Dear Professor Blackstone,
My name is XiaoRou, and I am a Year 1 Civil Engineering student. I am excited to be part of your Critical Thinking class this trimester and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself.
I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in 2024 with a diploma in Civil Engineering. Initially, I chose this field somewhat by chance, but as I progressed through my studies, I developed a deep appreciation for the built environment. Over time, I began paying closer attention to buildings and infrastructure, which fueled my curiosity and passion for the subject. This growing interest led me to pursue further studies in civil engineering.
Beyond academics, music plays a significant role in my life. I enjoy playing various instruments, including the piano, guitar, and flute. While I wouldn’t consider myself highly skilled, music is a constant presence that helps me relax and express my creativity. I try to play regularly and also enjoy listening to a wide range of music, as it provides me with inspiration and a sense of calm.
One of my strengths is my ability to actively listen, which allows me to connect with others and foster open communication. However, I sometimes struggle to articulate my thoughts clearly, especially under pressure. Speaking up in class is something I find challenging, but I am eager to step out of my comfort zone, engage in discussions, and learn from your expertise.
Thank you for your time in reading my letter. I look forward to the opportunity to learn from you this trimester.
Sincerely,
XiaoRou
(Edited)
Read Khad and Fatris’s letter
Dear XiaoRou,
ReplyDeleteI had a pleasant time reading through your self-introduction letter. It is thoughtful, well-structured, and engaging. Your clear passion for Civil Engineering, combined with your personal interests in music, creates a compelling introduction that reflects both your academic and personal sides.
It is great to see that, progressing academically, it piqued your interest in civil engineering as you start to pay more attention to your surroundings buildings and structures. Similarly, I was fascinated by infrastructures and thus decided to switch careers to civil engineering to further expand my interest.
It it also great that not only is playing musical instruments is your hobby but it is also provides you with a healthy way of de-stressing.
I can relate to your letter as I too have difficulty in articulating myself clearly under pressure. As we go through this module together, I hope we can overcome this challenge and excel in our future careers.
I have a suggestion for improvement. In your fourth paragraph, you could provide a specific example to your strength and where you challenge occurred to provide more depth.
Overall, your letter is engaging and well-written. Thank you for sharing your self-introduction, and I look forward to learning and growing alongside you in this module.
Best regards,
Muhammad Fatris Bin Malek
Dear Fatris,
DeleteThank you for your thoughtful response to my letter. Thank you for reading and sharing your own valuable experiences in pursuing Civil Engineering.
Your suggestion regarding specific examples is very helpful. I will definitely work on incorporating them to better illustrate my strengths and experiences.
I'm looking forward to learning from you and the rest of the class in this module.
Sincerely,
XiaoRou
Dear XiaoRou,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to share about yourself. It was a pleasure to learn more about your background and how your initial choice of civil engineering has turned into a genuine passion.
I found it exciting to learn about your love for music, as I feel the same way and play the guitar too! Music provides such a creative outlet and a great way to help us unwind. The fact that you play multiple instruments is truly impressive, and I believe it plays an important role in keeping you grounded and relaxed.
I appreciate your honesty and admire your self-awareness in recognizing areas for growth while reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses. Being an empathetic listener is a valuable asset and an important skill. I can also relate to your challenges with articulating ideas under pressure, and I'm sure this module will provide plenty of opportunities for us to grow in both communication and critical thinking skills.
One suggestion I have is that you could perhaps elaborate a little more on how your love for music might support your growth in communication or how it has taught you skills like focus, discipline, or adaptability. I think adding this connection could help tie your strengths and hobbies together more seamlessly.
Overall, your letter is well-written and thoughtful. I look forward to seeing your progress and learning alongside you throughout this module.
Best regards,
Khad
Dear Khad,
DeleteThank you for your kind words and insightful feedback on my letter. Thanks for taking the time to read it and share your thoughts. I was delighted to know that you love music too.
I appreciate your suggestions. I'll definitely keep that in mind as I reflect on how my experiences can contribute to my strength and growth.
Looking forward to learning from you this trimester!
Sincerely,
XiaoRou
Dear Xiau Rou,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this clear and detailed letter, which addresses all the points of the brief. You state, for example, that "coincidence for me to take up civil engineering." Does that mean that you actually made a random choice? If there were room in the letter to add details, I'd like to know how that choice, rather than say, mechanical, came about.
I especially enjoyed learning about how your interest in music.
You mention playing three instruments and even state that "life revolves around them." Does that mean that you play them every day? Do you also listen to mujsic a lot? How did this interest develop? You see there are gaps in what you share so you could add some more detail.
In term of your comm skills, you share interesting info. I'm glad that you're willing to embrace the opportunity to inteact in a lively class. Please don't hesitate to volinteer to speak!
Language wise, this letter has a few grammar issues. Please see if a grammr based AI app can point out some of those issues.
I look forward to interacting with you further this term.
Best wishes,
Brad
Dear Professor Bard,
DeleteThank you for your detailed feedback on my letter. I appreciate you taking the time to point out specific areas for improvement, particularly regarding the clarity of my choice of civil engineering and the details about my musical interests. I will definitely work on adding more depth to those sections. I also appreciate the suggestion of using a grammar-based AI app and will explore that to improve my writing. I look forward to engaging in your lively class and will make an effort to participate actively.
Sincerely,
Xiao Rou