Monday, February 11, 2008
I've been bumming around a lot for a good bit of the academic year. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing this simply because I'm too lazy, I am hardly hardworking by nature. The trouble I have to go to to secure attachments and internships, not to mention putting myself entirely out of my comfort zone. It's just so unappealing.
This term, however, I think it's not the case. This term,
I like. (fakes Jem's weird accent). Somehow, I found my direction again. I had an MSN nickname once that said happiness was knowing one's direction. I feel that the one time I feel a rush of euphoria and adrenaline is when I know my direction. (I'm excluding the adrenaline rush from riding a rollercoaster.)
And this time, I think I found my direction again. And you know it, from the pulsing in your veins.
I thought before that I wanted to be a doctor. That was 3 years ago when I decided to drop Economics and continue pursuing Biology. Well, that turned out to be a little roundabout since my Biology education stopped right after A'levels and I went back to pursuing Economics. So, my doctor dream followed my acting dream into the box of discarded once-prized items.
I was real intent on getting into Michigan and experiencing THE overseas education. Then came the initial rush of all things new. A new effort-based grading system, with a constant pressure to excel.
I think now I can finally explain the lack-lustre term last Fall. It is by no means and excuse for the bad grades that I produced. But now I realise why I did so badly. I was so very intent on getting into the business school that my plans and goals were set entirely on getting in, but not for after I had got in. Once I did make it, I hadn't the faintest idea which path to take. It was all about getting the grades and figuring out whom I should please. I kept entertaining the thought of majoring in Finance, but I don't think it'll appeal to me.
Last term, after doing unexpectedly well in my accounting course, I kind of made a pact: If I get through the 2 basic accounting courses with good grades, I'll major in accounting. Managerial accounting started out rough, but getting to be more interesting now. Brian mentioned the other day about me pursuing a MAcc. I don't know about that. But I just might.
A MAcc means more money, more time and naturally, more work. I've read up about the MAcc (Masters of Accounting) offered at Ross. I can't divert to the program immediately. I need to do some prerequisites for the program, write more essays and take the GMAT. Then, after I finish my BBA, I can apply to the program and wait out a few months before aoing the 10-month course. Then I'll be set for the CPA exam. It's another 70 grand too. And I wonder whether my dad would rather me do an MBA instead.
And then there are the plans for a 4-month long summer. I haven't applied for any internship yet, since I want to return to Singapore for the full 4 months.
My plans as yet are tentative, but I'm elated that I have come up with a list of things I would like to do. If possible, I would like to secure an attachment either with Auntie Seah doing accounting or perhaps in the hotel service sector.
If that does not work out, I intend to get some kind of part-time work for work experience (which till today remains a blank.) I will resume studying Korean over the summer (preferably self-funded) and hopefully do a course in photography if it doesn't cost much. Assuming I successfully bid for intermediate accounting classes, I will look into studying the accounting texts over the summer. I also intend to travel, preferably to Taiwan and Korea (both places I have yet to visit), and meet up with family and friends. If I succeed in accomplishing all these, I believe I should have a pretty fulfilling summer.
That said, I doubt I'll get a good grade on my Biz Comm cover letter. It sounds amateurish and boring. But finding material for it did lead me to discovering new things. I should get back to it now.
