my personal statement
Okay, i know this is the 2nd "my abc xyz" type of blog post in a row, but being in Australia for the first time has prompted me to be very reflective about my life recently. So, try not to get bored if you can help it? :) The below is an excerpt of the personal statement i wrote as part of an application for an arts bursary.
My greatest short-term personal goal now is to make the most out of my current postgraduate diploma experience at RMIT University in Melbourne, and stay focused on my studies in journalism.
My professional development may seem to be temporarily halted right now due to further studies, but I still prioritise continual growth and improvement. This year, I am confirmed for 2 work placements at Leader, a community newspaper, and Channel Ten, a national television network.
At the moment I also have several directions in how I want to make use of the rest of 2007 to better myself, ranging from expanding my general and specialist knowledge in all areas (even trivia), and interacting with as much diverse people as possible.
I am looking for stimulation and challenge in my life, even if sometimes it is beyond my station in life. I want to travel all around before climate change or natural disasters alter the ‘worldscape’ too much. I am also looking forward to making sure my parents retire in comfort, and buying properties of my own within the next 10 years.
I do realise that building a career is a bit like a game of snakes and ladders, so I will take any opportunities as they arrive and see where they take me. Because of my background, I have a high adaptability factor, and a curiosity of the same level to match. I am particularly passionate about the actual practice of cultural policies, the management of community arts, the technicality of arts law, the longevity of galleries and museums, and the philosophy of arts research.
Ultimately, my career, after my family, is the most important, and I find that it has always been my vision to work for a traditional or alternative arts organisation which may not be very well established, and be the one who turns it around and get it accepted into the ‘mainstream’. I hope to one day lead a team of enthusiastic artists committed to producing creative history in wider society.
Passion is the only trait I need. Passion is permeating and ensures permanence. The training in such an arts-fused environment like Melbourne will enhance my current experience and knowledge of both conventional and contemporary forms of the arts. Being in Melbourne is living the arts every day. Here, all sorts of performing artists and creative industries are encouraged, especially indigenous art and culture.
I grew up in a family where witnessing my parents struggling to keep the traditional art of Cantonese Opera alive was an everyday affair. Due to family circumstances, I did not have the luxury to study music until competence. My violin and vocal lessons were truncated because my father could not afford them.
The training from RMIT University in a professional setting, coupled with my own extracurricular initiative to acquire accreditation in translation between English and Chinese, will enable me to rise to a position where I have the power to add value to the arts scene in Singapore.
Arts is a source of intellectual capital and the essence of life, however, some Singaporeans regard it as merely entertainment. In boosting the appeal of the traditional arts such as Cantonese Opera, which is one of the most unique expressions of the Asian culture, bookmarking it with credibility of higher tertiary education will gain the trust in potential audiences. Arts should not be associated with dodgy artists wanting to make a quick buck.
My current self-funded training in journalism will also prepare me to be an external, objective advocate on the value of arts; and since journalists possess the clout of the media, I can be an effective mouthpiece for the promotion of the arts.
I see myself contributing to arts development and arts practice in Singapore by being a spoke in the wheel, by being an instrument of change, by being a mover and a shaker. My goals are to utilise my private contacts to engage in international networking and facilitate collaborations of Singapore artists with foreign institutions, or vice versa - showcasing overseas artistic offerings to Singaporeans, and broadening their mindsets about the arts.
The CEO of National Arts Council, Mr Lee Suan Hiang, has just been re-elected in 2006 as Board Member and Treasurer of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA), and as Chairman of its Asian Chapter. This is good news for Singapore as it will enable Singapore to play a bigger international role in the arts.
Another major goal that I foresee achieving is the education of artists about a proper code of ethics involved with the trade. I believe that a spirit of integrity and excellence, and not shoddiness, should be tied to artists. Like my father, I am willing and going to commit my whole life to the arts. Even though it was not economically viable for him, he still stuck on after all these years, and I am going to continue the legacy of his good work.
My greatest short-term personal goal now is to make the most out of my current postgraduate diploma experience at RMIT University in Melbourne, and stay focused on my studies in journalism.
My professional development may seem to be temporarily halted right now due to further studies, but I still prioritise continual growth and improvement. This year, I am confirmed for 2 work placements at Leader, a community newspaper, and Channel Ten, a national television network.
At the moment I also have several directions in how I want to make use of the rest of 2007 to better myself, ranging from expanding my general and specialist knowledge in all areas (even trivia), and interacting with as much diverse people as possible.
I am looking for stimulation and challenge in my life, even if sometimes it is beyond my station in life. I want to travel all around before climate change or natural disasters alter the ‘worldscape’ too much. I am also looking forward to making sure my parents retire in comfort, and buying properties of my own within the next 10 years.
I do realise that building a career is a bit like a game of snakes and ladders, so I will take any opportunities as they arrive and see where they take me. Because of my background, I have a high adaptability factor, and a curiosity of the same level to match. I am particularly passionate about the actual practice of cultural policies, the management of community arts, the technicality of arts law, the longevity of galleries and museums, and the philosophy of arts research.
Ultimately, my career, after my family, is the most important, and I find that it has always been my vision to work for a traditional or alternative arts organisation which may not be very well established, and be the one who turns it around and get it accepted into the ‘mainstream’. I hope to one day lead a team of enthusiastic artists committed to producing creative history in wider society.
Passion is the only trait I need. Passion is permeating and ensures permanence. The training in such an arts-fused environment like Melbourne will enhance my current experience and knowledge of both conventional and contemporary forms of the arts. Being in Melbourne is living the arts every day. Here, all sorts of performing artists and creative industries are encouraged, especially indigenous art and culture.
I grew up in a family where witnessing my parents struggling to keep the traditional art of Cantonese Opera alive was an everyday affair. Due to family circumstances, I did not have the luxury to study music until competence. My violin and vocal lessons were truncated because my father could not afford them.
The training from RMIT University in a professional setting, coupled with my own extracurricular initiative to acquire accreditation in translation between English and Chinese, will enable me to rise to a position where I have the power to add value to the arts scene in Singapore.
Arts is a source of intellectual capital and the essence of life, however, some Singaporeans regard it as merely entertainment. In boosting the appeal of the traditional arts such as Cantonese Opera, which is one of the most unique expressions of the Asian culture, bookmarking it with credibility of higher tertiary education will gain the trust in potential audiences. Arts should not be associated with dodgy artists wanting to make a quick buck.
My current self-funded training in journalism will also prepare me to be an external, objective advocate on the value of arts; and since journalists possess the clout of the media, I can be an effective mouthpiece for the promotion of the arts.
I see myself contributing to arts development and arts practice in Singapore by being a spoke in the wheel, by being an instrument of change, by being a mover and a shaker. My goals are to utilise my private contacts to engage in international networking and facilitate collaborations of Singapore artists with foreign institutions, or vice versa - showcasing overseas artistic offerings to Singaporeans, and broadening their mindsets about the arts.
The CEO of National Arts Council, Mr Lee Suan Hiang, has just been re-elected in 2006 as Board Member and Treasurer of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA), and as Chairman of its Asian Chapter. This is good news for Singapore as it will enable Singapore to play a bigger international role in the arts.
Another major goal that I foresee achieving is the education of artists about a proper code of ethics involved with the trade. I believe that a spirit of integrity and excellence, and not shoddiness, should be tied to artists. Like my father, I am willing and going to commit my whole life to the arts. Even though it was not economically viable for him, he still stuck on after all these years, and I am going to continue the legacy of his good work.
