Holy Molly it’s been two weeks. =\
It’s not really hard guessing why I’m even updating today. Just look at the URL of this post, it’s so pretty! =)
Coincidentally, it has been a week since my new semester in degree started. Yes! I’m now officially a student of a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Robotics and Mechatronics. A mouthful, ain’t it?
I chose a path in Mechatronics because well, I came into Swinburne aiming for that course. Blogging about it previously helped me realise that. So many things happened in the past year somehow derailed me off that original course I set out to take. That’s why they say it always help once a while to stop, look around and re-evaluate your path.
There is another reason why I opted for Mechatronics. A cliched as it my sound, it is vaguely because it is the road less taken, at least in this part of the world. Any engineering student can tell you, the bulk of students are in Civil and nothing else. Granted, there are definitely more Civil jobs out there than Mechatronics, but the thought that I have to compete with that whole lot in Civil doesn’t sound all that welcoming to me.
It doesn’t help that yes, I suck in competition.
Well I wish I could say that I’m just testing the waters but, its a decision that’s hard to turn back to. I don’t regret my choice, in fact, I’m beginning my slow, gradual mental conditioning to have myself embrace this whole 4-year path I’ve laid in front of me — with passion.
The only, big, glaring downside to being in Mechatronics is.. none of my immediate friends are with me. =( Having spent my foundation with the company of a few great buddies, it strucked me pretty hard during the degree enrollments, being alone, suddenly deprived of my circle of friends.
Fortunately, when lectures started, I realised that I wasn’t going to spend the next 4 years a lone ranger. =P Turns out most of the lectures are held in combination with engineering students from other specialisations. So in a way, the engineering subjects we’re taking for the first year are common to all engineering courses.
Another glaring difference we’re having this semester is that out of the four subjects we have, three of our lecturers are Indians. One of them, in particular, stood out in stark contrast to the other lecturers. Our Engineering Mathematics 1 lecturer, Ms. Seibu, gave a very motivational introduction to the subject that other day.
She started her lecture with the quote so commonly known yet so little embraced: “”
Unlike, face it, most of the lecturers we have today who’d guide you throughout the semester as far as scoring in the finals is concerned, Ms Seibu stressed a lot on the importance of Math in the Engineering course as a whole. She even advised us to treat this particular Math subject as a litmus test to gauge how well are we gonna cope the degree.
Her charismatic and witty lectures, unique and in-depth way of teaching had me worry less about scoring in this subject I had so much trouble during Foundation. Even more, we’ll be having our great Ms. Chong as the tutor for this subject! Woots! =D
Well I hope I can go on.. but time is a little tight right now. It’s moving week next week where the shift to the new extended campus is expected to take place. As a result, there won’t be any lectures next week before we resume lectures in the new campus. =) It’s still going to be a busy week for me though, as I juggle with a few projects I have on hand.
By the way, happy 08 08 08! You might already have noticed that I have whipped up a Beijing olympics themed header. Weee!
Welp, here’s to the next four years of my degree!
*crosses fingers*
Give a man an Internet access and he won’t bother you forever.
Now that’s a quote so commonly embraced but tragically underquoted.