..:: 594. The One With B4 Sleep Thoughts ::..

yesterday couldnt get knocked out... had to toss and turn. was having random thoughts...

was thinking through which modules that I have taken that required the least effort to study... in the end it was HP310 - positive psychology.

why?

firstly the coursework does not have group work. i just need to submit 10-page essay, 2 2-page essays and the exam was open-book. my 10-page essay took me 2 days while i cramped my last minute 2 x 2-page essay in 5 hours. what's best was last sem i had modules that require serious mugging like accounting (had to practise), another psychology module (had to memorise), strategic management (case release before exam)... and the psychology paper was before accounting... hence i used the day before my psy paper to do some internet research.

on the day of the exam, i saw the psy majors having neatly documented files on their tables, while i only have a stack of white papers (my own research and lecture notes). i flipped open the exam paper and i was pleasantly surprised that my research hit the bull's eye. however, i was also a little sad that i could have done more research to cover a few questions. i had to answer 10/15 questions and each question is worth 10 marks.

shall list the questions here since we could not bring back the question paper so those who are taking this module can take reference:

1) Do you agree that happiness equate subjective well-being?
2) Is positive affect always good?
3) Does more choices lead to life satisfaction?
4) What is optimism in the asian context?
5) What is the difference between state and trait happiness and how do they affect stress coping
6) Describe the model of wisdom (Berlin i think)
7) What is the issue Cantor is trying to highlight in her article and what is the evidence she used?
8) Does malleable or fixed self contribute to subjective well-being
9) Which pattern of achievement is better for one's subjective wellbeing? your own or your parents' choice?
10) Is it always good to have control?
12) Describe the two kinds of coping.
13) How does psychological resilience differ in culture?
14) How do others in context contribute to wellbeing?
15) Do laugh therapy create happiness?

phew... such a long list. i was "complaining" to my friend that at every tutorial i kind of felt lost cos the style of the professor is more the american way whereby students are encouraged to speak up and be interactive. issues we talked about were like "name 3 good things that happen to you in life", etc, those sharing of life experiences so sometimes it felt weird talking about those with total strangers.

i still vividly remembered that my first few tutorials were traumatizing. the prof had me to define subjective wellbeing and after i had explained, she asked me, "you are not a psychology major right?"

ouch. ya and i was the only non-psy in the class. the prof always liked to pick me and she said it brought new perspective. however, after all the doubts and thoughts i was struggling, i got A for the module. so i was super happy with the amount of effort i put in and what some of my sec school frenz in that course told me "wah, why you choose this module? this prof is well-known for chim stuff and even psy major try to avoid this module"...

next issue was rather simple. i was thinking whether i should still stay in hall. esp since i would be only staying for 2 out of 7 days. doesnt make economical sense. i could save up to about 900 bucks which i think i can use for my grad trip even though i would be reimburse but reimbursement would only come in June which would be too late. haiz.

any advice?