Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The MetroDBITan student series : Issue #051 - Hongxiang

Hi peeps

We are so sorry that we did not publish new issues of MetroDBITan for such a looong looong time, but better late than never, so here's Issue #051 for you! :)

This time, we are featuring our newly elected President of the DBIT Student Council, Zhang Hongxiang, better known to his friends as "Seven".




How do you feel about being chosen as DBIT Student Council President? What are your plans for the council?

I am quite excited because it is my first time holding a top-notch position like this, even though I have participated in various organizing committees in the past.

Currently, the council has already started to plan various events with the aim to bond fellow DBIT students and help them do better in their academic studies.

Our hope is that students do not just get to mix with each other in school, but also get together outside school.




Share your likes and dislikes!

I like to watch movies, especially super-hero movies. Maybe that’s one of the factors that keeps me young, haha :)

The super-heroes in these movies always have a cool factor about them and they have awesome abilities.  I also like the way they hold their responsibilities. I have learnt a lot by watching such movies.

One of my favourite super-heroes is Iron Man; his equipment is so high-tech!

I also like to listen to music. I love EDM and pop music. I have this habit of repeating one song I like multiple times before moving to the next song.


Describe yourself with four different words – two which are your strengths, two which are your weaknesses.

Positive – I am a quite positive person. I don’t get stressed easily as I believe that everything happens for a reason and everything will be fine in the end. It is point-less to hold your problems in life as time doesn’t stop, you have to move on. But it is important to learn your lessons from the mistakes and avoid the same situation from happening again.

Cheerful – I like to be the joker among my friends as I feel happier when people start laughing and enjoy their time with me. I like to make other people feel positive and cheerful too as life is good, we shouldn’t let negative feelings pull us down.

Shy – I won’t talk a lot when you first meet me, but slowly I will open up and you will find me crazy.




Name three places in Singapore that you like to hang out at

Actually, I always have problems deciding where I should go.

That’s why I like to go to “tourist attractions” like BayFront or Esplanade roof-top.

I will go to these places every week to relax and leave all my schoolwork aside. It feels really good when I sit on the bench, sip on a drink and just enjoy.












What are your favourite modules in SP? Why?

I like my Year 1 module Social Media Marketing (SMM).

SMM taught me how the real working world is like. Modules like SMM prepare us for the life after graduation. Also, during the project, I had the chance to try out new things and communicate with various people to help me improve my soft skills.

Do you work part-time while studying? If you do, share your experience.

I worked as a salesman in the past, selling printers and cash machines. It was quite a good experience for me as it taught how to communicate with people and how to persuade people.

I actually failed a lot of times to achieve sales, but those failures did not deter me, and instead, I told myself to push on and not give up. In the end, I earned quite a lot of money which I used to pay personal expenses.


Please share more photos of yourself!















Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The MetroDBITan student series : Issue #050 - Sanvanis Toh


Happy New Year
DBIT peeps!

We are so so sorry that we took such a long hiatus from the monthly feature, 2 months to be exact!

In any case, we are now back in action, and we promise we will try to be more regular with our posts ok?  But for now, sit back and enjoy this very interesting 50th issue of MetroDBITan which features our lovely Year 3 student Sanvanis Toh! :)




Hi Sanvanis!

Thanks for accepting our interview. Please....

Tell us more about your childhood

I grew up in a family that consists of 6 members.

As the eldest daughter, I always have to set a good example for my siblings.

During my childhood days, my parents always took time to bring us out with the rest of my cousins. We went to places like Sentosa, almost on a weekly basis for picnic sessions. My cousins and I really spent a lot of time together when we were young. We often went to the indoor playground at the Escape Theme Park to play together too. My cousins would regularly visit my house with their parents every week. We really enjoyed role-playing with each other.

Sentosa with my Dad and siblings



Indoor playground at Escape Theme Park with my Sister


Besides spending my childhood with my cousins, I also hung out with my kindergarten friends. My mom became close friends with my kindergarten friends’ moms. Our moms always brought us out. Singapore isn’t a huge place too; hence we always seemed to be going to the same places!

How was your primary school days like?


I was from West Grove Primary School.

My CCA was Netball and I was also one of the school’s Librarians.

Back then, my favourite subject was only Chinese.

One memorable event that happened to me during primary school is the Primary 5 Adventure camp.

To be honest, I actually have a slight phobia of heights. During the camp, we were brought to a place where we could play a challenge known as the "High Elements". I remember that I managed to do rock climbing for the first time and I was so proud because I went above the red line (a line that indicates a particular height that I have to cross it to consider the attempt a pass)! Continuing with the hype, I went to challenge myself with the Flying Fox. I had to climb up a metal ladder whereby the area to step on was not big. Carefully, I climbed up and felt so nervous because the platform on which I was standing on was so high up. Then I took off. It was such a great experience for me, Flying Fox was so exciting.

My primary 6 class photo

Primary 6 class outing at West Coast Park


My parents also sent me to a tuition centre to enhance my studies whereby I made friends there too! In fact now, I am working part time at the same shop that one of my tuition friends is working at too!


Recall  your Secondary School days

I was from Jurong Secondary School. Since primary 6, I have always wanted to get into this school because this school gave me a good impression when they came to West Grove Primary School to let us know more about themselves. With my PSLE score, I was unable to enter Jurong Secondary’s express stream, hence I chose to enter the school for the Normal Academic stream instead! My favourite subjects were Geography and Principles of Accounts.


Secondary 3 class photo

Almost every day, I sing at home. So when I went to the CCA display day to decide what CCA I should join, my mom suggested me to join Choir; since I love to sing. Then I thought, why not? As expected, I got into the Choir and I learned vocal skills. I was assigned to the Soprano 1. At first, I was so shy to sing in front of so many people. After 2 to 3 practices, I find it really fun! I thought to myself, this is the real singing.

Due to my hardworking attitude, I was appointed to be the Sectional Leader of Soprano 1 when I was in Secondary 2. I hold this position all the way until I stepped down from Choir as I was the graduating batch. I participated the SYF 2 times, first time we got bronze then we improved and got silver on the second time. Also I went for the ABRSM Choir Examination and we received B+ for the intermediate level. I performed so many times, in front of so many people and that really boost my confidence level.


Choir group photo before SYF (senior batch)


During Secondary 3, I was being selected to represent our school Choir to participate in the Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) leadership camp. That period was really so fun, I experienced outdoor camping for the first time, setting up tents on the ground, cooking canned food, sleeping in the forest, trekking, no toilet and all. I really bonded so well with my friends throughout the whole camp. I remembered we went kayaking for almost 8 hours we were out in the sea. I came back to shore totally sun-burnt. We went to play the high elements too and there were 4 stages that we had to pass. My teammates really gave me a lot of encouragement as they know of my height phobia. OBS is really something that I will never forget.


Outward Bound Singapore 2010, Team Raffles



Closest friends in my secondary school days

We spent 5 years together and two of them were even my primary school classmates! Until now I am still meeting all of them, so I think that secondary school days were the times when people create friendships that will last for a long time. 5 years were indeed well spent!



What are 4 words that
describe your strengths and weaknesses?

Four words that I would use to describe my strengths and weaknesses would be:

  • Outgoing
  • Patient
  • Procrastinate
  • Confidence-lacking


My strength is that I am really outgoing and that makes it easier for people to approach me to make friends because I have a friendly personality.

My weakness is procrastination. I have a habit of starting projects late. Even though I can meet most of the deadlines, I always have to burn midnight oil at the end. Hence, I really hope that I can improve on this weakness as doing things at the last minute isn’t right.



What are some of your likes and dislikes?


Here are things that I like and dislike!

Likes:

  • Watching Korean Dramas. Recently I just watch a drama called “Oh My Ghost” that was really good. I love to watch genres such as Melodrama and Romantic comedy.
  • Watching Korean Variety Shows. I am a fan of Running Man, every week I watch it without fail. I even went for their fan meeting in Singapore!!
  • Listening to Kpop. I like songs from groups like Super Junior, Big Bang and VIXX! I recommend songs like Super Junior’s Evanesce, Big Bang’s Let’s not Fall In Love and VIXX’s Error.
  • Going to fan meetings and concerts. Actually this is really an expensive interest; I have spent quite a sum for fan meeting and concert tickets. This year I spent for Super Junior’s Super Show 6 concert and VIXX Live Fantasia Utopia concert in Singapore.
  • Singing! I am always steady for karaoke sessions!!
  • Swimming. I have learned swimming in the past and have taken examinations and attained a silver award.
  • Visiting theme parks! I like the feeling excitement when I ride on roller coasters.


Dislikes:

  • Teletubbies
  • Horror shows



Share an event which is memorable to you

Actually, many happy moments happened to me this year.

If I were to share just one event that is the most memorable, it will be Big Bang 2015 MADE World Tour concert!

Before the concert, I did not purchase the tickets but instead I went to participate in a giveaway for a chance to win the tickets.

Lady Luck must have been by my side, as I won a pair of Category 1 tickets to attend their sold-out concert!

In the midst of my revision, I was so shocked when I received the winners’ announcement email. Words can’t express how I felt on that day!

I invited my closest friend Kitt Yee, to enjoy the Big Bang concert with me.

So for now, let the pictures do the talking!


Super duper excited!!

Oh my god, this is how close I am to the stage, the 2nd row!!!!!!

It is starting soon!!

The end :'(



We MADE it and that’s Kitt Yee on the right!



Three of your favourite clothes
why you like them, where you bought them


I like to wear outfits that are casual and comfortable.




Three people that you want to thank or shout out to

Jasmine



Thanks for being my best friend in my poly life, Jasmine! Never would have survived China without your presence too. Glad that we’ve grown closer these 3 years, many more years to go!! J


Kitt Yee



Kittyee, thanks for being my listening ear all the while these years. I am so lucky to have known you in my life. Now, I am looking forward to our Korea trip next year April, super excited!! J


My mom



Thank you for always giving me endless support and encouragement in everything that I do, mummy. Lucky to be born as your daughter, love you mummy!!



Three famous people you respect a lot
and are your role models?

Nick Vujicic, Angelina Jolie and Yoo Jae Suk.



Where have you travelled before?


So far, the countries that I have travelled to are Malaysia, Indonesia and China. I always went to Malaysia, Genting Highlands with my family and relatives. Other than that, the other overseas trips that I went were together with Singapore Polytechnic. I went to Indonesia, Yogyakarta for Overseas Social Innovation Project (OSIP) and China, Chang Chun for Overseas Industrial Training Programmme (OITP). I like China the most, the weather was so cooling.


Indonesia, Yogyakarta


Mount Merapi

Outside our hostel

Borobudur Temple


China, Chang Chun

Chang Bai Shan, Tian Chi

Chang Bai Shan, Tian Chi

Cliff















Chang Bai Shan, Tian Chi


Cliff


Why did you choose DBIT course?What do you like about DBIT course?
What would you want to improve about the DBIT course?


I chose DBIT course because it was the only business course that I could get in with my aggregate and I really have interest in learning business modules.

I like how we can learn a wide variety of modules ranging from business to design to IT. This provides us with experience in many various areas.

I feel that DBIT course is so far so good, I have no comments on any improvement for it.

What do you plan to do after graduation from SP

I plan to go for further studies in the university. I would like to learn more about the business courses in NTU or SMU if possible.



What are your favourite modules in SP?Share about your ITP experience

My favourite modules in SP are Web Application Development (WAD), Interaction and Visual Design (IVDE) and Consumer Psychology (CP).

I like WAD as it is a programming module that does coding using php, I find php fun and interesting to learn.

As for IVDE, it is a designing module whereby the assignment is for us to revamp the design of an existing website. I really enjoyed designing the revamped website design, I like to use the tools like Photoshop and Illustrator a lot.

CP really enlightened me a lot when I learn about the psychology of consumers, as a consumer myself, I never really realized that there are so much that goes through a consumer’s mind before they make a decision.

All in all, I feel that all the modules that I’ve learned in SP is a useful experience that will definitely help me in the next phase of my studies.


Do you work part-time while studying?
If you do, share your experience
Yes I do. Currently I am working part-time as a retail assistant in Uniqlo.

As this is not the first time that I’m working in the retail industry, I got adapted to it quite fast.

I learned a lot while working part-time. In Uniqlo, we all have to fold clothes by using our body which is known as body folding. When attending to customers, we have to recommend them and assist them in which this boost my communication skills.

Working part-time also trains my time management skills, independence and self-discipline.


Share about your ITP experience

I went overseas to China, Chang Chun for my ITP and got attached to a company called Kangning. 

Over at Kangning, we were taught the basics of Linux programming, how to upload website to a web server and using Illustrator.

Even though I am a Chinese, I still have quite a little hard time trying to understand as the teachers was teaching everything using Mandarin.






Share 3 projects / assignments you have done


Web Application Development (PHP) assignment

Overseas Social Innovation Project in Indonesia

Interaction and Visual Design Assignment 3


Are you attached?
What is your ideal partner like?


Nope I am not attached!

Main qualities of my ideal partner is that he needs to have are to be patient, honest, responsible and caring.