Discovering My Passion for Civil Engineering and Self-Improvement - Week 1
Subject: Introduction and Communication Goals
Dear Professor Blackstone,
I am Aarifeen, and I am one of your students in the Critical Thinking and Communication module (USC1001). I am writing to introduce myself and share some of my communication goals for this course.
Before enrolling at SIT to pursue a degree in civil engineering, I completed a diploma in civil engineering at Singapore Polytechnic. My fascination with iconic global structures and the wonders of the world sparked my passion for this field. I have always been curious about how these structures are designed and constructed. While I briefly considered studying architecture, I realized my strengths align better with civil engineering, particularly in areas such as CAD, 3D modeling, and BIM. I enjoy the creative aspect of designing and feel a sense of accomplishment when I see a project completed.
One of my communication strengths is my ability to effectively present information and engage in discussions. For instance, during my polytechnic studies, I led a group presentation on sustainable building materials and received positive feedback for making complex topics accessible to the audience. However, public speaking remains a challenge for me. I tend to avoid social situations unless necessary, which sometimes limits my ability to communicate confidently in larger settings.
To address this, I am focusing on improving my public speaking skills and building confidence in expressing myself clearly without hesitation or stammering. I aim to develop stronger communication skills so I can actively contribute to team discussions and deliver presentations effectively.
What sets me apart is my task-oriented approach and commitment to completing tasks efficiently. I dislike procrastination and prefer to focus on my work until it is finished, ensuring I meet deadlines and maintain productivity. I am eager to further develop my skills in both civil engineering and communication to contribute meaningfully to my studies and future career.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I look forward to learning and improving under your guidance.
Sincerely,
Aarifeen
Hello Aarifeen, I resonate strongly with your letter as we share the same interests and weaknesses. However, what are you planning to do to improve your public speaking skills and how are you building confidence? I wish to read more of your experiences so I can get to know you more!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Chanelle! To improve my public speaking, I’ve been trying to step out of my comfort zone by speaking up more during group discussions especially during projects. Building confidence takes time, but I’m sure i'll be able to communicate more effectively in due time. I’ll definitely share more about my experiences soon!
DeleteHi Aarifeen ,
ReplyDeleteThe email provides a clear introduction of who you are, you background, and your goals for the course. It effectively conveys both strengths and areas for improvement, offering a balanced self-assessment. The email touches on multiple points(background, strengths, challenges, goals, personality), but some of these could be expanded upon to add more depth. Avoid overuse of phrases like "I aim to" or "I focus on," as they can make the email feel repetitive. For example:
Instead of: I aim to develop stronger communication skills so I can actively contribute to team discussions...
Consider: Developing stronger communication skills will allow me to contribute actively to team discussions...
Overall, your email is thoughtful, clear and professional, with a logical structure and appropriate tone.
Thank you for your detailed feedback Francis! I appreciate your suggestion to avoid repetitive phrasing and I’ll work on changing my sentence structure to make the email more engaging. I’m glad you found the email clear and professional, and I’ll keep your advice in mind to add more depth where needed. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts!
DeleteHi Aarifeen, your email is clear, well-organized, and professional, making it suitable for communication with a professor. You effectively introduce yourself, highlight your strengths in communication, and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, mentioning specific aspects of the course you’re excited about or plan to focus on would show you’ve thought about how to achieve your goals. Your tone is respectful and professional, but some sentences could be simplified for conciseness. For example, “Although I briefly considered studying architecture, I found that my strengths align better with civil engineering” could be shortened to “Although I considered architecture, I realized my strengths align better with civil engineering.” Overall, the email is good!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughtful feedback Tristal! I really appreciate your suggestion to mention specific aspects of the course and to keep my sentences short and sweet. Your example rephrasing is especially helpful, and I’ll make sure to keep that in mind when i'm publishing my next blog post. Thanks again for your kind words and valuable input!
DeleteDear Aarifeen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this clear, highly detailed letter, which adroitly addresses all the key points of the brief. I enjoyed learning about how your interest in engineering started from an interest in "iconic global structures and the wonders of the world." I'd like to know which ones in partcular interested you.
You also do a fine job threading together the comm skills needs you have with your goals for the module, and this letter shows fine coherence.
I look forward to working with you more this term.
Best wishes,
Brad
Thank you for the feedback, Professor Blackstone. The Great Wall of China is actually the wonder that truly sparked my interest in civil engineering. I’m fascinated by how people in the past managed to construct such a remarkable landmark with the limited technology they had at the time.
DeleteI’m excited to learn and improve my communication skills by the end of this module.
That's inteeresting.
Delete