Biodata

Ke Yizhen Joyce is a fourth-year Chemistry major studying at the National University of Singapore. Currently, she is engaged in her final year project, which involves active researching in the laboratory. She has been trained to solve problems methodically and logically through the intensive coursework in the Chemistry field over the years.

Joyce has gained an enriching working experience from holding various temporary jobs in her vacation time. She has learnt to be sharp and precise, and has honed her interpersonal skills through her short stints as an assistant in the finance department of two different companies. It has also given her an insight to the working environment in the finance sector. Joyce was also able to carry out her responsibilities as an administrative assistant efficiently as she is a well-organized and meticulous individual.

Being an active person, Joyce enjoys playing various sports and she is always open to trying out new ones. She has participated in various activities such as recreational netball and aerobic exercises in the university. She was also a table-tennis school team player during her secondary and junior college days. Through six years of diligent and intensive training, Joyce has learnt to be disciplined and has since been motivated to jog regularly around her neighbourhood.

EDITED 19th October 2008

Reflections on project

In the past three years of my varsity life, I had done several projects for different modules. Of them all, the report that I’ve done for ES2007S is probably the most structured one. There were clear instructions and guidance from Brad throughout the report writing process. It was definitely a positive learning experience as I have picked up proper skills in preparing and writing a professional report.

Most importantly, I learnt that effective communication between group members truly plays a crucial role in churning out a full-length report. One could not have done it alone given the limited timeframe for the report. Amidst the busy schedules that my project members and I have, we had to rely largely on emails and text messages to communicate with each other regarding our individuals’ roles and responsibilities. The tone used in these messages had to be appropriate in order to avoid potential conflicts or miscommunication. Ideas or any instructions conveyed using these forms of communication had to be clear and precise so as to facilitate clear understanding. Separate tasks had to be completed on time to facilitate the progress of the report. Similarly, I have learnt that teamwork is particularly important in this aspect. For instance, updates on individual’s progress in the assigned task are necessary so that each member knows the parts that have been completed and the parts that need further chiselling. In this way, efficiency and productivity can be ensured and that everything can go about smoothly.

Teamwork is also essential in trying to overcome difficulties. For example, in this project, the initial number of survey respondents did not meet the expected quota and hence, we had a problem of a small sample group. However, we managed to put our brains together and came up with suitable ideas like mass emailing all of our friends to complete the survey.

For the upcoming oral presentation, I would like to convey our project ideas to the audience as clearly as possible. This will require constant practising and rehearsing with the team in order to give a fluent and well-prepared presentation. Once again, team coordination is essential in this aspect.

Edited 12 October 2008