Ok, so CHP isn't officially completely over, since there is still the research paper team working on it till next Wednesday - but today seems a good enough time to post this, riding on the high of the end of the 2 day series of 6 CHP presentation and Q&A sessions.
So CHP '06/07 started in December with a slew of literature review and questionnaire preparation, which then steamrolled into the survey full-force in early January, as we flooded the Clementi HDB blocks with our enthusiasm and warmth - sadly to be greeted with cold unfeeling metal grills and closed doors at times. But the wonder of the human nture prevailed many a times to bring us through the 1 week of door-knocking.
Following closely on the heels of the survey fieldwork, was the memorable data entry, which encompassed a crash course in the data programme SPSS. Days flew by, as the data analysis merged into the presentation and paper preparation, culminating in a 2 day presentation seminar over yesterday and today.
By a stroke of luck (or misfortune), our group drew the first lot to present first on Thursday. Now, being first has a couple of downsides - you have no idea what the standard is like (I suppose we're setting the standard then), and the question & answer session is equally horrendous, since you have no idea what questions the student audience and profs will ask you. The presentation went like clockwork, with our 3 presenters having been well-drilled over the past 2-3 days.
The rest of us were armed with open laptops at full power, with documents open and ready for the Q&A session; and papers strewn all over the chairs and arm rests next to us, ready to grab for reference.
"DING~"
The moment the bell rang signalling the end of 45 mins of the presentation, Jingxiang wrapped up the conclusion, and as someone aptly put it, "Let the games begin!"
And so, up stepped question after question - which the presentation team and the presenters fielded quite successfully, passing the mike to the leaders or the data analysis or paper team when the relevant topics needed discussion. Thankfully, we actually managed to predict a couple of the questions that were going to be asked, and had actually prepared extra powerpoint slides with the statistics and explanations for the relevant questions. Mmmm. Well, there were a few hard stabs here and there which drew blood, but I tink Prof Wong's advice of being gracious in reply really worked! - to not be uber defensive no matter what, but to accept comments and suggestions graciously - hey, sometimes taking 1 step back is actually 2 steps forward. (i mean, if you can't defend your point too well, best to take it in, rather than be as defensive and obstinate as a mule, since no one is actually perfect, and suggestions to improve should always be welcomed!)
Anyway, the upside of presenting first was that after we're done, we could sit back and enjoy the other 5 groups' presentations (and ask questions for the Q&A! =P) Actually all 5 groups had pretty interesting topics and entertaining presentations! Especially memorable will be MC's video and him running into the CRC.. Priceless! Anyway, decided to fire the first salvo for Janice's presentation with 3 questions - well, i didn't set out to ask questions, but I just thought that they were valid questions which I was really curious about!!! Anyway, thankfully they answered my questions pretty smoothly with not much damage done (though I MUST qualify that I did NOT set out to ask them questions to a)help them, or b)befuddle them. I asked questions because I didn't get that point!
It must not have helped my case when Ben stood up after me to fire off another 3 questions - I bet immediately 90% of the people in the CRC must have thought that it was a conspiracy on the part of my CHP group to fire lots and lots of questions at other groups cos we're done with our presentation, and no one could ask us any more questions.. =P
Anyway, remained silent for the afternoon 2 presentations while letting the others do the question-asking. Poor Ben. =P A few of the profs were really targetting him for asking so many questions. -_- Today was another 2 presentations, the first on interesting Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), with the second one on self-rated health. The CAM one was really interesting, and got the whole CRC pretty fired up, so i took my chance on another 2 questions, only to cause a mini-drama. Gosh. Sorry Zhongkai!!!
The day then wrapped up with the feedback session and peer-appraisal session..
* Some thoughts for this CHP 2007..
ProfsProf Hughes has been our main tutor throughout this CHP period. Though we initially did not know him well, and it became quite painful for us to work with him since we so did not click on agreement of several matters, and he tended to be a little long-winded at times, i think we worked pretty well with him as the project went on. His guiding hand throughout the project was felt, especially when it came to the presentation preparation, where he even missed his yoga and pilates lessons and dinner with his family, just to help us iron out the many kinks in the presentation so that we would not appear like lame ducks on Thursday's presentation day. I think I can safely say that he likes us, and will miss us! =P
Dr Luo was the next tutor - though not a COFM staff per se, but his enthusiasm was totally palpable from day 1! At first I thought that he would take more of a back seat, since he was new to this, but his enthusiasm really rubbed off on all of us, and he was so helpful, especially in the Lit Review and the Questionnaire Preparation! I won't forget the many discussions with Dr Luo outside M5 and in the Com Lab, over the questionnaire and data entry and analyses. He even agreed to vet out questionnaire at night at his own home, even though it was a weekend! =P
Prof Wong, though busy with her own research and work, took time off her hectic schedule to attend the crucial meetings, and especially the presentation rehearsals to give her input to make the presentation slides more perfect.. Yay!!
PeopleCHP has given me the opportunity once again to work with my CSFC CG! Xiaohong, Vicky, Uncle Barry, Huiyu, Mary and Hweechyen! =P Had a hilarious time during our CSFC days.. Plus the people from our current CG and more! JJ, Janise, Jes, Zhipeng, Teng Hwee, Jingxiang, Ben, .. Whee~ Late nights out - with dinner at Smith Street and VivoCity, or board games at Minds', or karaoke sessions at K-ster @ Chinatown - after a day's work of staring at the computer monitor screen for data analysis/paper/presentation preparation.. It was definitely one fun and memorable period..
Of course, this CHP has also given me the opportunity to work with and actually talk to many people I would never have talked to otherwise - yet again, new experiences, new people. From my helpful team of Larry, Kaixiang, Yingwei, Zhongyang, Hsienmin, Yijun, Serena, Shaohui, Kinchung, Amanda and Jenica, I must say I would otherwise not really talk to almost half of them on a daily basis. Wow. Not just the data analysis team, it gave me the opportunity to work with others in the group, like Dickson, Meifang, Hamid, Asrie..
Thanks for the great time, people!!!!!!!
The ProcessI think I won't be forgetting this CHP for a long time - the multiple days and nights trudging up and down the Clementi HDB flats and knocking on doors, the kind souls who offered us help and drinks; the mid-way trip to Daily Scoop for ice-cream.. =P; to the days in school and the weekends burnt over the computer, trying to figure out this monstrous beast known as SPSS, to coax it to churn out data suitable for presentation.. =P; the multiple changes to the analysis and tables, and the re-processing of data..
Priceless.
As said previously, most good and memorable experiences are always in retrospect.
How true.
If given the chance to turn back time, yes, I would redo the CHP process - where i could actually wake up everyday, stressed over the data analysis (but not really over upcoming Pros), work hard in the Com Lab, then head out to dinner in the evening with the rest of the team, chatting and gossiping over a late supper in the Kopitiam of VivoCity, or playing boardgames at Minds, or lounging on the "tatami" K-ster room, listening to the rest belt out song after song..
But oh well. It's almost crunch time.
