An interpersonal conflict (Blog Post #2 part 1)

Aaron spends most of his time in school together with Jacob and Alan. Somehow, the three of them hit it off right from day one. Taking the same modules together, having meals together, being in the same project groups, even taking the same bus home everyday. Aaron feels extremely comfortable with the other guys in his clique and they share great moments together.

Things however, began to change when they came to year 3. They decided to pursue different majors and this led to their drifting apart. Although Alan has gone on the student exchange program, Aaron still expected to have Jacob as company. Initially, Aaron assumed that Jacob would be able to have lunch together everyday, but that was no longer possible due to timetable clashes.

Soon, twice a week lunch meetings became once a week. Aaron also observed Jacob hanging out with another group of friends, apparently from his class. He began to feel frustrated, betrayed and alone. It didn’t help that he has trouble making new friends in a new environment. Even Aaron himself was surprised that he had difficulty coping with these new adjustments.

He also started to experience difficulties in his schoolwork. No longer having his best friends for consultation and support proved to be incredibly straining and he began to struggle more and more. Bitterness crept in, and he began blaming Jacob for ignoring him. Finally, Aaron decided to confront Jacob face to face.

Aaron evidently had difficulty managing his emotions and adapting to change. Confronting Jacob also resulted in much awkwardness and tension between them. How then should Aaron have responded to these changes in his school life?

Why is developing effective communication skills important to me? (Blog post #1)

Jerry is a 23-year-old undergraduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS). His girlfriend of 2 years finally gave up trying and broke up with him. Citing “He is a block of wood!” as the reason. Project group mates in school often brush off his ideas. “We don’t mean to be rude, but his ideas just didn’t come across as constructive”, says a classmate. He often scores low for his presentations, and his lack of confidence is obvious to all.

The importance of developing effective communication skills cannot be understated. Not only does it enable you to function well in school or the workplace, it also very much affects how well people take to you in your social life. An effective communicator often comes across as more confident, often gets along well with others and often wields more influence.

I believe that developing and equipping myself with such skills is an integral part of my education. We all interact with many people around us throughout the school day, including our classmates and lecturers through many different mediums, such as emails or face-to-face conversations. Whether we like it or not, others form impressions of us through the way we communicate. Every opportunity we get to speak in front of a class functions as a practice session, enabling us to up our confidence and competencies. Speaking and writing well means people can understand our point of view better, leading to higher levels of persuasion. The job interview is probably the ultimate example of how a good communicator can hold an advantage over someone who is not. Of course, being a good communicator is a must for anyone who hopes to be an effective leader.

However, the skill of effective communication isn’t limited to the scope of academic or work excellence. It would be rather pathetic if I took this module purely to do better in future ‘situations’! In fact, communication is a soft skill that enhances one’s life. Very much like how having a driving license gives you much freedom (and not just a skill for you to get a job)! I love to listen to people and understand their viewpoints. I love having meaningful discussions and conversations over a variety of topics. Communicating well also means being able to manage conflict better. Learning how to observe and read non-verbal cues has allowed me to become a more sensitive listener, not to mention a better friend!

There’s just so much to be gained from picking up these skills. In my opinion, be able to communicate well opens up so many windows. So much so that I’m willing to spend 3100 points from the Program Account to bid for this module! =) Lets all make the most out of this module, so as to avoid being Jerrys!

I'm a Mac-evangelist

I'm loving my Macbook. Anyone thinking of getting a new notebook? Seriously, between Vista and Leopard, there will only be one winner.

Audi R8

There's something about raw power, sleek lines, pure speed and the rumble of an accelerating car that appeals to guys. God must be a car lover since He created us in His own image.

Hello!

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my blog! =)
I figured that i should start off with something light-hearted.. instead of diving into the 'work' right away.
A few questions.. so as to self-introduce myself!

1) What do you enjoy doing??
- I love hanging out and chilling out with close friends over coffee! I'm seriously a dessert junkie!
- I love playing boardgames, and watching tv! (Discovery, HK serials etc..)
- I love to Sing! =)
- I love spending time with my girlfriend... awwww
- I love travelling.. soaking in the sights and smells!

2) Do you enjoy sports?
- Yes! I love to swim (not much time for it though)
- I used to play rugby (9 years for St Andrew's)
- I support Liverpool FC =)
- I'm taking part in the Sheares Bridge Run/Army Half Marathon (i'm so dead!)

3) Why am i taking this module?
- Seriously, NO EXAMS was a major draw for me. Of course, the opportunity to polish my communication skills seemed a good deal as well. =)

... eh.. i just realised asking myself questions might seem a little schizo.. enough then..
looking foward to learning more about everyone as well.. see ya all in class

Love,
Fu