Learning Reflections

May, 2023

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Learning Evolution

Don't get me wrong: my Polytechnic experiences were not ideal. However, I am grateful and thankful for the people I met along the way, the things I learned, and the experiences I’ve had. I arrived at university feeling very self-conscious. I wanted to 'get away' from what I had gone through at Polytechnic, where I struggled to adjust to going from an all-girls school for 11 years to a co-ed school, and struggled with this new form of teaching. I had to step out of my comfort zone with what each module required. The girl who was certain of herself to someone she didn't know vanished, and the confidence I had vanished with her. I, too, had issues with my mental health. To be fair, I was enrolled in a specialized Arts and Theatre Management program with only two classes. If I was having trouble with a module, there wasn't much help available outside of school.

The University at Buffalo has provided me with opportunities to hone my soft skills, which include critical thinking, time management, effective communication, adaptability, and openness to criticism. Having these soft skills allows me to complete and ensure the quality of my tasks. Because of the various people and professors I met during my 2.5 years at this school, I was able to meet not only local students, but also international students, and we all grew from different cultures and ways of life. This has improved my ability to work with people with different perspectives on issues and not be afraid to express my concerns and ideas to the group. The school deliverables also influenced me to become a more collaborative student, which will no doubt benefit me in my future career. Professors from the United States gave students the opportunity to learn about two or more sides of a subject rather than just one.

Professors were also enthusiastic about teaching each lesson, and they were so knowledgeable that I felt at ease and safe knowing that I would have every opportunity to learn as much as possible. As much as I am a team player who works on group projects and assignments, I am also a unique individual, just like every other student. Individual assignments are given to students, allowing professors to observe how each student thinks and how their flow of thought works. Many of these individual assignments have been enjoyable for me because they have allowed me to get to know some family members and other cultures better. It has allowed me to be more opinionated, having to step outside of my comfort zone to conduct interviews and come up with my own topics for certain assignments.

Starting university during the pandemic (COVID-19) was an interesting time because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my future career. I chose Sociology because I knew that if I wasn't going to continue in the Arts, I wanted to do something that would still potentially impact and help people. Zoom classes were difficult for me and possibly everyone else; we never had many online classes, but returning to in-person classes was an eye-opening experience.I had always had a close group of friends in class, but having to sit at least two seats apart and wearing our masks all the time made it difficult to make new friends. Aside from that, classmates in one class may not be classmates in another. I have been fortunate enough to meet a few groups of people who I am close to, not only in my major, Sociology but in other areas of my school life. The turning point was really joining SIM Salsa En Soul because even though there weren't many people in the club and no one in the club was in the same school as me when I joined, there was a consistent group of people I got to meet every week. It wasn't until year two that a salsa mate, had a mutual friend in my class 'adopted' me into their group, introducing me to two other people. We ended up being very close as a group of five. Salsa En Soul has grown since then, and I am so close to everyone in the club that we have weekly dinners, extra practices, and an obnoxious amount of messages in our group chat at times. Aside from the club, the studio where we dance teaches other genres, which I have since begun to learn. The community at the studio is incredible, with incredible people I long to see every week just for good company, conversation, and dance.

I honestly would not have thought that I would get that sense of belonging as I once did in the other times of my education. These people have also played a part in my growth and development as a person and student over the last 2.5 years. I never would have thought that I would meet people who are so wholesome, and supportive and yet growing on their own with their own achievements. No matter how small or big those achievements are, everyone is constantly encouraging each other.

 (Friends from Sociology) 

(SIM Salsa En Soul friends)

 (West Coast Swing friends)

Learning Philosophy

Aside from the wonderful peers and people who have helped me grow in and out of UB as a person since then. This is because we usually present ideas individually or in groups. The modules have allowed me to practice workplace skills such as public speaking, communication, organization, team work, independent work and discipline which I intend to continue doing. It is unquestionably a skill that I brought the Singapore Biennale 2022 to my part-time job as a Gallery Sitter at the Singapore Art Museum. For example, public speaking, discipline, and organization: I was working part-time while the semester was in session and had to figure out how to interact with visitors and put myself out there to greet them, tell them more about the pieces on display, but also to give ideas and feedback to those in charge when needed. This has given me the opportunity to practice the skill, and I believe I am getting better as I continue to learn on a daily basis.

For the past 2.5 years at SIM-UB, I've realized that a learning philosophy of mine is that I must be organized, creating a clear timeline with different components and following it through so that any assignments or tasks, whether for assignments or for the club, are completed properly and on time. Being organized also helps with discipline in managing time well, as well as ensuring that I do not become overwhelmed in figuring out how to manage everything well. I believe that in the future, when there is a higher workload, this can still be applied in challenges in my future career. 

Being a member of something is already a commitment, but being the marketing director of Salsa En Soul added extra pressure to create posts that would entice potential members to join. As a result, I am able to adapt by remaining calm, communicating with my team, and ensuring that different things are prioritized at different times so that I am not overwhelmed. Additionally, when comparing my polytechnic and undergraduate experiences, I believe this has made a difference. I was relatively disciplined and organized in polytechnic, but I did not have a clear and standard method for getting things done, unlike in university. I've prepared a bullet journal with modules color coded, a timeline within a timeline if there is a need to ensure I have enough time to change anything, and I've planned everything out before and during the semester. It has been beneficial as my grades have improved as can be seen below.

(Republic Polytechnic Transcript)

(University at Buffalo Transcript)

Though I am still learning and growing about myself, I believe I have discovered this new found self confidence. Working to control my emotions and work under pressure, being disciplined and organized in managing my time between school, dance, spending time with friends and family, and work. I've come a long way from the girl who was afraid and hiding due to a lack of self-esteem. I believe there is definitely more room for growth in terms of confidence, but I am constantly learning and testing myself, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and gradually gaining confidence and allowing it to grow. As it is needed in this day and age for constant growth.

What I learned in school will undoubtedly benefit me in the long run. Finally, it is always beneficial to be masters of the foundations so that we can grow it into an ever-changing skill based on society and how fast-paced everything is now. I know one thing for certain: I will always strive to improve as a learner, always practicing what I am weak at while also continuing to learn something new every day, keeping up with what is new while remembering what and how the past still impacts and contributes, so that I can be a better me.