I am really glad that I've finally come to the end of my academic career (at least temporary). It was extremely overwhelming as I sat inside the auditorium, lining up at the side of the stage waiting for my turn to go on stage, having shook the presenter's hand and be handed my degree scroll. Never in my dreams have I expected this day to leave me lingering in the times when I was in NUS, needless to say be in the elite group of FCH graduates.
People, you have completely no idea how precious that title is, or rather how many people covet for that honour. In the sea of people, there are only 43 FCH graduates in the entire Social Sciences cohort, which includes those from Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, CNM, etc. and including those from the double degree programmes. If we narrow down to the Economics Honours Class, then there is an elite group of 23 students (including those Law, Engineering, and Business students) who will eventually land the prize of the FCH title. Initially, I didn't think much of it. It was only until Monday, 12 July 2010 that I realise how fortunate I am to have been presented that honour and I start to have serious thoughts about what I am doing right now and in the foreseeable future.
So the 10 of us sitting in the FCH section started chatting over our employment, job prospects, salary scale, job scope. That was when I started to feel really lousy. All of us are employed by the Ministries and I've to say mine is definitely the lousiest of them all. After chatting to them, I realise that the Ministry that I work in is a place where the top-tier graduates shun and see it as a drop in the bucket in the realm of Public Service.
To cut to the chase, I feel that whatever I am doing now is seemingly meaningless in comparison to my pals who graduated with FCH. People are reading papers, doing analytical work, making presentations to perm secs, deputy directors of various depts whereas for me, I am reading work full of grammar mistakes, spelling errors, lacking in depth and general knowledge e.g. "Wheat is used to make corn".! The days when I read research papers, simulate regressions, analyse data and results are all gone with the wind. :(
To add bitter icing to the rotten cake, I think I do face quite a lot of people who do not put their money where their mouth is and of course the it's a small world people! It is not as though I can't find my feet in the environment unlike the freshies days in NUS, I just need bigger and better things to fill my mental capacity.
But anyway, I guess there's no point in my having a chip on my shoulder since I have penned it years ago. Or maybe LK is completely ON THE MARK. They can't make a 18 year old make decisions. :) It's unfair!
Best Pals since the Poly days..... :))
The Economist gang - times of playing monopoly deal, Wii, argghh! How I miss them!
So happy after we finally threw the mortar board...
There are many more pictures... Just too lazy to upload from my camera..... we shall await..
