Bio

WHAT ARE MY EXPERIENCES...

MOE Certified Instructor 2016 (current)
Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) - Industrial attachment

Intern journalist, photographer, videographer 2015

Internship stint in both the Big Desk (News) and Entertainment under The New Paper. Over 40 articles published in the paper and

online & estimate 9 front page stories. Original photos have appeared in the paper for my articles and others';

also shot and co-edited a video for a Korean celebrity.

http://www.tnp.sg/author/jade-teo

Ethos Books [internship]

Publisher, copy editor, video editor, publicity management                    2016


Editor and Proofread manuscript for 2017 books: The Man With A Mission - over 150 pages (Ron Chandran biography), Capstone - over 400 pages (commercial project for SMU), Textuaries - including a glossary of terms for readers (A-Level Poetry Anthology)
Handled publicity side (event banners, video, press release) for 2016 book launch: Children of Las Vegas

Conducted training for a Literature Pilot Reading Programme on local books @ Shuqun Secondary; Sengkang Secondary; Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary; St Patrick's School

- literature students from sec 2 and 3 (pure lit)

 

Divine Mercy Communications team [Church volunteer]

Writer, editor                                                                                                     2010 – present

We handle the bulletin, etc.
I’ve written stories, conducted interviews; and as temp editor I handled the layout of the bulletin, specific story to fill in the “Buzz” for the week.

Hashmeta

Freelance Writer                                                                                                2016

I’m helping them with content production on lifestyle/household topics

Nanyang Polytechnic Mass Media Management

CATCH magazine (in-house)                                                                              2015

For the Final Year Project we are required to create two magazines within 10 weeks. I was the main sub-editor for our "humanitarian" issue (http://bit.ly/1LfDbxP) and the editor-in-chief for our "Singapore streets" (http://bit.ly/1KDgIj8) issue

Nanyang Polytechnic Mass Media Management

Production (editor, videographer)                                                                      2013-2015

For three years I’ve produced short films and videos for the diploma, including NYP Open House 2016 and NYP’s Hospitality & Tourism Industry Conference with Minister Tan Chuan-Jin

JENESYS 2.0                                                                                                  2015

The JENESYS Programme (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) is a project advanced by the Japanese government. This particular project was aimed at media students from polytechnics and universities. I was one of the few selected to attend the first ever trip planned for the media field

WERZ Photography [Work]

Photoshop                                                                                                        September 2014

Layer templates, background and subjects to create their graduation

photos for the University of RMIT

Emergency First Aid & Rescue [Volunteer]

Photographer, videographer                                                                              2010-2013

Handled Singapore's team's footage for the Professional Rescue Competition - also went overseas to Bangkok, Malaysia

Nanyang Polytechnic Mass Media Management

Photographer, main and only editor                                                                  2015

I was the main editor for all the photos taken for Mass Media Management publicity and the 2016 Open House brochure

[Supplied photos to a local busker]

Photographer                                                                                                    2015

After having written an article on Mr Mohammad Said, I supplied raw photos for him to use as publicity shots

Learning Journey Education Centre

Tutor for Primary 1-6 and Secondary 1,3,4 & IP1 students; teacher for 1-3 year olds                 2016 (current)

Focus is English, Creative Writing; I also help with the lesson plan and assist & conduct the playgroup

Programmes I'm teaching: Super Writers! Creative Writing & English Tuition, Parents Accompanied Playgroup

Testimonial: P5 CHIJ student, Chantel score 40/40 for her composition and jumped 10 marks in her Paper 2; P5 Maris Stella student, Darius scored band 30-34/40 for composition and 80/95 for Paper 2; P5 student, Hong Kai scored 87/95 for Paper 2; new P5 Meridian Primary student, Valencia scored 29/40 for composition after failing to or just passing

MyTuitionClub

Tutor/relief teacher for primary school students and kindergarteners 2016

Took over for their regular. Followed lesson plan and covered more than asked; Went through vocabulary, punctuation, synthesis and transformation, grammar cloze, comprehension and oral

PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS

“SIMBANG GABI – a Christmas Novena” 2013
Article was published in Church's first newsletter

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (CCA) in NANYANG POLYTECHNIC

The Write Stuff

Writer (articles on Discover NYP blog)

My Experience as an Intern Journalist at SPH (http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2015/12/my-experience-as-intern-journalist-at.html?m=1)

"They Changed My Life, So I'll Change Theirs" (http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2015/10/they-changed-my-life-so-ill-change.html?m=1)

Our Canteen Heroes 
(http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2014/08/our-canteen-heroes.html)

A Roaring Success at SIDM’s Alumni Movie Night 
(http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2014/07/a-roaring-success-at-sidms-alumni-movie.html)

NYP’s Twin Singing Sensations Still Going Strong 
(http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2014/05/nyps-twin-singing-sensations-still.html)

Viva La Vie! 
(http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2014/02/viva-la-vie.html)

What’s in Your Bag, Joan? 
(test article, http://discover-nyp.blogspot.sg/2014/01/whats-in-your-bag-joan.html)

Sociable (photographer, NYP's social media handler)

Pictures and captions have been posted on Nanyang Polytechnic's official Instagram and Facebook

NYP Entrepreneurship Club

Marketing & Publicity department (solo) - Posters for internal events; advertising in school for external parties; in-charge of club's email and Facebook

AWARDS (for outstanding performance in english and literature In Secondary school)

Examples:

Literature graded assignments and tests, have had high scores such as 20s / 25

&

Academic Awards in subjects like Literature (above) and English for at least 2 years
EDUCATION

St. Anthony’s Canossian Primary School

PSLE 2002-2007

English: A
St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

O Levels 2008-2012

English Language Total 15 points

Elementary Mathematics

Combined Science – Chemistry & Physics

Chinese

Combined Humanities – Literature & Social Studies

Additional Mathematics

Principle of Accounts
Nanyang Polytechnic

Diploma in Mass Media Management 2013-2016

- Assistant Class Representative and Module Rep.

Writing for Mass Media: B+

Journalistic Writing: B

Software Application for Mass Media (includes use of Adobe Photoshop, InDeisgn, Dreamweaver): A

Public Relations & Communications Management: B+

Business Law : A
Transcript of Extra-curricular activities (Nanyang polytechnic)

SBM - Class Roles 2013, 2014
Photographer:

So You Think You Can Speak

Verbal Minds - SBM Pitching Competition
Ambassador:

Typhoon Haiyan Concert & Donation Drive

NYP Open House 2014, 2015

GEO - Esy Greenie Eco-Carnival

Participant:

SBM Writing Challenge

Leadership Camp Nexus

NYP Primers (CCA) - Boys' Bridge Share A Gift Distribution Day

NYP Primers (CCA) - Boys' Brigade SG Collection Drive

STUDENT UNION (CCA) - Mural Painting at Teck Ghee Resident Area

LANGUAGES

English – native language; speak fluently, read/write with high proficiency

Mandarin – speak, read and write with basic competence

French – speak, read and write with basic competence

VOLUNTEER WORK
[Volunteer, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS)] 2016 (current)
[Front of house, The Necessary Stage] 2014
[Flag day, KDF & MCYC] 2011 & 2014
[Ambassador, WWF Earth Hour] 2010 & 2012
[Helping out residents, entertainment by singing, St Joseph's Home] 2010


Testimonial



Magician Shin Lim


Dr Subadhra Rai


Mads Mikkelsen

Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins

 

I think I have a serious thing for books with prophecies in them. They're the most interesting to read about even when it's telling you what's going to happen. Yet, not in the way you'd ever expect. 
So because I read book 3 first I knew what was coming. But let's break it down for everyone anyway. 

The series by Suzanne Collins is quite popular, I have a hard time finding it in the library. 
Gregor the Overlander is the first of the Underlander Chronicles. 

Gregor is just 11 and home alone in the New York City apartment when he and his baby sister Boots fall through an old air duct grate in the building's basement. The two fall miles below into the Underland: a subterranean world home to humans with near-translucent skin; giant sentient bats, rodents, and insects; and an escalating conflict between the human city of Regalia and the rats' King Gorger. (I find Gorger a very suitable name heh)

They meet several "Underlanders", among them the Regalians: Vikus, princess Luxa, her cousin Henry, and the bats who are "bonded" to them Aurora and Ares (bats' names, you realise, are Grecian which is wonderful). 

Gregor learns the real reason for the rats' hatred of Overlanders: a mysterious prophecy written by the human colony's founder Bartholomew of Sandwich which hints that an Overland "warrior" will stop an attempt by the rats to take over the underground realm - once and for all. The Regalian council believes Gregor to be this warrior, and tries to convince him to undertake the quest mentioned in the "Prophecy of Gray". 

Beware, Underlanders, time hangs by a thread.

The hunters are hunted, white water runs red.

The gnawers will strike to extinguish the rest.

The hope of the hopeless resides in a quest.

An Overland warrior, a son of the sun,

May bring us back light, he may bring us back none.

But gather your neighbors and follow his call

Or rats will most surely devour us all.

Two over, two under, of royal descent,

Two flyers, two crawlers, two spinners assent.

One gnawer beside and one lost up ahead.

And eight will be left when we count up the dead.

The last who will die must decide where he stands.

The fate of the eight is contained in his hands.

So bid him take care, bid him look where he leaps,

As life may be death and death life again reaps.

Though he sympathizes, Gregor is reluctant to help until he learns a surprising fact: his father, who disappeared unexpectedly for over two years, had actually fallen down into Regalia just like Gregor and Boots and been taken prisoner by the rats. Gregor, his sister, and a group of Regalians go on a journey to rescue Gregor's father and recruit allies for a war against the rats. 

Flyers = bats, crawlers = roaches, spinners = spiders, gnawer = rat

Adapted and tweaked from Wikipedia 

It's immensely hard to write a prophecy  that's so excellently cryptic and rhyme-y. I was really muddled in the last few lines, though I had guessed that *spoiler* there will likely be a betrayal under "The last who will die must decide where he stands." As prophecies go however I favour Rick Riordan's. Perhaps it's unexpected when dealing with all human characters that makes it challenging and more interesting to decipher. 

In the beginning of the book you explore with Gregor after he Falls. He encounters roaches, and they like the spiders, tend to speak backwards. So it's "ride you" or "Hates us princess, hates us". I love how the Roaches can be, loyal and protective, and I love Temp - and Tick has to be mentioned - so I'm using a line when he's at his sulkiest. Considering how bad my phobia of bugs is it's a credit to make me throw away my preconception and have me like the roaches. 

Now the Underlanders are a curious bunch. Even with Luxa being so haughty I enjoy how Suzanne makes her act more human, rather than stay a royal. She learns of sandwiches and even words like "ick". She does have an open and honest personality too. 

I think it stems from Vikus, who turns out to be her grandfather. He's by far one of my favourite characters. The typical peacemaker and wise grandfather-y-type. Being super amiable makes him likeable. So when there came one of the plot twists, though not that shocking to me, it floored Gregor and gang. It was a touching moment for Gregor to show his maturity then; and I believe he did his best throughout the book. Remember he's only 11. 

The bats are not heard from much. They're as the "bonded" describe it, a reassuring presence. You can't get a whole lot from them till the end. Skipping ahead one of the  top scenes for me was the bonding ceremony. For a human to bond with the bat they need to hold each other's 'hands' and recite:

___ the ___, I bond to you.
Our life and death are one, we two.
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife,
I save you as I save my life.

Total aww, fist-pumping-in-air moment. 

Now the rats are portrayed as rats, the enemy, cunning, conniving and all-around creatures you don't wanna be around. I mean, besides how much I don't care for the spiders in the story, there's gotta be an enemy right? Gregor meets several that basically try to kill him, among other things, and we get a glimpse of foreshadowing in later books. His warrior gene, as I put it. 

Of course not every rat is a rat. 

We come to Ripred. Okay with his personality Ripred is quite ratty. He has the qualities up till the enemy part, he becomes the guide and aid of the questers; and obviously has his own depth as a main character. As Gregor puts it, looking into Ripred's eyes there's pain and intelligence there. 

Bring on the cynicism, it was needed. As a cynical person (who ironically teaches kids) it was a relief after 20-30% in the story was Boots being Boots. I'm sorry to those who like her. I concede she is integral in some parts like giving hints to the story without giving the scene away yet (it's good in book 3 though I haven't seen 2 yet) but, ugh the prattling made it annoying. Kudos to Temp and Tick for putting up with it. 

And then  there's  the beauty in the Underland while it's shown in war - nice contrast. There's gorgeous description of how the city looks like; and with such a vivid scene you can easily imagine it. A clean, bright NYC I suppose. It makes a difference if you're able to show your world to a reader,( it's something I even strive to do). 

The pacing of the story is alright  and it really makes you want to keep reading especially near the end. Being the climax, there's  greater impact and the characters start to get livelier. 

Again, since there's a prophecy (I've tried to come up with some myself) you're able to wheedle out who's gonna die. I didn't like that one bit. 3 out of 4 of the deaths was upsetting in different ways. I have not much love for the last death but there was enough disbelief from the remaining characters - it was really severe. 

So one of the deaths being absolutely gruesome while another ...deserves mention. A quick death but sudden and leaves you reeling. Though the character doesn't show themselves you get a sense through their actions. I found comfort when Gregor could cry for them. 

Obviously a must-read, it's compelling because there's Yet another pXXXXXXX 

if anything skip through the Boots parts. Heh.

Literature Legend

A legend has found his way to the stars. He was an amazing author, I studied his great work in Literature.
Thank you Chinua Achebe. He's made a difference in the world with his brilliance and story-telling. I wish he autographed my Things Fall Apart.
He'll be missed.