The mid-term exams and spring break ended about 2 weeks ago. It's been almost 3 months since I joined the huge family of Gators.
Finally, I feel like a student. Than a restless project machine.
With pass/fail option applied to all the modules I'm taking here, the habit of constantly being paranoid about grades has been dropped, with my greatest pleasure. Scores here are always absolute, you earn what YOU deserve, nothing is comparative and relative. Goodbye to relentless complaint about the merciless bell-curve that brutally kicks students off its sometimes-narrow and sometimes-wide hump into the pitch-black abyss.
I'm exceedingly happy with my mid-terms results, what a pleasant-looking set of numbers to graduate with:
Marketing Management: 100%
Strategic Brand Management: 97%
Entrepreneurship: 92.5%
Metaphysics: haven't gotten back the result yet.
This is one of the many buses that runs in the campus, but I've never once taken it. I prefer going to classes by foot, been doing that despite rain or shine. And I'm glad I'm practicing it, for I love the campus so much that I just want to cover the campus ground with my footprints and feast my eyes on every single plant and brick; they serve as a physical testimony of my being in the University of Florida.
From Weaver Hall to the Business building:
13 min (NYC speed, 100%)
15-18 min (Singapore speed, 75-100%)
There are some scenes, moments, memories, and faces that you would just love to frame up in your mental gallery till the end of time.
 |
| I'm staying in Weaver, the International Hall. |
Goodbye Winter. The Campus is changing it's outfit:
Professors and students here rely very heavily on textbooks, unlike students in Singapore (at least those that I know of), even though we are encouraged to. There's nothing bad about it, but I just feel that if student could find everything they need in the text, what are tutors for? Having said that, I still enjoy many of the classes I'm taking here.
First of all is Metaphysics. Surprisingly. (and the professor reminds me of Dumbledore. haha)
Geography of Europe is interesting too.
Both modules don't require a textbook, maybe that's why. ;)
I love the business cases in Strategic Management, they're carefully chosen to assist the digestion of textbook concepts and to spice up the learning process. I actually enjoy reading my management textbook, how incredible.
The things being taught in the Entrepreneurship class are commonsensical and full of sweeping statements. But I love the professor. He's experienced, knowledgeable and full of energy. He's probably the most lively middle-aged man I've ever met, and definitely the first and only professor who makes an effort to greet each and every student by their hands before the commencement of every single session. Professors in SG may do that if the school ties a 3-month bonus/compensation to their mental torture.
We thank god for not having emotionless, chanting monks as tutors and dare not ask for more. ;)
 |
| Beauty of Nature and man's creation, intertwined. |
The only class which I always have to drag my body to attend is Marketing Management. Such an irony that I've gotten full marks for all its assignments and exam. -_-
Not only because the class starts at 7:25 am every Mon & Wed, but also the long and boring lectures that force me to continue my sleep in class. Adding on to the torture, I've to deal with a group of underperforming slackers (one of them never showed up in class nor participated in project works). Should I regard them as plain stupid or hopelessly lazy? No offense and I hate to complain, but I'm so sick of dysfunctional project teams.
2 persons couldn't even manage a one-page write-up, given a week of allowance?!? And they had to pass their junk to me at 11pm the night before submission??? I'm not a language expert, but if it only took me 10 mins to make the write-up full of red markings, they surely should be ashamed of being Americans. Come on, don't you know your own language? And the content, gosh! My remark was: I believe the prof wants originality than regurgitation. Section II needs improvement, please work on it.
And then... the work was sent back to ME because I was the one with an itchy hand who edited it.
And that was just one of the many furious examples.
Crap.
The only thing I could do is to try convincing myself that this is part of my learning experience too. Sigh.
 |
| Picture perfect... if without the van. I kneeled on the bitumen road under a scorching sun, hoping to capture a perfect moment. But failed :( |
"And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow."
An interesting but depressing line from the Bible, saw it by chance.
Of course, I believe in none. :)
