liao.. where to find children to 'stare at'? I love kids. They are lovable and adorable... U know why kids have BIG ROUND eyes? I know.

Today is Friday... I slept for almost half of the day.. no idea why I felt so tired.. well prob I expanded to much energy at the Dodgers Game.. wahaha.. The school is very empty.. wheres the usual crowd? All gone partying.. i guess.. come on, it is a Friday! Think only loser like me will stay on campus.. but who cares.. I had my fair share of fun yesterday.. cant party forever right?
Well, i will be going for a swim in abt an hour time.. a consolation? ahhaa..

One thing I have learnt today..or rather I ought to have learnt long time ago is that I shall never stay in my room.. cos it makes me depress and sleepy. The sun is right up in the sky and I am stucked in my room.. what the hell... Coming out on campus.. or even to the library makes me more awake.. I just need to see humans.. haa..

Back to my book.

Second week of tutotial

Had fun in class... but all the deadlines and quizes are coming up next week.. so... I have to really start studying.

I met this girl in class called Sarah.. she is going to be a mum soon! How cool, coming to class with a small little boy in her stomach.. whaahaa.. maybe it is good cos next time when the boy grows up... he may become very intellectual.. whhaa.. she is a happy mother-to-be.

Weird things happen in LA, or rather in US. haha. feeling tired now, I am gonna take a noon nap. Afterwhich, I will wake up and study.. and maybe visit westwood or sth lidat. Need to purchase my MLB tix tonight.. life rocks!

I am going to cherish every moment here.... Dear, I miss you though. No worries... when you go to Sydney, we can have our honeymoon there.. wahaha.. pp?

*evil-grin* If you dun want it to happen to you, dun do it on others? heehee..

I am having a great time.. time to study VERY Hard!!

I am having a great time at UCLA.. though i miss my dearest girl and my family.. heez. Mmm, life here is really different from Singapore. I guess that i appreciate the climate, the culture and the atmosphere here. Sth new is always a novelty. At least, for now, I am still quite excited abt exploring the place and meeting new people.. haha.

But as I maintain, this trip is really expensive. In order to justify the cost of the trip, I guess that the least I could do is to learn some concrete from the lessons and to give my fullest attention in class. Also, from now onwards, I will consciously take note of best practices here so that I can bring it back home to share with my friends and even lecturer. We must learn from others in order to improve.. right?

At the end of the trip, I must not only pass the 2 psych subjects, but I must only ensure that I truely benefit from the new knowledge that I have gained. also, from the new friendships forged.

ya.. my lectuere just emailed me.. mmm he asked me to call him.. duno whether he has some good projects on hand.. haa. hope so.

should I go to SF?

A week in California 25 June to 2 July 2006

Cliche as it may sound, time flies. I have already been in Los Angeles, California for one week. To be more specific, in UCLA.

It is indeed a great place to be! Nice surrounding, nice buildings and everything.. but the temp is climbing in the summer. Hoepfully I can still take it.. haha.

The first day , Sunday 25 June - Arrived in LAX at 2040 on THAI. The flight was pretty comfortable and the food onboard is pretty good for economy class. it took me 2 hrs from sin to BK and another 17 hrs from BK to LAX. Still remembered that i reached Changi airport at about 12 noon sin time with a large contigent... haaha.. sending off party. zhen, my parents, bro +gf, grandparents, 3 aunties and uncle .. amazing right?

Upon arrival at LAX, I actually did not know where to head to immediately, though I know that i have to look for the BLUE super shuttle service which will bring me to UCLA. Luck was with me.... I found the shuttle stop and boarded the bus within the next 10 min or so. Reachec Rieber Hall at abt 11pm and checked in without any hussle. The process was pretty fast and efficient. The hall turned out to be better than I had expected.

Day 2 Monday - I had no lesson today. Just wanted to orientate myself with the campus and look ard the beautiful campus. Day 1 in campus.. what a beautiful sight.. the green fields and so on.. went to crash for a lesson on management and leadership with Jinyu (cos nothing much to do).. meanwhile, still adjusting to the jet lag. feeling a bit blur thruout the day. the day just passed like this.. nothing much. got a first preview of lec in UCLA. pretty impressed with the facilities and the teaching style.

Day 3, Tuesday - My FIRST official day of lectures. Social Psychology was great fun. the lecturer is interesting and engaging.. sth very diff from singapore. Dev Psych was rather boring and 'content-full'. resembles sin lec system. haha, is it just my bias? Maybe. Anyway, the students here appear to be pretty intellectual. at least on the surface.. aha.

Day 3, Wednesday - FIRST tutorials. the students are indeed 'intimidating' very intelligent and out-spoken. The tut were fun filled and engaging.. everyone spoke up.. including me!! haha. I guess that the culture and values here are just diff.. can u imagine - people can just offer their personal opinion on how they feel after reading the article, without prompting from the tutor. the entire class is orchestrated by the students. Interesting enough.. maybe we can learn from them. New discussion points and qns are initiated by students rather than by the tutor. Got to start studying hard now.... siren sounding.. haha.

Day 4 - 2 lec. went for 1.5 lec, skipped the last hour of dev. lec cos I was rushing for the Greyhound BUS to Las Vegas!!! 4 Days 3 Night!!

More on LV.. to be continued..