Self introduction

Dear Professor Blackstone

Greetings, my name is Ernest Choo. I am a year 1 student studying mechanical engineering in your class of critical thinking and communication.

I graduated from Republic Polytechnic with a Diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Learning in 2021, where I had to learn to use industry-specific equipment, such as assistive braking devices for climbing. This fascination with equipment and gadgets is present in my many hobbies, ranging from weekly lightsaber duels, to creating functional and cosmetic parts for an aquarium, with the common factor being my passion to tinker. Inspired by YouTube channels building absurd creations like “Hacksmith Industries” and “colinfurze”, I taught myself how to operate a 3d printer and create models for 3d printing during the COVID-19 pandemic Circuit Breaker event. Having been self-taught in 3d printing for about 4 years, I felt confident to take it further, and enrolled into mechanical engineering.

Coming from a polytechnic that requires daily PowerPoint presentations, and an industry where I would take on a facilitative or instructional role, I have developed my fluency in speech and also my confidence. Yet, this strength comes only when I am confident and comfortable in the spoken subject, or after I had time to prepare for the topic, as such my weakness shows during conversations and presentations, when the talking points would just be at the tip of my tongue.

In attending this class, I would want to further develop my ability to present myself on the fly. As mentioned before, my confidence comes only in comfortable settings or situations I have prepared for, so in taking this class I hope to be able to prepare for more situations, or be comfortable in more situations. Through your teaching, I would also hope to learn how to read the other person, being able to adapt my conversation to be more convincing towards the other person.

Yours Sincerely,

Ernest Choo

[updated 20 Sep 2023]