Interpersonal Conflict

My last major conflict happened last year. I applied and was selected for the summer exchange programme in Mexico through the Faculty of Science in NUS.

However, with less than a month to go, there was an outbreak of the H1N1 flu in Mexico. Unsurprisingly, the university placed travel restrictions to Mexico, US and Canada because these three countries had the highest numbers of cases. After a few weeks, the travel restrictions were lifted and the programme was given a go-ahead.

When I informed my parents about it, my mother strongly objected to my decision to participate in the summer programme. Her reason was because she felt that the situation in Mexico had not settled down and was unconvinced about their healthcare facilities.

Adding on to my woes, my father was concerned about my safety after learning about the security issues in Mexico. He wanted to know how I was going to travel to Mexico, how the university staff in Mexico was going to pick me up from the airport, etc. The travel restrictions were only lifted that very day, so all the details were hazy and nothing was finalized. Thus, I was unable to answer my father's questions and that did nothing to reassure him.

At that time, examinations were still ongoing and I already had enough to deal with. Somehow, I lost my temper and said that I was going to Mexico and no one was going to stop me. I said I was old enough to take care of myself and they should stop treating me like a child.

I had consulted my parents before applying to this programme, and they had no objections, so their paranoia with the H1N1 flu befuddled me. To me, it was an once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was determined not to let the opportunity slip.

So the question is, if you were in my shoes, what would you have done to allay your parents' worries without backing out from the programme in Mexico?

P.S. Apologies for going over the 250-word limit. I have tried my best to keep it concise, but it was important to be complete in the description as well. Eventually, I resolved the conflict and managed to go to Mexico. Before I share my solution, I'm curious to see what my classmates have to offer.

Effective Communication For Me

In the present world, everyone is able to communicate with one another through the usage of various communication channels. The key question is, how many of them are truly capable of communicating effectively?

When it comes to defining effective communication, I am sure different people will have different views about it. To me, effective communication means the elimination of misunderstandings. I do not want to undermine the importance of disseminating the correct information and ideas, but often, I realize misunderstandings and disagreements arise due to communication breakdown between the parties involved.

I feel that effective communications skills are important for me because they are extremely useful and applicable in almost every situation. Every day, there will definitely be some form of interaction and exchange of ideas between family members, friends, and people that I meet in the campus. Thus it is important that I am equipped with these skills, so that I am able to communicate better with them.

Despite attending just two sessions in the ES2007S module so far, I feel that I have benefited greatly from the activities in the classroom. I have learnt useful things, such as the 'You-Attitude', the importance of active listening, as well as the variations in the interpretation of hand signs, concept of time and punctuality, and even type of eye contact pertaining to different nationalities and cultures.

Finally, I hope that three months from now, I can communicate more effectively, in both verbal, nonverbal and written form, with friends, and strangers too!