#spoh14

Well for this year's SP Open house, I helped to conduct a live TV show and demonstrate how everything worked behind the scenes!

Here are some pictures!

(ignore the huge pimple and my tired face pls >.<)

Behind the scenes!

And that is how it looks on video! Cool eh?

Singapore Polytechnic Open House (SPOH) will take place on the 9th, 10th & 11th of January 2014.

The main purpose of SPOH is to share with potential students and their parents SP’s holistic education experience so that they can make an informed choice for their future. 

The theme of this year’s campaign is SP+U..With SP, It’s So Possible.  SP aims to communicate the success that prospective students and parents can look forward to, through the unique and authentic partnership with SP.  Find out how this partnership between SP and students, alumni, parents, lecturers has helped realize dreams, unleash potential and ignite passion at www.aspirations.sg!

Here's 5 reasons why you should visit SP Open House 2014:

1. Learn all about our Diplomas Speak to our friendly lecturers at Course Counselling at the Convention Centre to have all your questions answered!

2. Find your dream course Unsure of which diploma fits you? No worries! Just fill in your Career Interest Profiling at the Auditorium. We'll help you discover, analyze and map your areas of interest to the most suited diplomas!  3. Visit our academic schools Hop on the campus tour bus and stop at any of our vibrant academic schools to try out exciting hands-on activities and explore our state-of-the-art facilities such as The Agency for the Diploma in Media and Communications course. Get a glimpse of what it's like to be the course student. 4. Grab your freebies Lots of FREE goodie bags and prizes up for grabs! 5. Check out the CCAs Sit back and and enjoy the line-up of spectacular performances staged by our talented student groups at the concourse. Or you can also try out some of the CCAs and walk away with a sweet prize or two!

I went to the open house this year and I was blown away by how grand it is. I did not attend the SP Open House before my admission into the course. I never knew how SP open house actually worked. I thought it was just booths set up by the different schools to introduce the courses but it is actually more than that.

There was a stage set up at the skateboarding area and performances were put up by the different CCAs, like the SP Vocal talents, to entertain the visitors. Other than course booths being set up, there were also CCA booths being set up to introduce the different CCAs to the prospective Poly Students.

Sponsors like Gatsby also set up their booths to promote their product while at the same time attract students into SP.

There are goodie bags being given out in the college and they are the main point of attraction of the Open House surprisingly. I am amazed by their systematic approach to ensure that everyone is only entitled to one goodie bag to prevent shortages and wastage.

CASS set up a mini stage to provide a platform for SP Students to display their talent during the Open House. They even establish a photo booth set up let visitors have their photo taken as a souvenir.

I was taken aback by the thoughtfulness of CASS where they even took the effort to set up a first aid booth to attend to students whom may have unfortunately hurt themselves during the Open House.

It's been close to two years since I've embarked on my journey in Singapore Polytechnic's Diploma In Media and Communication.

Here's what how I think I've changed as a person since April 2012.

1. I'm now more socially-adept, though occasionally still, socially awkward.

A huge part of being in a polytechnic is making new friends and creating new bonds with diverse groups of people. Back in secondary school, I was introverted by nature. I was completely fine with eating alone and working at my own pace. However, it was a different picture at SP.

No doubt, friends play a huge role in making your school life more vibrant. Social conventions occur - where we subconsciously conform and adapt our surroundings, to look for sense of identity and belonging in or beyond our very own social circles.

I'm proud to say that though I have yet to find a clique/social group that I strongly identify with, I’m glad to see how much I’ve opened up to the external environment around me. Personally, I am proud of the progress I've made thus far. Still a long way to go in terms of opening up, but I’m humbled by how much I matured over the past year.

Some two years ago, my introverted nature would have never brought to where I am today:

- I now make a conscious effort to take initiative and be proactive about social interactions - something that I would never have been able to accomplish two years ago.

- I now pay more attention to the feelings and emotions of people around me - quite a feat, considering I was used to be emotionally numb to the people around me

Well, almost my poly friends call me Shane. Sometimes I feel that perhaps 'Shane' is the new identity that I have adopted. Unknown to many, the quiet, reserved and introverted 'Shi Nan' still resides deeply inside me.

2. I’m now driven by sheer passion and hard-work.

I was well aware that it was my passion for communications that drove me to choose a polytechnic course over the traditional JC route. I strongly believe that it is important to do what you love wholeheartedly, and be proud of the end-result. You are responsible for the decisions you make.

As cliche as it sounds, it actually works for me. I'm driven by the sense of satisfaction and gratitude from the learning opportunities that I am given to grow. 

And I will constantly remember Mr Mario's words of encouragement: 

'Sometimes, you might lose your direction and question why you are forced to do such things. But always keep your passion burning alive, and someday, trust me, you'll be there.'

3. I’m aware of that I need to step out of my comfort zone.

After entering DMC, the emphasis on group-work and teamwork has never been greater. Granted, it was a steep learning curve. It was initially a challenge to work with people with different strengths. Eventually, I did realize that the harsh reality is - everyone had different work ethics, perspectives and ability thresholds. 

---

As you can see, it’s been a pretty fulfilling journey of self-discovery so far. 

So, I took part in SP's Open House once again! *throws confetti* 

Confession: I have been attending SP's Open House ever since 2011, before I even took my O' levels. One thing that fazes me is how vibrant it's always been ever since 2011. On my very first trip here, I specifically looked for SP's DMC to which I stumbled upon a few kind seniors and also an extremely cool TV studio that now The Agency resides at.

It was a bummer of course, but I do like The Agency as well. 

Anyway, moving on! Last year I took on the role of a tour guide, taking visitors around CASS and introducing them to our school and the courses. It was a great experience for me, and it also contributed quite a fair bit to my CCA points ;)

This year, however, I got to do more fun stuff! I had an Open House shift in the TV studio with my four princesses, as well as Shawn from 01 who kindly helped us as a co-host. I did camera work mostly, and I definitely had fun watching the short impromptu live shows happening in the studio. 

The students that came this year were a nice bunch as well, so it was really fun when they guested. I thought it was a really great experience and exposure for people who were interested in Mass Communication, as they got to see and feel how it's like being in a TV studio.

Apart from being in the TV studio, I also got to co-host the live show that was happening right outside The Agency with Sarah, I must say it was an unforgettable experience! I also got to go on air on Space Radio with her for a short while.

SP+U Open House 2014 

Rewinding back to the times when I was sec 3 and 4 (before and after I got my GCE 'O' Level results), I was really excited about the various polytechnic's open house! I went open house twice, but frankly speaking for the two times I went, the one & only poly I went to is Ngee Ann's. It's really cool to join the open house crowd, the excitement I got is too overwhelming even on the second time I went there. The fun of exploring a school that is like 2 to 3 times bigger than your secondary school and to find out what course can give you a better future. 

Like I said, I didn't thought of going into SP so I didn't bother coming down for the open house. I regretted my choice, I was utterly wrong for not doing so because if I did, I would have know so much more in-depth about what is my course about and not include this option in my 12 choices just because I assumed it's the same as what Ngee Ann offers. HUGE mistake made here, almost every polytechnic offer the same type of course however you really have to note that the modules and the future aspect they offer is really different, do not assume or take open house lightly! 

That aside, after I enrolled into this course, I ACTUALLY TOOK PART ONCE IN OPEN HOUSE WHEN I WAS IN YEAR 1 as the role of a student counsellor at the SP convention centre and that my friend, is my first open house experience in SP (yeah it only happened after I came in SP but oh well better late than never right). It was really a cool experience because I get to talk to people and share with them the stuff about what we do in this course. And there was this interesting incident that happened on my shift, we all know that as someone (either lecturer or student) in DMC, their main language is actually English, which is the total opposite of mine. But that day on my shift, there was one parent who came and she could only speak Chinese therefore I was sent to converse with her and fill her in with whatever enquires she has for the course. I don't mean my Chinese is that excellent as compared to that parent, but this is the time where I truly feel for once that it's not that bad afterall to speak a different language from the many in DMC. I was thankful to be on shift when that parent came because this incident really left me a huge impression. For once, I don't look down on myself like how many of the others does, just because my mother tongue is better than my English which is not a social norm in DMC. 

Apart from having the course-counselling activities in the convention hall, you can take the mini shuttle bus which will drop you off at the different buildings to let you explore and see where the students do their work at and the environment they are in. Coming up to Hilltop, the bus will drop you off at T19 which is near The Agency which consist of the radio station. Its very prominent cause The Agency is a really pretty place and its really big! There will be performances by our very own students right outside the agency, and not only that there are other goodies like FREE candyfloss/ popcorn and photobooth! How cool is that right, you can share a memory with SP together with your friends. 

There are many fun things going on, like CCA showcase and there will be organisations like TEENAGE, Laoban and Gatsby who will join us as well! Don't missed the open house that's happening this year from 9th-11th right here at SP. Come join the fun but don't forget to check with the students/ lecturers about those courses that you are interested in to help you make a wiser choice. See you here! 

Hey hey hey!

If you're interested in the media industry or communications, drop by SP's open house which will be from 9 - 11 January.   

All I can say is, joining Singapore Polytechnic's Media and Communication was the best decision I have ever made in my 18 years of life. In DMC, not only do I get to learn more about my interests, I get to know all these awesome people. 

Remember, the decision you make now will determine your future. (I sound like a grandma)

For more info:

CASS Facebook

Official DMC page

Official DMC Facebook page

SP website 

If you're plain lazy to check those links out, here's a rough summary of what you can do in the future if you graduate from DMC: