Final Reflection

Throughout this one and a half week staying back for MPU 2, I have learned lots of things regarding myself and life. I gained a new insight about myself as part of this module is to do some reflection on myself. First of all, I have learned to create blog and design my blog so that it looks more attractive and colourful. Creating blog provides us a platform to express ourselves and also submit our assignments. This provide a start for me if I would like to have my private blog which I could write anything about myself.

In the first group work discussion on the Taylor's Graduate Capabilities, my group actually presented a little bit out of the topic. So, this gave us an experience that we must be very clear about the instructions given by teacher. We learned a lot from our own mistakes and I hope we have actually improved and became better. During the essay writing to summarise and arrange our points about the TGC, we have cooperated well among the group members and managed to come out with the DIEP elaboration. I learned to communicate with others to make things done on time. Moreover, I learned to divide the jobs equally between members in a group and all of the cooperation has actually strengthen our friendship.

Whereas the writing about myself has helped me to reflect on myself about my strength, uniqueness, learning style and personality. I learned to view myself at different perspective and knew myself better. Furthermore, assignment on SWOT helped me to realise and reflect on my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This section actually helped me to understand myself better and know what are my weaknesses that I could improve in the future.

As for the SMART goal and action plan, both of them have helped me to set a target which I want to achieve in 3 months time. They gave me a clear picture on what I want to do and how can I do to reach the target. Now, I have a better vision on my future and this could helped me in my study as I have a clearer target that I would like to achieve. Besides, for the assignment on the dream university, I have gained motivation to work hard in order to get into my dream university. I have also got more information about the university, the entry requirement and the environment. This can helped me to be more prepared to further my study in a new environment.

The career test has also helped me to know which type of person I am and provide me a better platform to see whether my choice of choosing the course I wanted is suitable or not. Whereas the test on the learning style has introduced me to different learning styles and I got to know the larning style that suited me well. Therefore, I can use the best learning style in my study and this can help to improve myself and improve my results.

Moreover, the passage on inspiration was definitely my favourite as I can truly describe the character that really inspired me throughout the process of studying. I gained motivation, inspiration and determination from the person and I hope I can apply this in my life and of course in my study. Not to forget, as for this final reflection, I can see myself reflecting and thinking of the past week learning new things and getting new information and insights on myself.

Last but not least, I am truly grateful to have this chance to learn more about myself and understand myself so that I can work hard for my dream and target and make my effort worthwhile. Thank you.

Inspiration

There is someone out there that will always inspire you, motivate you, give you the spirit to work towards the infinity and play a significant role in your life. They are the people that inspired you. For me, there are lots of people that inspired me including my parents. But now, I would like to briefly talk about someone who really gave me a great motivation and has inspired young people like us to work hard for our future. He is a Taiwanese actor. His name is Eddie Peng Yuyan.

He has gone through ups and downs in his career and life. He has acted as a gymnast, cyclist and many more. Now, his popularity increases due to his role in the movie, Rise of the Legend as a Chinese KungFu legend, Huang Fei Hong. Before that, he never learn kungfu and he has no foundation in that. However, through his hard work and determination together with training, he had given a new insight to people like us on his different version of Huang Fei Hong. He inspired me by his learning attitude that is always be humble and down to earth to learn anything in life. He didn't rely on his talent but focus on how work can be done better through hard work. Hard work pays off truly described his condition. Learning is a continuous process and we will never be perfect. Therefore, we must always prepare ourselves to learn new things so that we can keep on improve and become better.

Furthermore, his determination has inspired me to work hard for my dream. "Never give up just because things are hard". This is the quote he has always trying to tell us. He has never give up no matter how hard life is. He trained, worked and tried so hard to act as perfect as possible in a movie. This really motivates me when I am lack of motivation and inspiration to study when exam is just around the corner. He made me realise that I can also do well if I work hard, study hard and try my best. I agree that sometimes we just need some motivation to motivate us to continue to work hard so that we can get what we want in life. It's hard to be keep the spirit of studying on and this is where all the inspirations works when you need it. Never give up! Everyone can make a difference with hard work! Lastly, I am very thankful and grateful for such inspiration that will change myself to become a better person which I will never leave a lot of regrets in my life. Let us work hard to a better future for us to shine! :)

My Dream University

I have planned to pursue Accounting and Finance in the university after completing my A-levels. I always wanted to learn more about accounting and finance and I am aspired to become an accountant. So, I think this course is my best choice. I have always dream to further my study in overseas especially in UK. Therefore, my dream university to pursue this course is the University of Bath in UK. Bath was ranked the top in Accounting and Finance. Apart of this, it has great environment that I think that this is very important for study. I like this university and it amazed me with its great facilities like the library and the sports centre. Hence, I can also spend time doing sports while studying there. The entry requirement for this course is AAA. Therefore, I hope I can meet this requirement so I can have a great stand that can make myself closer to my dream university. So here are the breathtaking photos of the university. Hope you like it!

Roman Bath

Accomodation

Swimming pool

Action Plan

For now, my goal is to get the maximum possible results in A-levels. To narrow down my points, my main focus is on improving my grades in the subjects that I am taking now in A-levels especially for Economics. I always hope to improve my grade in Economics from B to A. I will work hard towards my goal so that I can achieve it. I am sure that if I work hard to achieve my goal, it will definitely boost my confidence in my further study in Accounting and Finance. Besides, if I achieve my goal, I will most probably meet the entry requirements of the universities that I have applied to and secure a place in the university of my choice. However, I am aware of the difficulties that I might have to face in the process of achieving the goal. I might need to deal with a highly efficient study timetable and need to discipline myself in order to make my study productive. Furthermore, I have to arrange and divide my time more efficiently so that I have enough time to study and do more exercises to get excellent results.

Therefore, I will start studying from now on especially in this coming holiday. I have to read all the notes and complete some of the past year questions in this period of time. Then, when college starts, I will continue my study and of course add on with the new topics that to be taught in January, February and March. By then, I will be prepared to sit for the A2 Trial Exam. While the results from this exam will give me a guide on what topics and what aspects that I need to improve so that I can achieve my goal. Hence, this can help me in my final study for the A2 Final Exam.

My lecturers will be the ones who help me to attain my goal as the knowledge they taught me would definitely be useful to help me to achieve better results. Whereas I also need the help from my classmates and friends when I need their support and consultation. Not to forget, my family members that will be always there for me and consistently support me to achieve my goal.

However, my weaknesses are the ones which will cause a trouble to me in achieving my goal. My bad habit of procrastination might result me in failing to follow the study timetable. Moreover, I am not very discipline in organising and dealing with study so it might prevent me from getting towards my goal.

On top of that, although my bad habits will cause an adverse effect on my study plan, I am determined to overcome it. For example, I can turn off my phone when I am studying and stay myself away from all the noises and attractions that will affect me. Besides, I will ban myself from watching TV shows during the study period so that I can concentrate more on my studies.

To conclude, when I can overcome the obstacles, I am sure that I can do well and achieve my goal in the future. Remember to have faith and work hard for my dream!

SMART Goal Setting

My goal: I want to get better results for Economics.

S-Specific: I want to improve my results from B to A.

M- Measurable: I want to improve my results by 10 marks.

A- Attainable: I will do more practice and write more essays to improve myself.

R- Relevant: I want to become an accountant that I can apply my knowledge in Economics and learn more about business.

T- Time-bound: I want to achieve my goals in 3 months time.

SWOT

Strengths

• Optimistic
• Determined 
• Good foundation in Mathematics
• Able to communicate with different types of people
• Responsible

 Weaknesses

• Procrastinate
• Lack of confidence 
• Presentation skills
• Easily get stress 
• Slow learner

Opportunity 

• Taylor's Placement Centre had provided counselling sessions for the universities applications
• Teachers and mentor that guided me when I face with problems 
• Opportunity to participate different kind of activities organised by clubs and societies
• Resources in library

Threats 

• Proficiency in English
• Interview carried out by the universities
• High entry requirement of the universities
• Peer pressure

Reflection 1

Describe

From our experience carrying out various activities and doing assignments in a group for both Malaysian Studies (MPU 1) and Culture and Arts (MPU 3), each and every of us in this group has developed quite a number of skills which would come in handy to us in many ways. For the Malaysian Studies classes, we have been instructed to group discussions almost every time to come up with some ideas or our views on both local and international issues such as the Apartheid policy that was implemented in South Africa, racial issues in Malaysia and also other countries, and create a historical video on the Independence Day of Malaya. Our group consisted of eleven members. With eleven heads put together, there were plenty of brilliant ideas we could come up with. As a result, we were able to deliver and give our opinions regarding how to curb racial discrimination in Malaysia in front of the other students. As for our historical video activity that was done outside school hours, we had to meet up almost every day to discuss about the plot, the props and the settings for our video. On the weekends when we didn’t attend college, we would connect with each other on Facebook or Whatsapp. One disadvantage of being in a group of eleven was that we could never come up with a time or venue, where all of us could meet up to complete our task. On our first meeting, only half the group was present because the rest had tuition classes and club meetings to attend. Due to that, nothing much was achieved during that time except that we had a start on writing the plot for the video and deciding which member was to become which character. On top of that, we had trouble thinking of what the props to be used were and the location to film the video. On top of that, the due date to hand up our videos was drawing near. It was then the leader who had previously been taking the whole assignment easy had decided to have an emergency meeting out of desperation. During that meeting, the attendance of all team members was a hundred percent although a few were slightly late. On the following day, the real action plan was carried out. Even with a lot of college assignments burdening us on that day, we had all stayed back in college for around two hours just to finish off the assignment so that we could hand it up to our MPU teacher on time. All the members of the group had shown much dedication in playing their roles, whether big or small in order to finish off the task. Later on, for the cultural studies component, our group had been assigned to carry out a fashion show on our presentation day. Each member must don a traditional costume belonging to a different race in Peninsular Malaysia. Before that time came, we faced many difficulties in getting the traditional clothes of various races. Fortunately, the leader had planned earlier this time and not to start working only at the eleventh hour after learning a valuable lesson from the previous task so thankfully, everything went rather smoothly and in the end we had managed to get the things we needed. Each of us had contacted our relatives and friends to ask if they had what we needed. With their help, our fashion show was quite a success. All that we have been through in our lives, including attending MPU classes here in college, although initially deemed as less important, had taught us valuable lessons we will never forget until the very end and gave us would all cherish , no matter where we are.   

Interpret

We have gained tremendous improvement in our communication skills. Before we entered Taylors College, some of us were not able to express our inner thoughts properly. We were very afraid to speak up as we feared of the crowd or even talking to someone alone. As for now, we can even initiate topics with my friends and able to make friends easily. We realize we have more friends now. Most importantly, we are able to speak politely and fluently without hurting anyone’s feeling. Besides, studying in Taylors College has helped us to excel in thinking and problem solving skills. We are able to analyse the causes and effects of a certain problem which is very crucial accurately as this particular skill will definitely help us a lot in future. We are also able to consider the solutions and their advantages and disadvantages as well. This helps us to differentiate what is wrong and what is right so to ensure everything we do was right. Last but not least, we have also gained improvement in interpersonal skill. Some of us are able to lead a group of friends such as making sure our assignments were handed in before the dateline. Being the leader of the group, we tried to care about our group mates so that everyone works well in a team to complete the task efficiently. Moreover, we learned to work with different types of people. We tried to adapt and tolerate when working with the others as well as control our emotions when bad things happened. We try our best to make sure that we have mutual respect for each other.

Evaluate

Known as a mean of conveying or receiving information, communication helped us to express our own thoughts. By speaking up during discussions, we were able to gather each and everyone's opinion to achieve maximum knowledge on the discussed topic. Besides that, we have learnt to understand each other through communication and this has helped strengthen our teamwork as we became more understanding towards each other. When we first started working as a team, we were shy to express our opinions as a fear of disagreement from the other team members. By communicating, we slowly opened ourselves to each other and started voicing our point of view to improve our assignment. Through group discussions and activities, we were also able to develop our thinking and problem solving skills, focusing mainly in addressing the problem and analyzing the causes and effects of the problem. Two heads are better than one, working together as a partner or a group allow us to be exposed to different kind of point of view as everybody view situations differently. Hence, we cooperate together as one to come up with the best solution for all the problems that arose. This has trained us to interpret things from different angles and on top of that, consider the solutions based on the situation's advantage and disadvantage. Last but not least, interacting and working well together in a team aid in building interpersonal skills among ourselves. We learnt to socialize and communicate with each other with confidence and have mutual respect for each and everyone in the team. For example, we acquired leadership skills, where each of us were given a chance to lead the group in completing an assignment.

Plan

Possessing communication skills simply does not mean having the ability to talk to another person. It involves being able to convey your message to other people effectively. In our career lives, this skill cannot be discarded or forgotten even after we have graduated from our higher education institutions. Later on, in our working lives, surely we will be asked to attend interviews, give talks, present slideshows or speak to clients. These are where your communication skills would count. Since we have developed communication skills in college, we would most likely face fewer difficulties in having to speak up confidently as well as to converse with colleagues compared to those who have not. Good communication skills are definitely needed in a job interview to show how well we carry ourselves. Otherwise, the officer from that company who interviews us has no idea we might be an asset to their company! On top of that, as a businessman, you can convince your clients to buy your company’s products with good communication skills. Besides businessmen, in the case of engineers, good communication skills are crucial to them so they can pass accurate information to each other in order to avoid unwanted accidents from happening when carrying out a project.

Another skill which should not be taken lightly are thinking and problem-solving skills. Problems occur everywhere, even in your working life. Being able to detect the source of the problem and think of ways to approach the problem is very important, as that will be the starting point of solving it. In college, we have learnt these skills in Mathematics and Science. From that, we have developed crucial and analytical thinking skills. Later on, we can apply them in finding solutions to our problems with colleagues, employees or even clients. For example, as a manager, if two of your workers are not able to get along, the running of your firm may be affected negatively. In this case, with your thinking and problem solving skills, you must be observant and find out which one of the two workers is the main culprit. After that, once the culprit(s) is or are found, you must think of the best alternative to help the two reconcile with each other and prevent any further arguments between them and think of the consequences of your actions- whether or not they bring good to the firm or the other way round. Having such skills because of having to solve problems in college either mathematically, scientifically, economically or socially, we believe we are mentally prepared to face our problems in the future. 

Lastly, interpersonal skills come in handy to us too. Having been exposed to group assignments and working together in a team, we have developed interpersonal skills. We have all taken turns to become leaders before. Thus, in a way, we have acquired some leadership skills as well. In the future, if any of us were to emerge as the boss, chairman, manager or high-ranked officer of a company, with our leadership skills, we can unite a group of people all with different personalities to work in the best interest of our company. A person who has leadership skills should be one who is able to ensure that every member of the company has mutual respect for each other. Therefore, having developed leadership skills, we are prepared and would most likely be able to ensure there is harmony within the company itself which would help the company to do well, increase the employees’ productivity as well as increase the profits the company would gain. On the other hand, if we become employees in the future we would be able to work well with our colleagues and our bosses, hence preventing tensions between all of us who work in the company which would eventually lead to an unhealthy and unhappy working life. In the end, those who would benefit from all these skills aren’t just the company, the chairman, the boss, the manager, but we ourselves!