1st day of my internship

(Due to confidentiality reasons I cannot reveal the name of the company I am working at)

At 3.55am in the morning, I woke up to my alarm, determined to stay awake to be able to catch my taxi in time! I got ready, made sure I was well dressed, had a really, really thunderbolt quick breakfast and ran out of my house just in time to catch the taxi.

It was a silent journey to the airport. But nevertheless I reflected on what I was about to go through today. It was exciting yet I was so sleepy and barely energetic. I finally arrived at the airport, paid the cab driver by credit card (knowing that I can claim back later), and proceeded to the airport domestic departures area to depart to Sydney!

Sadly, I realised that I was too early. I went through the security gate, walked about abit and finally proceeded to my gate. No one was there. So I just sat and played with my phone awhile. Soon people began to arrive and Erika, the person I was supposed to meet there finally arrived as well. All the interns gathered around her and we chatted, introduced each other. One thing I found out was that all of them had boarding passes except me! No worries as I managed to soon after get my own boarding pass. It has been quite awhile since I boarded a plane I forgot to check in =P

We boarded the flight and it was my first time on a Qantas flight. We got free breakfast and I enjoyed the good catch up on sleep I had on the plane. My firm was paying for all of these and I was being very appreciative! All the interns and our guide met outside the airport after and we then took a bus to one of Sydney's most prestigious buildings where our firm's office was at. It was the networking with all these individuals that made me abit overwhelmed. To me, anyone who got this internship was really lucky or really smart or both.

We then had hours of briefing by so many key people in the business, including the CEO of the business, Chief People Officer of the business, and many other recent graduates in the firm offering us advice on how to have a "successful" internship. We were also taught principles of how to become a professional and act like one when we are employed as part of the business. They keep stressing that reputation is the most important of them all. Not surprising considering their brand is worth about USD$12billion.

We also had a networking lunch with all the different HR representatives of the firm. We got to know each other as we started to bond and make friends. This is the first time in my life I am working as part of an internship in Melbourne and my first experience working with a lot of Aussies. You can't help feeling abit intimidated, but after awhile, you start to feel it is alright.

We then proceeded to the bus which took us to a lawn bowling area where we were supposed to play lawn bowling. However, the weather had the better of us and it was raining very heavily! Luckily they had a contingency plan and we all played trivia games, which was uber fun! After about 2 hours of games, we went back to the office by the bus again and had our farewell drinks. This is the first time I have been in Sydney for almost 10 years and I have to thank my firm for giving me that opportunity.

We went back to the airport, boarded the 7.30pm flight back to Melbourne, reached the airport, took a cab home again, and here I am typing this at 11pm in the night! I have been awake today for almost 20 hours, which is unbelievable. All in all, I think my firm has spent close to $1300 per intern just for today! That is an unbelievably generous amount. I look forward tomorrow for my first real day of "work". Good night peeps.

Night of a Thousand Stars

So it is the time of the year when everyone in my 3 year Bachelor of Commerce course is graduating.

Everyone BCom student at The University of Melbourne gets to attend a graduation party called "A Night of a Thousand Stars". Maybe it is called that way because we are all going to be future stars.

It was a wonderful night with lots of catching up done after the exams and also lots of taking pictures.

There was laughter everywhere, and even a dance floor. It was like a whole big ballroom full of friends and peers of the same year level. Everyone was dressed up really well and looking their best.

Most importantly, some of my closest friends were there and it was always good to be able to share some good laughs with them.

I will always remember the 3 of us - Kelvin, Kim Chew and myself as the three future investment bankers to be (term coined by Melissa). We shared much experiences in suits together at uni, and I am glad to say that it was one of the best experiences out of uni so far.

This graduation night was meaningful but it was also a time of much sacrifice. I still have my CFA exams in just over a week to go and I made time to come to this really important event. It was worth it!

It was worth it because we got to meet all our friends again. Perhaps for the last time? Even though our paths are about to diverge it does not mean we shall not meet each other again sometime in the future.

As diverse as Commerce might be, we all always end up as either Economists or Accountants at heart.

What does it feel like to have graduated?

I will have to say that it feels great! This feels like the beginning of something new, something great planned by God for us. Who knows!

May all our endeavours into the future be met with a good mix of success and failure meant to grow ourselves into better human beings.

My final exam of my 3 year course

After exiting the halls of the Royal Exhibition Building (REB) for the last time for my 3 year course, a sense of relief and freedom swept over me.

I knew that I have just successfully completed my 3 year degree and at this moment, I am truly a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

When you are labelled a bachelor of commerce, you feel a sense of pride and achievement in yourself. Knowing that you have done the very best in what you can in your degree.

My last exam, Macroeconomics, was splendid. I could not have wished for a degree to end a better way. Now all that's left is just to find out my marks and QOTs for second semester 2009.

Nevertheless, even though many of my friends have already finished exams and are now enjoying freedom to the full, I have yet to finish my last exam - CFA, which is external to uni.

And it is actually the hardest of them all. The challenge begins now! May God be on our side! Let us all face this hurdle with the bravest of hearts! This battle ends on Dec 6th, 10 more days!

Classic economics story

The story here would be something I would tell my sons and grandsons in the future, to influence them to become true economists like myself. :P This story would be a perfect bedtime story.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer. The farmer knew not how best to plough his farm. But he tried anyway. Over time he managed to perfect his ploughing methods and became the most efficient he could be.

But unfortunately, the land was plentiful. Many new farmers saw that the first farmer was making a huge fortune from his land and decided to start up new farming land to do as the farmer did. The farmer began to face serious competition and soon he saw the price of his agricultural crops fall. The farmer, as with all the other farmers, in the end were making zero profits in the long run and all of those farmers were the most efficient they could be.

What are the lessons to be learnt here?

If you were the farmer, what would you do?

The best way to respond to the new farmers were a few. For example, the farmer could have sold his products with the tagline "produced fresh from McDonald's farm". Or he could have bought many new farm lands with his profits and expanded his business. Or he could have fought for restricted permits to farm the land. As long as the farmer fought for his own, he would not have ended up in the sad ending that he did.

Therefore, the farmer should always stay away from products which everyone else can replicate and should try to make some barriers so that new farmers cannot come and compete with the farmer.

The farmer managed to maintain his profits and land and lived happily ever after.

--the end--

Nicole's Birthday Speech

Recently it was my dearest friend, Nicole's birthday. I wrote her a speech. Here it goes.

Nicole, I am glad to say that I have found the perfect job for you and I will try to explain why you would fit the job so well.

Firstly, the perfect job for you is to be an FBI Agent.

So here is why you should be an FBI Agent…

Firstly, “You like to recommend emo movies to me”

Usually FBI Agents ARE in emo movies as a secret undercover cop.

"You like to call people ‘cute’ when they make silly jokes”

An FBI Agent has to have a sense of humour.

“You are usually quite cool (not panic)”

An FBI Agent needs to maintain their calm in peril and danger.

“You are always willing to lend a listening ear”

FBI Agents need to listen to criminal witnesses a lot.

“You are actually quite pro in badminton but do not like to show off”

An FBI Agent does not show off his defensive skills.

“You are not really into materialistic things”

You don’t see FBI Agents wearing Armani suits.

“When she is shocked, she likes to say “OMG, are you serious???!””

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding an FBI Agent’s job.

“More of a quiet than a talkative person”

FBI Agents are quiet people by nature.

Last but not least, “You like to scold me when I forget your birthday”

FBI Agents hate it when people screw up their operations.

So there you have it, Nicole, I have found the perfect job that suits you! Hopefully we won’t know when you become an FBI Agent as it is meant to be a secret.

Happy 21st birthday. :)

Busiest six days of my life

It all started last Friday.

There was going to be Industrial Economics exam on Friday, followed by the weekend (oh so precious) before Monday and Tuesday which had Derivatives and Corporate Finance respectively and then on Tuesday right after Corporate Finance I have to start 30 hours of exam marking, hopefully finishing by Wednesday 6pm to finally attend my good friend Nicole's party where I have to organise the games and prepare a speech!

It was in so many ways a miracle.

Firstly, I had to prepare ahead 3 whole subjects while at the same time keeping my CFA knowledge in my head as I know that my CFA exam was nearing.

Then Derivatives and Corpfi had tremendous pressure because directly how well I did on those subjects would actually determine if I got into Finance honours next year or not!

I also had to cram 30 hours of marking into basically 2 days, somehow, I don't know I have to accomplish that!

Doing exams while at the same time revising for all those seemed really too much to handle, yet somehow, I am in the middle of it, thanking God that 5 days is finally over.

Tomorrow the 6th day shall begin and it will be quite a hectic day indeed! I still have 15 hours of marking to do, a speech to prepare and games to prepare. After doing all that, hopefully I can relax in the party tomorrow night! (besides running the games)

If I do not put up my next post you know that I would have been knocked out due to tremendous pressure! :P

Why you should be a tutor

You should be a tutor.

A lot of people go for jobs that either:

1) pay a lot but do not bring you happiness

2) pay is really, really low but you are fulfilled

Usually it is quite hard to find a job that does both. For a part-time job at university, I would certainly, highly recommend being a tutor.

Let's start from the basics first.

Myth #1: Many people who are could-be-tutors are always afraid of not being able to teach properly in front of the class, if not, are scared that they screw up their students' educations.

Truth: The truth is that although the person's education depends to a degree on your teaching, you are unlikely to be able to influence that person by as much as you think. Either way, if the person really wanted to screw his own education, he or she could do it without your help

Myth #2: New tutors are scared that their students will ask them super hard questions

Truth: Usually you, as the tutor, would have done much more advanced subjects compared to the subject you are tutoring. And even if you can't answer a question, the best is to tell the student you would get back to him/her next week! No harm in that right.

I have truly enjoyed the times when I was teaching in front of the class, telling them all the important stuff they need to know and telling the occasional joke.

It's good to know that you are doing good in someone else's life while at the same time helping yourself earn some pocket money. It is a win-win situation for both parties.

Rather than working part-time in a retail store, I think tutoring actually is more meaningful. I have managed to form some good friendships with my students which, I do not know for sure now, but am pretty confident will last for years to come.

About the pay, the university is pretty generous about their tutors. Maybe that is because they want to attract and retain the best, that is why they pay more so that the tutor will do more preparation work for this tutorial. I think it is a fair deal, and certainly one of the better paying jobs in university.

But it is not all about the money. When you teach a subject, it does something good to you. You actually remember the stuff you teach very well and sometimes you wished that when you did the subject, you studied it like a tutor tutoring that subject.

If I were currently sitting for a subject and was given the opportunity to teach students that subject, it would make me more sharper and more focused in trying to understand it better for the benefit of my students. A tutor must really understand the stuff well first before he can teach it to others.

As a tutor, you also get to meet other people and fellow tutors. For those who are single, it is a great place to meet smart, pretty girls! There is this one subject I am doing right now, I cannot believe that majority of their tutors are smart, pretty girls. Why can't I be tutoring that subject now. :P But alas, they are all PhD level, abit too old for me, but pretty still!

So, you should be convinced by now that being a tutor is actually really fun and is one of the best jobs for a university student.

Certainly a great job!

Business Idea: Providing CFA Education

I have recently got another brilliant business idea.

From studying CFA much and being involved in the CFA community much around the world and in Melbourne as well, I find that there is little practice exams provided or CFA review courses.

The ones that they provide are either sub-optimal or overly expensive!

Therefore, being quite involved in the education sector myself (having being a tutor for 2 semesters in university already as well as a PASS leader previously), I feel that I have what it takes to actually provide better CFA education!

Since I am doing CFA level 1 currently only, I will firstly restrict my business to CFA level 1 education.

I plan to:

- provide lots and lots of mock exams for students

- slowly branch out into providing review classes for students

- provide comprehensive cover of all matters related to the CFA program

I can make my revenue based on the number of mock exam papers they buy from me. Setting exams questions is actually quite easy.

The best thing about this business is that it is online and I can work on it anywhere in the world!

However, to get started I would actually need a few resources, including a good IT person and someone to partner with to start making mock exam papers.

I am currently inviting partners, so if you are interested leave your name here! =)