It was quite an eventful week. The most significant event was that I have decided not to work with Dr. Yao for my honours year project. I have been feeling lousy ever since I returned and I realized that apart from the post-exchange bluez, another main reason was my honours year project.
Well what's wrong with the project then? Too difficult? Can't get back to work after taking a break for 5 months? There's nothing wrong with Dr. Yao; he's one of best in NUS in Chemical Biology and he published an average of 15 papers a year ever since he came to NUS 4 years ago. However, for some reason or another, that project just didn't strike the exciting chord in me. In addition, he is known to drive his students and will always be around to pressure them; my working style is completely different from him as I prefer to do things on my own and at my own pace, without people nagging at me or watching me. If I met up with problems, I'll discuss with people or look for my own solutions. Readers may then think that I am a slacker but that's not true; I worked till late hours during my undergraduate research and the postgraduates in my lab can verify. Finally, I find the lab's condition pretty unhealthy as it has poor ventilation system and I got really sick the other day when I was packing some stuff.
I missed the late night discussion with Lao Cai and also the variety of organic synthesis I did in Prof. Lai's lab. That's why I decided to do my Honours project under Prof. Lai again. Although he is too busy to supervise me given his hectic principal schedule in NUS High School, I am fine with it as I am able to work on my own most of the time. I like this independence. In addition, there is also ample lab space in his lab and this allows me to work in a more efficient way. I thank Dr. Yao for listening to me and agreeing to let me withdrew from his lab; he ended with a note of disappointment by feeling that I waved the white flag before starting. Whether I am waving the white flag or not depends on how one views it but I am much happier now. I'll probably do well if I stayed on but I'll have miss many spices of life.
I am excited over my Honours project now and I am determined to excel in it. The road ahead will be tough as I'll be on my own most of the time but I like such challenges. For the next few days, I'll be secreening for better ideas and will meet up with Prof. Lai for a discussion. My project proposal will be due on 23rd Jan. I'll need to submit it early as Alice will be coming over to Singapore to do her GRE and I'll be bringing her around on 22nd and 24th.
The day ended with a lecture on bioorganic chemistry. Friends felt that I am crazy for taking up a graduate module. I think otherwise; I mean if you like the module, just take it. Whether it's a graduate module or not isn't an important factor. I did pretty well in the graduate module in HKUST and I will repeat the same feat again. Although this module has biology component which may be to my disadvantage, I'll do my best to overcome them. Oh yah, this module requires us to do a project (presentation and written report) as well, something similar to the one I did in HK. I thought of doing on Barry Sharpless' Click Chemistry, which is being used to screen for potential drugs (and/or inhibitors).
Finally, thanks Emily dear for being with me all these while, supporting and encouraging me. This is really crucial as it is a "down" period of my life.
May things go on well after this week.
Well what's wrong with the project then? Too difficult? Can't get back to work after taking a break for 5 months? There's nothing wrong with Dr. Yao; he's one of best in NUS in Chemical Biology and he published an average of 15 papers a year ever since he came to NUS 4 years ago. However, for some reason or another, that project just didn't strike the exciting chord in me. In addition, he is known to drive his students and will always be around to pressure them; my working style is completely different from him as I prefer to do things on my own and at my own pace, without people nagging at me or watching me. If I met up with problems, I'll discuss with people or look for my own solutions. Readers may then think that I am a slacker but that's not true; I worked till late hours during my undergraduate research and the postgraduates in my lab can verify. Finally, I find the lab's condition pretty unhealthy as it has poor ventilation system and I got really sick the other day when I was packing some stuff.
I missed the late night discussion with Lao Cai and also the variety of organic synthesis I did in Prof. Lai's lab. That's why I decided to do my Honours project under Prof. Lai again. Although he is too busy to supervise me given his hectic principal schedule in NUS High School, I am fine with it as I am able to work on my own most of the time. I like this independence. In addition, there is also ample lab space in his lab and this allows me to work in a more efficient way. I thank Dr. Yao for listening to me and agreeing to let me withdrew from his lab; he ended with a note of disappointment by feeling that I waved the white flag before starting. Whether I am waving the white flag or not depends on how one views it but I am much happier now. I'll probably do well if I stayed on but I'll have miss many spices of life.
I am excited over my Honours project now and I am determined to excel in it. The road ahead will be tough as I'll be on my own most of the time but I like such challenges. For the next few days, I'll be secreening for better ideas and will meet up with Prof. Lai for a discussion. My project proposal will be due on 23rd Jan. I'll need to submit it early as Alice will be coming over to Singapore to do her GRE and I'll be bringing her around on 22nd and 24th.
The day ended with a lecture on bioorganic chemistry. Friends felt that I am crazy for taking up a graduate module. I think otherwise; I mean if you like the module, just take it. Whether it's a graduate module or not isn't an important factor. I did pretty well in the graduate module in HKUST and I will repeat the same feat again. Although this module has biology component which may be to my disadvantage, I'll do my best to overcome them. Oh yah, this module requires us to do a project (presentation and written report) as well, something similar to the one I did in HK. I thought of doing on Barry Sharpless' Click Chemistry, which is being used to screen for potential drugs (and/or inhibitors).
Finally, thanks Emily dear for being with me all these while, supporting and encouraging me. This is really crucial as it is a "down" period of my life.
May things go on well after this week.
posted by CS at
11:41 PM
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