Well, I guess my peer teaching group is finally done with our first assignment. And I would say it would not have been possible if not because of my great team mates, Ho Zong and Kar Liang. :) It is definitely intimidating working with people much older than me. But I've learnt pretty much too.
Comparing my maturity level with theirs, I've realized that I've to start acting more like an adult. Ever since the first day I stepped into NUS, I had a real culture shock. People were mugging hard on the first day already, and the school system was so independent. I could blame it on MOE, which is always making sure students follow their system over the years. But I've decided that hopefully I will take up more responsibility and more control over my next few years in NUS.
Judging by my performance on today's presentation, I was a little disappointed with it. Though some comments were a tad bit harsh, but I guess I'm definitely still learning, and I'm striving to do better for the next one. :D
Hi Jia Ai,
ReplyDeleteDon't give up! I too had a culture shock when I first entered NUS. It was a tough time especially for most guys who have served 2 years of NS away from the books and rigor of studying. So you're not alone, as you still have great friends in class who aren't all that old.
Given your cheerful character, you will definitely be an asset to any team as a primary morale booster which is vital to any successful collaboration. Of course, beyond the smiles and laughter, I believe that you have substantial qualities to contribute to any team which you may not realize yourself.
My take about working with more mature/experienced people is to show your fervent passion and energy in learning as different people come from different backgrounds and it is the approach/perspectives rather than the technical knowledge/skills that ultimately matters. Have faith in yourself!
Cheers,
Sam
Hi Jia Ai,
ReplyDeleteSam is right about showing your "fervent passion"; people appreciate it when they can see you are trying your best and not stealing their ideas.
It is actually advantageous to be with students older than you. Seniors give you a sense of persepctive of the workload you will face and how you should spend your next few years at NUS.Of course, ultimately, it depends on you and what you want for yourself.
I can understand your disappointment. I am sure you rehearsed very hard and did not anticipate the glitch since the team actually checked the clip before the presentation. This caused you to panick, and it affected your performance and the audience's perspective of you.
What you need to ask yourself is: if I were to be in such a situation again, how should I respond?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Jia Ai,
ReplyDeleteI totally missed out on this post when I was reading through the blog posts of those in our class, but I thought maybe I could comment on it now.
Frankly speaking, I really admire your honesty with yourself. Admitting one's mistake is often a painfully hard task, much less publicising it. I think this is a really great first step towards self improvement.
Personally, I thought you did great in the presentation, especially given that this is your first formal presentation in front of a sizable audience. From my personal experience, I used to shake like a leaf when it came to presentations, but I found that speaking frequently to different groups of people helped to reduce this fear gradually. Instead of just mixing around with the same group of friends, make new friends, and if possible engage them in conversations. Being virtually strangers, speaking to them can be a daunting experience, but I felt that they were very valuable for presentations, as often, the audience are people I have little prior contact with.
I used to refer to some similar points listed in the website below to build up my confidence levels. I can't profess to being an excellent speaker, but I hope that my suggestions would help in improving your communication skills.
5 tips for public speaking website link: http://ezinearticles.com/?Public-Speaking---5-Tried-and-Tested-Ways-to-Overcome-Your-Stage-Fright-and-Nervousness&id=695026
Last but not least, we really enjoyed working with you over this presentation. I think we still have much to learn towards effective communication, and given the upcoming presentations, there isn't a more opportune time to pick up even more communication skills.
Regards,
ho zong