pursuing my passion <3
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
GATE Electives!
Electives are usually held on Tuesdays, 2.30-5.30pm. In this session, we get to learn more about critical thinking and knowledge beyond our syllabus​.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Online Course - Justice
(02/03/13 - 16/04/13)
​
This time round, I signed up for the online course "Justice" on Edx online platform. It is a very inspiring course which probes me to think more about what exactly is justice and to reevaluate my beliefs and values I feel so strongly about. I have also learnt more about human behavior (how justice affects our actions and decisions) and how society is affected as a whole.
The course looks at justice through human rights, whether it is just to take away certain rights, and what rights do human own. It looked at rights defined in theories from various famous philosophers and the loophole & limitations of these theories.
Besides, we have learnt more about ethics and moral thinking such as categorical imperatives and hypothetical imperatives under Kantianism. This is definitely worth my time and I love it! <3
Visit to NTU Earth and Biological Sciences Labs
(01/05/13)
Today, the GATE and SMTP(Science and Math Talent Program) students went to NTU to visit the labs there. I have chosen earth sciences and biological sciences labs this time round out of 4 choices (physics, chemistry, biology and geology) because I love geography and biology! <3
It's a pity that I didn't take up geography in JC due to GATE's subject combination constrain, but nonetheless, I had a lot of fun today. I have learnt about how they predict and measure earthquakes as well as how crystallography is carried out. The people there are very friendly towards us and I really appreciate the chance given for us to have a peek at our after-JC life.
Attachment at Singapore Botanic Garden
( 08/05/13 - 29/05/13)

We, mainly the GATE-Bio people together with Miss Soh went for a 3-week attachment at the plant nursery of Singapore Botanics Garden. We had a chance to learn more about diterocaps, how to go about utilizing the tools such as Cangkul to plant a tree and most importantly, that we have the responsibility in protecting the plants. If we as sentient beings, capable of feeling and thoughts, do not protect the environment, then we are not considered human. Our instructor is both a conservationist and evolutionist, he told us the facts and myths about the Theory of Evolution and recommended us to read the book. I will definitely read the book soon to fully understand Darwin's proposal on the Theory of Evolution.

The instructor taught us tree planting techniques such as how to conserve energy while planting a tree by utilizing gravity and the swinging momentum. Besides the these physical skills, he also taught us the importance of conservation work (i.e. why we should conserve the environment) and how human often sacrifice the environment in the name of development.
​
He had also told us interesting stories such as this married couple who planted a tree when their child was born and each year they celebrate the child's birthday by bringing her here to water the tree. I think that it is a rather interesting concept and it can instil the sense of responsibility within the child since young.

Through this attachment, I have learnt that I do have an important role to play in conserving the environment. Besides, I have come to appreciate the conservation work done by Singapore government and to appreciate the nature. On a side note, the black swans and ducks at the botanic garden are so cute! I will definitely go back and visit them as well as the trees we have planted one day :)

Forest Adventure
(15/07/13)
Today we went to Bedok Reservoir for Forest Adventure! It is an activity that where we get to go through different obstacles including height elements and flying fox. It was really really fun and I've gotten to know some people from other GATE classes.
We cheered and encouraged one another through the whole activity and of course, we didn't forget our own safety all the time.
If there is a similar opportunity in the future, I am definitely going to take it up! :)
APYLS Talk by Bilahari Kausikan
(23/07/13)
Today a few GATE students attended the talk by Bilahari Kausikan, a former Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary. It is hosted specially for Asia-Pacific Youth Leaders Summit (APYLS) participants. I feel lucky to be able to attend this talk though I am not a part of APYLS.
He is a very interesting speaker as he is very direct in criticizing and rebutting students from other countries such as America and India when they ask questions. There was a very heated debate between him and a student from America and we have really enjoyed it.
Investment and Financial Literacy
(06/08/13 - 13/08/13)
I am honoured to be able to participate in this Investment and Financial Literacy course conducted by external trainer. It really broadens my scope and get me thinking on what I can potentially do and should do for my financial plan starting from now (because it will be a little too late to do so by the time I have a family or am going to retire).
He has introduced us on various type of investments, also that we should invest according to our personalities, whether we are risk takers or not, whether we are patient or rash and so on. It is a really interesting course and I hope to have more electives as such in the future.
Combat Skirmish
(20/08/13)
Today we went to West Coast Park for Combat Skirmish, also commonly known as Laser Tag! The weather was a little cloudy that day and we were praying hard that rain will not visit us any time soon.
It drizzled a little when the instructors brief us on the game rules but this did not dampen our spirits. After this, we were off to our battle field!
The shooting was fun but what I have enjoyed the most is the teamwork and the friendship forged during the game. I was the second last person standing in my group and it was a very big achievement to me. Who said that girls aren't good on battlefields huh?
On the right is the photo of our class after combat skirmish, aren't they lively? :)
Visit to Yale-NUS
(21/08/13)
We, a group of GATE students together with some other students visited the newly opened Yale-NUS campus at U-Town. Guess who we saw there? Mr Benjamin Leong, a ex-GP tutor! We were all pretty surprised and glad to meet him there! :)
We were given a welcome speech and also light refreshments upon arrival. Afterwards, we had a tour around their campus. The designs of the building and facilities are unique, probably because they are newly built. I do think that their pedagogy broaden students' horizon and it teaches them to think in different ways. It made me consider choosing a liberal arts college.
However, I will not choose Yale-NUS as my preferred university but this is definitely not a wasted trip as I have eliminated an option from my future university list.
DNA Workshop @ Science Centre
(27/08/13)
During the September Holidays we attended a DNA workshop at Singapore Science Centre. It is the second time I have ever visited the science centre. The DNA workshop focuses on DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Gel Eletrophoresis.
The workshop is pretty standard in a sense that all of us have had some experience doing these procedures hence it was a little boring. Nonetheless, I had fun doing these experiments with my peers and it has definitely honed my lab skills. I do hope that next time round they will offer a more interesting lab sessioin though :)