education

Navigating the Thesis Journey: From Submission to Defense

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On 17 February 2025, I submitted my final thesis.

I remember that day. The silent click of “Submit,” the feeling of relief mixed with the kind of exhaustion that seeps into your bones. I had poured myself into this research, line by line, sleepless night by sleepless night. When my professor signed off and approved it on 24 February, it felt like the baton was passed. The next milestone was set: 27 March – Oral Viva.

As I marked the date on my calendar, it felt distant, yet ever-looming like a mountain on the horizon.

Then came 24 March.

An email landed in my inbox, a long, detailed critique from the external examiner, a professor from NUS. I froze. My heart raced as I read through the words. It felt like my entire thesis was being taken apart, examined under a microscope. I thought: This could be bad. What if I can’t defend this? What if I unravel during the oral defense?

But panic eventually gave way to action. I tweaked my slides, reshaped my talking points, and focused intently on addressing the feedback, plugging gaps, reframing arguments, strengthening my theoretical scaffolding. It was a race against time, but I didn’t want to show up unprepared.

And today, 27 March, the curtain lifted.

I delivered my oral presentation. I spoke with clarity, with calm, with something resembling quiet courage.

To my utter surprise, the external examiner, yes, the same professor who had sent that intense email, kept praising me. He said I had done a very good job. That I had addressed his concerns. That he understood my work.

Another professor gently noted: You actually have ideas, strong ones, it’s just that they’re all over the place. You need to weave them better, give them clearer shape. And my professor, with his authority, told me that I had passed with revisions and was given three months to tidy up, polish, and refine.

The entire presentation and Q&A wrapped up in just about an hour. And that was that.

But here’s the part I didn’t expect:

As I sat alone afterwards, processing the moment…
I didn’t feel proud.

No rush of joy, no celebratory tears.
No triumphant soundtrack playing in the background.

Just… stillness.

I wondered: Is something wrong with me?
Why is it that after such a huge milestone, a master’s thesis, a completed viva, I feel more numb than anything?

But maybe, just maybe, this is part of the journey too.
Maybe pride doesn’t always roar.
Maybe, sometimes, it whispers.

Maybe it lives in the quiet act of showing up after fear.
In rewriting slides at the eleventh hour.
In holding your ground during tough questions.
In receiving critique and turning it into growth.

This isn’t the end. It’s a turning point.

Three more months to refine.
Three more months to strengthen the spine of my thesis.
Three more months to allow this quiet, uncelebrated strength to evolve into something bolder.

So here I am.
Not proud in the way I expected.
But steady. Grateful. And still moving forward.

Navigating the Silence: My Journey Through Academic Uncertainty

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Yesterday, nestled in the quiet comfort of my bed, I found myself caught in a vulnerable moment. Tears streamed down my face as thoughts of my research project and my professor swirled in my mind. I’m in a phase where I feel utterly stuck, wrestling with doubts and uncertainties that seem to cling to me like shadows.

For weeks, I’ve been sending updates and data analysis reports to my professor, eagerly awaiting his feedback. Research, as I’ve come to understand, doesn’t offer the solace of straightforward answers or a one-size-fits-all approach, especially regarding the intricacies of regression analysis. This was my first attempt at navigating the complexities of formal writing in research without direct guidance, relying solely on the insights gleaned from credible sources. Yet, despite my efforts to reach out with my formal write-up on February 13th, the silence on his end is deafening. While I’m sympathetic to the demands of his schedule, I can’t help but feel abandoned in my academic journey.

This sense of isolation has only grown since an incident last June, when he offered me an interview for an administrative position within the school setting. Unfortunately, I didn’t secure the job, and since then, our relationship seems to have cooled, adding a layer of strain to our interactions.

It’s as if I’m adrift in the sea of my research work, with my professor too engulfed in his own responsibilities to notice my struggles. This has led me to procrastinate, caught in a limbo halfway through my graduation project, questioning my path. The disconnect between my postgraduate studies and my current job exacerbates this feeling of being lost, with no mentor to guide me or offer advice when the weight of research becomes too much to bear.

Yet, amidst this turmoil, I’ve begun to realize the importance of self-reliance and the value of perseverance. This journey, though fraught with challenges, is teaching me to navigate the complexities of academic life and to find strength within myself. As I continue to push forward, I hold onto the hope that this experience will shape me into a more resilient and independent scholar, ready to face the uncertainties of the academic world with a renewed sense of purpose.

Facing the Crossroads: Burnout, Loss of Motivation, or Research Lost?

At this juncture, I’m grappling with a profound sense of uncertainty. Am I experiencing burnout, or am I simply lost in the maze of research, losing motivation along the way? The distinction is crucial, yet elusive. Burnout suggests a depletion of energy, a weariness that comes from overextension while losing motivation could imply a disconnect from the passion that once fueled my academic pursuits. Being “research lost” points to a more specific kind of dilemma, an intellectual impasse where direction and clarity in research are missing. I hope that I can find a renewed purpose amid this turmoil and I know it is not a straightforward journey. It requires introspection and a willingness to embrace vulnerability

As I continue to push forward, I hope this postgraduate experience will shape me into a more resilient and independent scholar, ready to face the uncertainties of the academic world with a renewed sense of purpose. The path may not be clear, but each step taken to understand and overcome these challenges is a step toward regaining my footing in the academic journey.


In the silence of our studies, we find the loudest echoes of our future selves. Embrace the uncertainty, for it is the soil in which wisdom grows.

BY ARETE

A Transformative Experience: How One Module Opened My Eyes to the Complexities of Our World

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Sustainable development has become a crucial concept in today’s world as we strive to find ways to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. In this blog post, I am excited to share with you an in-depth exploration of the Sustainable Development for Social Well-Being module. This master’s course offers a critical analysis of the impact of sustainable development on social well-being, exploring issues, impacts, root causes, and solutions. Through a deep dive into key environmental and social sustainability issues such as climate change, resource depletion, poverty, and inequality, students gain an understanding of how development policies and processes at the macro level impact local communities. The module examines different aspects and perspectives of sustainable development, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and how social well-being is constructed, measured, and interpreted. It also examines policy levers and trade-offs from the government’s perspective, the role of corporations in less-developed countries, the social participation of institutions and community organizations, and the value of leadership and coordination across different stakeholders.

To be honest, this module has been a truly transformative experience for me. Through its in-depth exploration of sustainable development and social well-being, I have gained a new perspective on the world and my place in it. This module has expanded my worldview and opened my eyes to the complexities of global issues such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. It has challenged my assumptions and forced me to think critically about the impact of macro-level processes such as globalization and industrialization on local communities. I now see the world through a different lens, one that is more informed, nuanced, and compassionate. The module has given me a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our society and the opportunities for positive change.

With this, I think poetry can transport what I feel to this new world and bring fresh perspectives on the world we know. So, let’s settle in and immerse ourselves in this piece of poetry.

With eyes opened wide,

I see the world anew,

A newfound knowledge, fresh and true,

Of politics, power, and governance too,

A world of rules, of winners and losers in view.

From ancient Greece to the modern day,

From tyranny to democracy, the way,

Theories and systems, ideas at play,

To shape a society, day by day.

Of ideologies, perspectives in sight,

Of policies, debates, and the fight,

For a better world, in everyone’s sight.

But with knowledge comes responsibility,

To question, to challenge, to see,

To seek the truth, to set it free,

And strive for a world that’s fair and just, for you and me.

So with newfound knowledge, I’ll march ahead,

With hope in my heart and a clear head,

To shape a future, with courage led,

And a vision for a world that’s truly democratic, it’s said.

In conclusion, this module has been an enriching and eye-opening experience. It challenged me to think critically about the world and my place in it and has given me a new perspective on issues of sustainable development and social well-being. Through its exploration of different aspects and perspectives of sustainable development, this module has helped me to understand the root causes and potential solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges facing society today. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such insightful and knowledgeable educators and classmates, and I am excited to apply what I have learned in my future endeavors. Overall, this module has truly transformed me, allowing me to grow as a person and to approach the world with greater awareness, empathy, and purpose.

Connecting the Dot

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Yesterday (16 March 2022) marked my last and final lesson for one of my master’s modules. The module was titled “Current Debates and Developments in Positive Psychology and Well-Being”.

As I reflected on the whole process of learning this module, it made me understand more about myself, culture, and society as a whole.

For myself

Since I was young, I had always been interested in and reading self-help types of books. Mostly non-fiction books about the “how-to” pertaining to life. After attending this module, I kind of figured out that all those self-help books that I read are under the umbrella of Positive Psychology. It focuses on the positive events and influences in life, such as how can one learn how to flourish and live their best lives. Reading all those self-help books teaches me the power of shifting my perspective – which gives me a radically more positive outlook on life. There are a few habitual everyday behaviours that I have cultivated. After attending this course, I realised that those simple exercises I did really lead me to feel a bit more optimism and grateful for my life. For instance, every night before I go to bed, I will do some reflection in my mind. This habit occurred unconsciously. I will ask myself what some of the things I am thankful for and what are some of things I can do better. With my research background and understanding, there are really many theories, studies, and findings that can give us concrete ideas for improving our own quality of life. Internally for me, it seems like I’ve found one of my connecting dots.

The key takeaway after going through this course was life is always full of ups and downs and we will always experience either a positive affect or negative affect in a particular situation. When we are in a negative situation and affect, how can we re-think the “positive” in the negative experience and embrace what we are feelings internally. There are many things we can do to boost happiness but what else can we do to prevent hedonic adaptation. There once a Master that told me to think with my heart and not use my head. I think now I understand what she meant. The “heart” matters more than the “head” as in we need to show empathy and compassion, and these are just as important as critical thinking.

I believe what I learn and apply can teach me how to live a good life path.

For Culture

The self does not hold the same meaning across cultures. In Western societies, the self is seen as independent and autonomous while the self in collectivistic cultures is seen as interdependent and dutiful. Although Singapore is known as a collectivist culture, I think that we are a country with some characteristics of individualistic and collectivistic traits due to globalisation.

The takeaway is that although every country is being categorized into either individualistic or collectivistic culture, the end goal of what the self seeks to live a better life outcome can be seen as a pathway to our fundamental goal of happiness.

For modern society

The topic of the well-being of humans and society has always spark an interest in me. The question of “who we are?” or “who am I?”. Being in this modern society, there are many connections established between the self and life outcomes such as health, employment, education, environmental behaviours, and social outcomes. The attention and interest of our well-being tie hand in hand with what the policymakers made. For instance, Singapore has a top-notch education system. Citizens must attend compulsory education mandatory till the age of 16 years old unless exemptions are given. As Singapore believes that education is the only pathway to prepare children for a knowledge-based economy and nurture a sense of national identity. Whatever policy that was being implemented in society; it was really evidence research-based. They will provide a rationale behind the “what” and “why” it was done.

On a personal note, I believe many of us are chasing happiness. In the process of chasing happiness, we tend to lose ourselves and we will come to a point where we realised why it always isn’t enough and we always want to seek more. This is chasing one aspect of life and there are many other “balls” that require us to balance that equilibrium. I’ve come to realize that we do not need to force in this way. There will always be a source running through you that is wiser than the head. And only we know HOW.

Absolutely we will. No experience is useless.

Embracing Thesis Completion: The Moment Arrives

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At the start of the project, everything may seem fresh and exciting. As I get going, I am intimated by the challenges throughout the process. At all times, I hold myself responsible and try to be aware of my own effort.

As I made progress, my effort would be stroked by the pleasures of achieving and fulfilling the tasks. At various times, I felt very overwhelmed, lost and confused. Slowly, I had it figured out.

Over the past 11 months, I didn’t really foresee any obstacles, but at least I accepted them and somehow find a way to overcome it.

With my effort and perseverance, I made it! Written like more than 22,000 words. That sense of satisfaction and achievement made me realise that my resilience and grit helps to maintain the effort and interest needed to finish hard. The joy in my heart was smiling!

Toward the end of the project, I was finally able to stand up stronger. At some point, I feel that I managed to survive everything life has thrown at me, and some of it has been really, really tough.

Lesson learned: Live and do everything in such a way so that if you look back in time, you shouldn’t say that if had a time machine I would’ve done it better.

So what’s next? 🧐

One’s occupation is a vechice that allows us to learn

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IMG_0924We’ve probably heard the saying, “If you do what you love then you’ll never work another day in your life.” While I do believe this sentence to a certain extent, I do think that there are aspects of a dream occupation that prove difficult and tedious as well. We, as humans, always want to find ourselves doing what we love because it makes that much easier to face the inevitable obstacles that come from earning a living in this world.

Much of who we are is defined by what kind of work we do. For some reason, this is just the way our society is wired. We tend to define people by their occupation. Not only has that, all human societies practiced social differentiation. People everywhere are categorized according to some trait (such as sex, age, race, ethnic background) and according to how much scare resources (such as wealth, power, prestige) they possesses. Furthermore, people are ranked on the basis of having or lacking some of the above attributes. Ranking involves a value judgement; in effect, the society established that is better to be one thing than another, to have more of some things than less. Eventually, all groups, humans as well as animal, develop a social hierarchy. The reason for such a hierarchy is to provide an orderly method of access to and distribution of resources. In a way, it is a method of preventing continuous fighting over scarce resources.

I would say occupation is not the “end all be all” of who a person is, but it does reveal a lot. I was always living in my dream world. At the age of seventeen, it was the age that started stepping into the society. People always tell me that I was young, naive, and thought that I could take the world by storm without earning the right to do so. I didn’t really know how the world operated. The only thing that I believe was success comes with hard work. It requires sacrifice to make it come about.

Everyone’s story is different. Perhaps you are able to go after your dreams without giving any thought to much of anything else. Great for you! But this story is just to illustrate the importance of developing and maintain a mind-set to work no matter what position you find yourself in.

In our lifetime, we’ve probably seen people who are great at what they do but they can be missing big puzzle in their life. In our hyper-fast “give it to me now” culture, all of us are always busy working. Sometimes, it make me wonder is this busyness our life’s work. Is it what we are purpose to do? Investing so much of our delicate time and effort into the current occupation, what we do get as a result? We will find ourselves in a job that we might hate and we have limited choices to begin with. One part of the reason could be because of promotion. We tend to have this mind-set that if we stay with the company long enough, we can grow to be giants in the occupations. So many people give into this destructive trait by cloaking it with the mask of busyness.

With all that said, we should know what we want to achieve in life by planning for success rather than engaging in our occupation. I am also a firm believer in the notion of pursuing one’s passion. To fill our dream occupations, it is much easier to give our all to something that we feel is a stepping stone rather than a dead end. The beauty in this thought is that there is always something in whatever we are currently doing that will help prepare us for our true passion.

Keeping The Flame Alive

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“Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted” – Jules Renard

I’ve had writer’s block ever since I entered university. Not all the time, of course, but it’s has been a regular visitor. I’ve spent hours with my fingers motionless on a keyboard, waiting for inspiration. As a psychology student, writing research essay is inescapable. I’ve read dozen of journal articles in order to get the inspiration back. However, once I am discipline and reserves my willpower just to stay focused on the task, writing simply switch on and it keep the juices flowing.

The impulse to write is in me!

Communication is everywhere. Everywhere, every day, people are communicating. Even when we are alone, people are bombarded with communication such as social media platforms. Indeed, most people would be miserable if we were not allowed to communicate with others.

For me, writing is a process that whereby people influence and persuade others. Through writing, it is the essence of communication of what it means to be human.

Writing can be considered as the mode of communication that uses symbolic. Symbols are the vehicle by which the thoughts and ideas of one person can be communication to another person. Symbols such as words are so powerful.

As Jeff Brown mentioned that “Words. So powerful. They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shatter dreams or energize them. They can obstruct connection or invite it. They can create defences or melt them. We have to use words wisely.”

I would say writing need a lot of self-discipline relating to planning, organizing, and integrating facts, figures, and other research findings into the work. Managing the time well is very critical. Mastery my time means that my capacity is enlarged by doing what I love and to pursue what I truly enjoy.
That is to say we, as students, we have to be a self-directed, independent learner to have the self-learning skills instead of passively engaging to instructors only.