FYP over 3 term papers 3 exams

Ok next lap, 3 term papers and 3 more exam papers to go. Quite a bit of work for a few weeks. Probably need to cut down my commitment on WOW and increase my work output at the same time. Hopefully the flu bug will go away so i can go on max speed from now on.

Anyway, had the chance to head down to dampsey road to had dinner at Prime Ribs (google it), it serves decent steaks and ribs. I had a full rack of pork ribs (Honey mustard) served with a generous share of fries, bbq Veg and corn. All in all cost 40 dollars for a pretty nice ambience.

Havent got a chance to upload the pic. Will do it once I manage to lay my hands on a cable.

FYP round up.

Ok, finally manged to sort out the contract with Accenture. Its pretty much set I would begin work there the beginning of next year.

At this point of time, I am still a little torn whether heading to a consulting position versus an entrepreneurial role in Garag3 would be beneficial. Hope I didn't make a wrong choice now. Eventually, hope all roads lead to Rome and this path would lead me back to my entrepreneurial dream.

Meanwhile, FYP prez is up. Hope the profs wouldn't get too edgy and start asking quantum questions. Sigh, the work never seem to finish, yet I can't wait for this to be over. I probably hate the amount of work that I need to finish within this one-two weeks. kinda killed off the joy of learning in Singapore. That's y some parents send their kids abroad cuz they prolly feel the education equates more to torture than learning! (though most Sings subscribe to the torture chain of thought)

At the same time, Iris's B-day is here. Really glad to be able to spend it with her this year. I missed the last two years since we were away overseas at different corners of the earth. Wish her a great year ahead.

Here's one reason why I smile a lot:

Stuck with 3 term papers, 1 FYP presentation

Stuck to finish this up before I can begin my examination prep work, which I have fallen very very far behind. It has gotten me a little worried, but not stressed yet.

Seems like I am feeling more of irritation rather than anything else.

Fortunately a job secured, I guess there's less pressure there. Still it wouldn't make mathematical sense to give up a hard fought 2nd upper at the last lap.

Guess i need an ice cold beer to keep me going and thinking straight.

Job Selection: Accenture or EDB

I was really fortunate to be offered a position at both Accenture and EDB. Both are positions are career opportunities that would promises a lot in the future. I had the spend the past two weeks contemplating and thinking of which would be a better choice.

Clearly, there isn't a superior choice. Rather I had to go wif my gut feel and hope I am not wrong. its in some way a leap of faith. Accenture here I come.

What probably warmed my heart today is that I guess made some friends in EDB in the mean time. Though I had to turn down their kind offer, something great did turn up, which is great friends.

Well, definitely hope to catch them around sometime.

Back to FYP> zzzzzzzz

Blogging from Funan

After a meetup with a business associate, I causally walked into Coffee Club in Funan Center. It appears that this place is not very well frequent and presents as a rather appealing place to recharge and do work. It incubates kinda inside Times book store on level 1. For people who are seeking a place to get internet access and don't mind paying between 5 to 10 bucks to get a seat, its quite a great place to lay back and enjoy a cup of coffee. The staff are warm and the service is great. Definitely don't mind coming back for another Apple crumble or another mud Pie.

Though Wireless@Sg kinda suck in terms of connection stability and speed, the minimum for me is to get e-mails out. Thankfully it succumbed to my persistent clicking. This week is crazy, term papers and lotsa commitments flying around. I am yearning for a time when I can throw these things down for a couple of days and relax.

On a separate note, Facebook Dev Garag3 was just over yesterday and the turnout was very good. We had probably like 30 people standing around (over capacity) and great response from the people. Web Developers might wanna check it out at www.e27.sg.

Facebook has just gotten a valuation of 15b from Microsoft and 240m injection from them. My guess is that they are going to worth a lot more than Youtube (which was bought out for 1.5b). The platform and value that could come from cross advertising and understanding the entire market is gonna be very valuable. So much so that, there's tons of apps online that's probably too suffocating. I really don't wanna check out my friend's profile that's like cluttered with tons of apps that don't make sense to me. Perhaps someone should write an app or script that can clear these things up.

K Heading back to school for lessons...

Oops! - New Job New Progress

A big sorry to my friends who come back to this blog to read. I realized I have a major problem trying to keep up recording events in my life. Perhaps I should try and make it a habit.

Things are looking really busy for the next month. Scores of term papers and catching up of coursework before I can officially leave my academic career.

Since looking out for jobs, I was fortunate to be given a couple of offers. Both could give a challenging and fulfilling career. I wish I could take up both, but like everything else in life, we often have to make a choice.

I know this one would ultimately impact my future, where I will be, how successful or sucky I will be in my career, my financial stability, etc. It would in many ways shape and depict how I will live my life over the next few decades.

Deciding wasn't easy and the warmth of my potential future colleagues did make it a lot harder to take sides. After much deliberation and consultation from friends and loved ones, I chose to give a shot at Accenture in the their System and Integration, Technology Consulting Arm. Getting the first job is like falling in love for the first time. It essentially feels the same, perhaps the leading on by would be too.

Dialogue with CEOs of IDA, EDB, Perm Sec from Info Comm, Education, etc

Today attended a dialogue session with the various CEOs and Perm Secretaries from the various ministries. It was a well co-ordinated event held in Sofitel San Francisco Bay, a pretty nice hotel in Redwood city. The event started with refreshments and a chance to begin networking session at 6.30. Following that, we began the dialogue session promptly at 7.

A short introduction followed from each of the CEOs of the various civil sectors and Perm Sec from the various minstries. They gave an overview of current policies and new actions in their respective ministries/sectors. Lo Kheng Hwa, CEO of EDB gave a preview of the growth in various sectors in the Singapore economy. Lim Chuan Poh, Perm Sec of Ministry of Education gave some overview of the autonomous management of the 3 publicly funded universities in Singapore. Other leaders of the industry gave some overviews as well.

The Dialogue sessions kinda invoked very interesting questions, perhaps very seldom mentioned in Singapore itself. And I find it interesting and revolutioning for Singaporeans to ask these questions. Because it definitely showed some form of changes in the mindset and how the young and new generation approach problems.

Peter Purushotma who happens to be my consulting professor commented on the stigma not young people have, but it is the stigma in our families, maybe parents that are continuously influencing us. Thinking back, I thought it is very true. In the valley, I could concentrate better and focus better in the work that I do. Perhaps its the families that are holding us back. Being from an Asian Chinese culture and background, one will argue the importance of family values versus career prospects in one's life. In the big picture, at least in my perspective, it will be generally a more utilitarian view for all to contribute in their own sense to Singapore and its economy.

There has always been a hot debating point on whether Singaporeans are creative or entrepreneurial enough. I have always be educated by teachers and my parents to take the safest and steadiest path through life. My point of view however began to evolve to take a tougher and more challenging path of creating value not only for myself, but for the country as well.

The stay in Silicon Valley so far has offer tremendous networking and learning experience. When I initially arrived, I have no idea of any avenue to know more people or how to go about doing things. After spending some time here settling down and getting myself involved in NUSEA, it seems to open up to more people and opportunities. Today's dialogue session, with the few other mixers that I have attended slowly sparked the passion and interest to get the entrepreneurial dream going.

I will want to keep this fire going and burning.