I shall start from the very beginning, when I first started my uni life.
Back then, I didn’t really have a clear goal in mind. I was still pondering what can someone who studies maths can do in the future. During my first semester exam period, my mom got me a small stalk of pomegranate leaves, saying that it will give me luck. I didn’t say much and just keep it in my bag.
My first semester result was surprising good. And I gave credit to the same G2 pens that I used since A-level, or even O-level. During sem2, I got perfect score. That was when my ambitious began to grow; I was even hoping to get into the Dean's list. But sadly, it was still not good enough. But since then, I decided to set my target for 1st class.
And before I realise, I started to become rather superstitious. For every exam, I must bring the same 2 G2 pen and also the pomegranate leaves that my mom gave it to me. After Yr2 Sem1, I decided to set a target my for uni study - all maths mods get A- or above. And I started trying to apply for SUSEP, to go local exchange to NUS. The main purpose was to "S/U" the academic writing module, as I had no confident of getting an A- for an English writing module. But I didn’t get the slot, neither did mD.
My ambitious grew even larger during Yr2 Sem2. There was once Prof C quoted a question that I posted on the RA1 forum, saying that it is an interesting question and that he once thought about it too when he was an undergrad, and M jokingly called me Prof Sim. That was when I asked myself, why not? Prof Sim does sound nice. And I began to set my target at PhD.
Fortunately, mJ was in my academic writing group, and our group assignment was quite well done because of her help with the language. And I managed to get A- for my academic writing. Besides academic writing, another module that gave me a real headache was Abstract Algebra I. I almost wanted to S/U that module (because it is under UE), not to take the risk of getting below A-. But in the end I had decided not to S/U any maths mod. With the encouragement from the visiting Prof teaching that mod, I managed to score very well for that mod.
During yr3, I began to set my target as at least A- for all my modules. And I started trying modules that are more self-study rather than taught systematically. Like Undergrad research with Prof C, Independent Study with Prof Wgh. And subsequently URECA with Prof Whj. And during the Independent Study, according to Prof Wgh, having 4.8+ should be good enough to apply for Nanyang president's graduate scholarship. And thus, my target moved a step higher once again. Finally, my application for SUSEP was successful on the 3rd attempt.
Yr3 Sem2, the sem that just past, although in the end I get my first B+, it is the computing mod taken in NUS. So my degree audit is still safe.
(It is getting late 11:54pm and I’m getting lazy to type.)
To summarise, it seems that for every semester, that is at least a module that I am very worried about and will keep telling my dear how worried I was.
Yr1sem1 – Linear Algebra I, got my first maths test fail, 45/100 for midterm. A-
Yr1sem2 – Accounting, but my full mark midterm stopped me from S/U it, which I made the right choice. A
Yr2sem1 – Probability and intro to Stats, never really liked stats, maybe due to JC, it caused me my first in maths in that cohort. A-
Yr2sem2 – Abstract Algebra I, the first module that I went to library to photocopy almost the entire book for revision, hard work does help. A+
Yr3sem1 – Complex Analysis, very different teaching style. Didn’t get a very clear picture of what is needed to know. A-
Yr3sem2 – Coding Theory, no notes, everything copy from board, messy, confused. A-
Final sem… All the best!
~milkteaisthebest~
