Chapter 15-- Summary of year 2 semester 1

After having written the article "what I hope to achieve in 2007", I feel that it should be appropiate also to have a summary of my year 2 semester 1 in NUS because to be truthful, it certainly is one of my most favourite and best semester I had have in NUS and which I doubt history would ever repeat itself again. Firstly, I think that last semester would be the only semester in my whole course of study in NUS that I DID NOT have any laboratory sessions. Now, some of you may think that it is no big deal(particularly for the arts and business students) but considering that I am a life science student who frequently have to attend lab sessions, it is really one BIG DEAL. However, perhaps even more important is the fact that there is no lab reports to submit in one entire semester hurray! Also, all the modules that I took last semester are really in general highly enjoyable. Below are a short summary/conclusions of each modules that I took last semester and what I truly thought of them.


LSM2101-Metabolism and regulations

What can I say? Up till now, it is by far the only LSM module that I truly enjoy studying.Kudos to the 3 lecturers who make this module such a joy to study particularly Dr Theresa who respond so swiftly to my email after her hospitalisation and never fail to bring a laugh with her jokes. Associate Prof Li and Tan are also commendable in their effort to make this module so lively and I will always remember the "urea song" that A/P Tan play during the lectures. The element of interest and humour in the songs are on par with another song that I heard in one of my geography module last time. Last but not least, it is also the only module that I truly made an effort to borrow and study all the 3 reference books that the lecturers recommended. Now, how I wish that all the future LSM modules that I take will be this fun....


LSM2102-Molecular Biology

I have to admit that the first 1/3 of this course are really terrible and a pain to study all thanks to the lecturer who are trying too hard to make us enjoy this module.Although the temperature in LT26 is already quite cold, he still manage to further lower the temperature with his really and I mean REALLY lame jokes...In the end, none of us know exactly what to study for the CA and exam because more than half the time he was making lame jokes or talking things irrelevant to the course that only serve to confuse us. Luckily, the lectures become slightly better and more relevant and productive after Dr Norbert and Prof Ding came in to lecture us on prokaryotics and eukaryotics regulations respectively. Dr Norbert even try to "encourage" us to read before the lectures by settling really tough questions for us to answer before every one of his lectures in which the marks earned will be counted as bonus marks for the CA. Prof Ding 's notes are highly organized and are really useful when preparing for the final exam. Oh ya, she also does have a habit of giving long break hehe.

ST2238-Introductory Biostatistics

Another highly enjoyable module by this hilarious lecturer Dr Andy whose jokes are also relatively funny. Considering that he is the only sole lecturer for this module and that the class is actually quite a large class, he should also be appaulded for having the ability to bring our attentions to his lectures. However, as the old saying goes" never judge a book by its cover", he really surprise us in his final exam.... Way to go, Dr Andy!


EC1301-Principles of Economics

The lectures and tutorials are actually quite boring but all the concepts learned in this module really help me to understand the functioning of the world better. Opportunity costs and marginal principle should be the 2 concepts which I think I will remember for a very long time and finally though this module does I understand what does free trade and consumer price index really means. In addition, I have also fulfill my desire as I have always wanted to study economics since JC. Although some of you might think that I should not S/U it in that case, I have nowever no regrets as I know that only after S/U-ing it will I be relax enough to really gasp the ideas and concepts that I learned throughout the course.


GEK1529-Food and Health

I waited for nearly 1 whole year to study this module and it certainly doesn't disappoint. Although the scope of this module isn't very wide( which means that the topics are relatively few), the more important things that I take away from this course is the knowledge and realizations that newpapers and media doesn't always have to publish the correct or proper informations regarding nutrition and health and that we should always have a bit of reservations of what we read in newspapers or magazines or even in the news itself. This module also help me to de-bunk some of the nutritional beliefs that I hold for a long time and help me add a totally new perspectives when reading about nutritional articles and reports. Though this module, I also understand the importance of statistics in scientific studies. It is also though this module that I read my very first scientific journal.

All in all, what really make last semester such an enjoyable period is the fact that I really acquired a lot of useful concepts and principles which will no doubt be applicable to my whole life.


Yours Sincerely,

Yongster