Doing the Honours: Returning to school to start my Honours Year in AY2019/20 Semester 2

I'm into my final year of formal education now. On 13 January 2020, I will begin my second-last semester as an NUS FASS student.

My ex-boss, who is also my boss-to-be come 2021 when I join the sovereign wealth fund GIC after graduation, has this advice for picking modules: learn how the world works.

Don't go learn how to write. Go learn about the world, do interesting things, read hard subjects, and then communicate about the world through your writing. Stop wasting time on Journalism School and Communications School, but if you're already knee-deep in it, then learn all the other hard and weird stuff on the side that will animate your writing.

~ Jason Leow, former journalist at The Straits Times and current managing director of communications at GIC and chairman of the Speak Good English Movement. For the record, he did not study journalism at university. He majored in literature at NUS.

So with this in mind, I set about picking modules for the new semester that are more conceptual and worldly rather than vocational and specific. At the same time, I don't like modules that deal with topics that are too abstract. I like to be able to see the relevance of what I am learning in class to reality. I think I managed to strike a good balance with this selection of modules.

Note: All modules are worth 5MCs, graded with standard letter grades, and delivered through weekly three-hour seminars. Regular students can acquire them on the ModReg system, with priority given to CNM majors in SOC4. I was preallocated my modules by the Dean's Office due to my status as a disabled student.

NM4239: Digital Propaganda and Public Opinion
This is one of the "conceptual and worldly" modules. Others were available too, such as one about racial representation in the media and another about sex in the media. But those are not really interesting to me, being confined to niche activists' areas of concern. This module is more interesting because it deals with social and political affairs, which are current, particularly with the General Election around the corner, and affect all of us. Informed citizens should have some understanding of how external parties, especially in this day and age of social media, influence our decisions on hot-button issues and maybe even change our minds without us knowing.

NM4247: Creative Writing in the Marketplace
According to the description on LumiNUS, this module teaches students "the importance of narratives and the techniques of crafting them through personal essays" as well as how to "apply what they have learnt to a narrative video script for a brand or cause". In other words, it's about storytelling, not for the sake of spinning fairytales but for strategic brand-building. This is my indulgence as it is not quite the "conceptual and worldly" module that I should be taking if I follow Jason's advice strictly, but I chose it because I think I will like it and have fun with it.

NM4881A: Topics in Media Studies: Social Media
Another "conceptual and worldly" module I picked for this semester is what I would call the "dark" (or Darth, if you're a Star Wars fan) NM2203. Where NM2203 is all about how you can use social media effectively to build your brand, NM4881A is stuffed with weighty, and at times depressing, observations about how social media impacts, and is in turn impacted by, us as individuals and, on a larger scale, the world around us. In other words, it is about the effects of social media on people and society. With social media being part of our everyday lives, I can see why this knowledge is important and relevant.

NM4238: Software Studies
This is a "conceptual and worldly" module from the realm of computational social science. Rather than looking at software from a technological perspective, such as analysing how a programme or application is coded, it examines the impact of technological developments and computerisation, such as remote working, Bitcoin, and the increasingly powerful devices we carry in our pockets, on people and society through the lens of the humanities and social sciences. Ultimately, human beings are the consumers and end-users of technology, so it is vital to be aware of the possible implications of such technology on human health, happiness, and relationships.

My CAP stands at 4.82. The highest Honours class I can obtain is Distinction (formerly known as Second Upper Class), because I decided against writing a thesis and as a result am barred from obtaining Highest Distinction (formerly known as First Class). It was a trade-off I made willingly because I abhor research and couldn't fathom spending a year of my short life slaving away over some inconsequential manuscript whose only destiny is to lie in a corner somewhere collecting dust. What sweetened the deal was the recent announcement that effective from my cohort (Cohort 2017) onwards, NM4102: Advanced Communications & New Media Research is no longer a graduation requirement for all CNM Honours students. It is now compulsory only for those writing an Honours thesis or, restated in formal terms, NM4102 is a pre- and co-requisite for NM4401 Honours Thesis. What that means for me is that I can escape from doing research completely and still get my Honours! Several senior colleagues at my internship worksite assured me that there's not much difference to employers between a Highest Distinction and a Distinction, so I went ahead and threw out both NM4401 and NM4102 from my considerations.

As I was on internship for the past half-year, I haven't had to do academic work for quite a while now. Strangely, I kind of miss it because it has been a constant feature in my life and I am the type of person who prefers the familiar. I look forward to the new semester and all the interesting modules I'll be taking with great excitement!

Silvana Sin Lana

Mediacorp is airing an American telenovela called Silvana Sin Lana (English title: Rich In Love) on Mondays and Tuesdays at 11pm on Channel 5. The family drama was screened on television in the United States from 2016 to 2017.

Originally in Spanish and starring an almost all-Spanish cast, the show is dubbed in English with a very strong and stereotypical "dumb young blonde" American accent, sort of like what you get in iCarly but ten times more exaggerated.

The high-pitched squealing can get a bit painful on the ears after a while. But it proves to be only a minor flaw in an otherwise solid production.

Silvana Sin Lana revolves around two families, the Villasenors and the Gallardos.

The head of the Villasenor family Antonio Jose flees from FBI agents investigating him for financial crimes and disappears. In a single disastrous day, his family loses almost everything they have, including their mansion in an exclusive private estate.

Antonio's wife Silvana is left to pick up the pieces. She has to learn to survive on her own on a modest budget while taking care of her mother and three daughters, none of whom take to their newfound status as "poor people" with much enthusiasm.

Silvana's first priority is to find her family a place to stay. She travels around the state, viewing various homes for rent. On one such expedition to a middle-class neighbourhood, she accidentally reverses her car into a truck driven by seafood wholesaler Manuel Gallardo as she is distracted looking for the address of a duplex in the area.

They argue about who is responsible, Silvana desperately trying to deflect the blame for the accident as she cannot afford to compensate Manuel for the damage.

Meanwhile, she finds the duplex and moves in with her family. Her mother Trinidad complains incessantly about the "spartan" surroundings, while eldest daughter Maria Jose battles insecurity over no longer being part of the wealthy elite class, believing that her boyfriend will lose interest in her if he finds out.

The investigation into the car accident concludes that Silvana should pay Manuel. She reluctantly writes him a cheque, which bounces because she does not have enough money. An angry Manuel calls her while standing in his bedroom.

She answers the phone in her bedroom. As they engage in another vicious argument, they begin to notice that they can hear each other yelling... but their voices are not coming through the phone line.

They step onto the adjoining balcony outside both of their rooms, and stare in amazement at each other across a few-foot gap. Manuel Gallardo, his three sons, and one daughter live in the other half of the duplex!

The rest of the series builds on this foundation with the usual elements in a family drama: romance, antagonistic scheming, and more romance. The Gallardo boys turn their attentions to wooing the Villasenor girls. Trinidad finds a love interest in an elderly neighbourhood baker. And of course, despite their relationship starting on the wrong foot, Silvana and Manuel develop feelings for each other, creating a love triangle as Manuel, whose wife died eight years prior, is already subject to the affections of Stella Perez, who works with Manuel at the fish market.

Even though the plot is formulaic and predictable, an accusation that can be fairly levelled at most television dramas to be honest, Silvana Sin Lana is still great fun to watch.

The camerawork is smooth. The view sometimes follows one character for an extended period without cuts, reminiscent of the signature style employed by Chad Stahelski in the John Wick film franchise (without the accompanying wanton violence obviously). Between scenes, a transition technique of swivelling the camera from one part of the house to another seamlessly is occasionally used to emphasise how cramped the house is and how close the two families live to each other.

In terms of talents, the show offers up a veritable host of Latinos and Latinas as eye candy. Look out for Carlos Ponce (Manuel Gallardo), a very handsome middle-aged man with chiselled cheekbones, alluring grey eyes, and salt-and-pepper facial hair. There is also Thali Garcia (Angie Villasenor, Silvana's second daughter), whose disarmingly shy smile lends her a girl-next-door kind of appeal.

Indeed, over and above the exotic beauty of its actors and actresses, Silvana Sin Lana benefits greatly from its Latin American origins as the entire show is blessed with a sort of carefree, feel-good, positive vibe. Although the Villasenors are facing dire circumstances, the overall mood remains lighthearted and upbeat. You will almost feel like throwing a one-person fiesta, those parties that the Latinos are known for involving street processions, the waving of colourful cloths, and the banging of handheld drums. What else could viewers want from a television show besides good feelings?

But make no mistake about it: Silvana Sin Lana is by no means a bimbotic show, irritatingly squeaky English voiceovers notwithstanding. See past the seemingly shallow sexual tension and silly humour, and you will find many relatable and resounding themes: what it means to be a family, a father, a parent, a friend.

It beautifully illustrates the complexities of life and how tricky it can be to navigate the social world while seeking one's own happiness.

Perhaps the best example of this is Manuel, a devoted single father of four children who are beginning to test the boundaries and assert their independence. He has to raise his family and manage his business, all the while grappling with an inner demon: his fear that after his children have grown up and left home, he will be old, bitter, and alone, with no one who loves him and no one to love.

Although his eldest son Vicente encourages him to seek a woman, Manuel is wracked with guilt over moving on from his deceased wife to someone else. His other children also oppose him bringing another woman home.

Just like Manuel, all of us play multiple roles in our lives. We may be someone's child, parent, friend, or colleague. At the same time, we remain distinct individuals, with our private set of hopes, dreams, goals, aspirations, worries, fears, likes, dislikes, and emotions. Our roles will at some point conflict with one another or with an aspect of ourselves. How we resolve the conflict is largely a balancing act of reaching a compromise based on the situation at hand. It also demonstrates our personal values: whether we do something sketchy or not to achieve our own ends.

This is a major overarching theme in Silvana Sin Lana, a moving tale of family and friendship, greed and lust, and ethics and morals. Regardless of whether you are looking for a thought-provoking show, or just one to warm the cockles of your heart, Silvana Sin Lana has what you never knew you wanted in a single package. It promises a very, very good time, and delivers in spades.

Catch Silvana Sin Lana on Channel 5 at 11pm every Monday and Tuesday. It is also available on Netflix, for those people who have an irrational hatred of television sets or the state broadcaster. Read more about Silvana Sin Lana on IMDb.

Module review for AY19/20 Semester 1: NM3550Y Communications & New Media Internship

From 22 July 2019 to 6 December 2019, I was an intern at GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, as part of the Compulsory Internship Programme (CIP), a graduation requirement for all students majoring in Communications & New Media (CNM). I was posted to the Human Resource & Organization Department (HROD) for 10 weeks and the Corporate Affairs & Communications (CAC) department for 10 weeks. My work in HROD mainly involved generating content for internal communication. At CAC, I supported routine news monitoring tasks and created posts and feature articles for the company intranet and LinkedIn page.

Life was busy enough that I was constantly patting myself on the back for having the foresight to clear all my other graduation requirements by the end of the preceding semester, freeing myself to focus solely on the internship. If I hadn't bitten the bullet and taken six modules, one more than the recommended five, in a few previous semesters to rack up the credits, I would've had to take iBLOCs (Internal Blended Learning Online Courses) to ensure that I would be able to graduate on time. That would have added lots of stress and I would probably not have had such a good time during my internship.

As it stands, I took just the internship module this semester. Here's the usual review.

NM3550Y: Communications & New Media Internship

MCs: 12 - mandatory for all CNM majors, to be taken in ARS3

Delivery:

20 weeks of full-time employment at an external organisation, doing work that is relevant to CNM

Assessment:

Pre-departure online multiple-choice quiz based on a series of short lecture videos about the internship programme = 5%
Preliminary report introducing the employer, job scope, and expectations for the internship = 10%
Mid-semester portfolio reflecting on the values of the organisation and soft skills required to thrive in the job = 25%
Final report consolidating the content from the preliminary and mid-semester reports and new insights, learning points, and reflections + presentation slides summarising the final report with photos, illustrations, and diagrams + fill up the module survey sent by the CIP team to gather student feedback = 40%
Worksite supervisor's feedback = 20%

Module: 9/10

This is a very important module in the context of CNM. Communications and interactive media are very "active" disciplines. Practitioners don't sit around all day talking theories. They get down and dirty, hammering out products that are real, tangible, and can be perceived by other people. For example, public relations professionals write news releases and generate media coverage for their clients. User interface designers create applications that are easy for laypeople to use. An internship is an invaluable opportunity for CNM students to get on-the-job training and learn practical hard and soft skills that they wouldn't be able to in a classroom. For this reason alone, the CIP is well worth having as an integral part of the CNM curriculum.

One area for improvement is in the assessment components. I find it very inexplicable that as interns, we faithfully plug away at our jobs day in and day out, but can only get recognised for our work performance with a possible maximum of 20% of our total grade. This means that even if an intern does everything right and the supervisor is very happy, the intern can score only up to 20% of the total marks available for the module. The other 80% is determined by three written reports. I'm not doubting the importance of reflecting on one's learning experiences, but I think the weightages of the various components can be tweaked a bit. The supervisor's feedback should account for 40%, and the preliminary report can be removed and the weightage for the mid-semester report brought down to 20%. The final report can stay at 40%, as it guides the interns to consolidate everything they have gleaned from the internship. My principle behind this rearrangement is that interns are out there to learn in a real world setting, so they should be rewarded accordingly for good performance in that real world setting. When these interns are back in school and take on the role of being students again, they have plenty of opportunities to write reports. There's no need to place such a heavy emphasis on report-writing in this practice-oriented, experiential module.

My worksite: 10/10

The rest of this post will recap my personal journey as I embarked on my 20-week stint in GIC. GIC is Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, which basically means it invests money that the government has saved over the years. The aim is to grow these government savings, which are actually called the reserves, so that there will be enough money for the future.

Obviously, I am not trained in investment or finance, so I didn't do any of the actual moneymaking. Instead, I worked in the corporate services side of the company, which supports the investment side by taking care of things like recruitment, wellbeing, technology, and communication with the public and other stakeholders. I was rotated among three teams.

First, I helped the Graduate Recruitment team draft new materials for their outreach activities. The Graduate Recruitment team, a part of HROD, is in charge of attracting interns and fresh graduates to join the company. They administer three main programmes:

• GIC Scholarship Programme (full-term and mid-term): offers sponsorship for undergraduate degree courses and internship and mentorship opportunities with GIC
• GIC Internship Programme: a 10-week summer internship for undergraduates which also serves as a selection method for potential GIC Scholarship holders and/or full-time employees after graduation
• GIC Professionals Programme: fresh graduates can join the company under this programme, where they will be given intensive training and rotation through three departments in the company to identify the area in which they can contribute the most (other companies have similar programmes, often called "management associate" or "management trainee" programmes)

More details HERE.

Second, I assisted the Rewards & Engagement team, another part of HROD, in their employee engagement efforts. My favourite project was writing features on employees with interesting stories to tell. For example, there were some who were juggling between work commitments and taking care of their ageing parents. I interviewed them to find out more about their lives, and wrote about their experiences and reflections in a short series of articles for the rest of the company to read. I was humbled and inspired by the realisation that behind every single one of the colleagues I saw each day was a person I didn't see: a dedicated parent, a filial child, a loving spouse. And I then saw the logic behind many of the pro-family policies that GIC offers its staff. For example, staff can use the flexible work arrangements to fulfill both family care duties and job commitments. Working mothers who need to carry out minor child-minding errands outside the office can do so throughout the day whenever they need to, without having to waste entire days of their annual leave.

My third rotation was with CAC, the department which deals with all of GIC's communications with external parties such as the news media and directly with Singaporeans through social media. CAC also supports internal communications efforts, for instance by administering the company intranet and producing interesting features for employees to watch or read.

This was my longest and most intensive rotation because it was most directly related to my course of study. I learned many things during this part of my internship.

For one, I developed a sense of responsibility. Every morning, I had to push out the daily news monitoring report to the senior management of the company which compiled and summarised the important news stories about the company that had been published during the preceding 24 hours. This is considered a basic, entry-level skill in the corporate communications world (the industry name for this process is "media monitoring"). But nonetheless, screwing up and incurring the wrath of any of the head honchos, such as if they had noticed that I had missed out on an important piece of news, would've been tremendously embarrassing for me, my bosses, and the department as a whole as that daily report is one of the key products of the department. It was a nerve-racking burden at first, but I gradually grew into the role and by the end, I felt a sense of ownership over it and was sad to relinquish it. I learned to trust in the system that had been built to facilitate the process, my colleagues who were supervising the process, and most importantly myself to execute my part of the process correctly.

My work also required me to correspond with people from all levels of the company, including managing directors. On one occasion, I even exchanged comments on Yammer, a Facebook-like platform for enterprises, with the Chief Executive Officer himself! From these experiences, I learned not to be intimidated by rank and to view everyone as humans first and foremost.

And that to me was my biggest takeaway from this internship: confidence. In the context of work-related tasks, this refers to the ability to say "Yes, I can" and mean it. I can write articles that people enjoy reading. I can analyse a piece of text, catch mistakes, and make it better. As a disabled person, realising that there are things I can do well is an empowering feeling. It sounds cliched but it's true.

In the context of interpersonal relations, confidence means the courage to interact and talk to people I'm not familiar with. Because if I don't interact and talk to people I'm not familiar with, I'll never become familiar with them, right? My colleagues in CAC and HROD started off as strangers to me, but through a combination of their warm and welcoming nature and my own determination to overcome my initial shyness, I eventually opened up to them and now consider them friends.

To end off this post, let me just say that I will be returning to the CAC department at GIC on a permanent, full-time basis in 2021 after I graduate from NUS. It was an easy decision for me to accept their offer. The employment terms they offered me were fair and I appreciated that they didn't try to (pardon my coarseness) screw me over with a lowball salary just because I'm disabled. Just as they did during my internship, they treated me no differently from a normal staff member. Never was I made to feel like merely an intern, or worse, a disabled intern. I was allowed to contribute my fair share, and was in turn given my fair share of rewards and recognition. I got along well with my CAC teammates, so truly, there was no compelling reason not to agree to go back.

My result for the module: A+