UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Assignment Cover Sheet – External
An Assignment cover sheet needs to be included with each assignment. Please complete all details clearly.
Please check your Course Information Booklet or contact your School Office for assignment submission locations.
ADDRESS DETAILS:
Full name:
TIONG POH YEE
Address:
15 JALAN BUKIT PERMAI 2/3, TAMAN BUKIT PERMAI KL
Postcode:
56100
If you are submitting the assignment on paper, please staple this sheet to the front of each assignment. If you are submitting the
assignment online, please ensure this cover sheet is included at the start of your document. (This is preferable to a separate
attachment.)
Student ID
1
1
0
0
7
8
5
7
5
Email: bubu.tiong@gmail.com
Course code and title: Creative and Feature Writing for the Media
School: Communication
Program code: OBCM
Course Coordinator: Dr. Nigel Starck
Tutor: Ms. Catherine Lee
Due date: 5th May 2012
Assignment number: Two
Assignment topic as stated in Course Information Booklet: Profile Write Up on Sophie Lee
Further Information: (e.g. state if extension was granted and attach evidence of approval, Revised Submission Date)
I declare that the work contained in this assignment is my own, except where acknowledgement of sources is made.
I authorise the University to test any work submitted by me, using text comparison software, for instances of plagiarism. I
understand this will involve the University or its contractor copying my work and storing it on a database to be used in future to
test work submitted by others.
I understand that I can obtain further information on this matter at
http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/studying/integrity.asp
Note: The attachment of this statement on any electronically submitted assignments will be deemed to have the same authority as
a signed statement.
Signed: tiongpohyee
Date received from student:
Recorded:
Date: 5/5/2012
Assessment/grade
Assessed by:
Dispatched (if applicable):
The Julliard Dream
We all grow up with hopes and dreams of the future – what we want to be, how much
income we will make, what our ideal partner should look like, and many other ideal things that
we would like to accomplish.
Some of us have the luxury of choice for our course of higher education. This advantage is
critical, because it guarantees the focused learning process to provide us with the knowledge
related to the profession we aspire to be in.
We believe that by landing in the “dream job” of our personal choice, we will begin our
career path towards success and wealth. After all, anyone would be happy to work eight or more
hours a day, when the job tasks relate to our personal interests.
However, what happens after graduation and several futile interviews in the attempts of
winning the “dream job”?
***
“I settled for an entry-level job that was totally unrelated to what my tertiary education had
prepared me for. I told myself it would only be temporary until I eventually secure an offer for
the job of my dreams,” said Sophie Lee (not her real name.
Sophie, Vice-President of a local bank who heads the priority banking customer services, is
currently in the twelfth year of her career in the financial services industry.
The paycheck she earns today is more than ten times of the salary for the entry-level job that
she had casually taken up back then. Did Sophie succeed in accomplishing the job of her
dreams?
“The so-called temporary job lasted five years. Throughout that period, I was committed to
my work and even got promoted twice. However, I was still holding on to my dream. Yet it was
far from becoming reality and it felt more distant, year after year. After five years, I lost hope
that my dream will ever come true. So at that point in time, I made a decision to move on.”
Sophie then reorganised her thoughts and plans for the future, and began to appreciate the
value of what appeared to be a casual choice of career. “I believe that my success began, when I
finally decided to let go of my dreams,” said Sophie.
How can there be any success, when we have failed to accomplish our life’s desires?
***
Since the age of five, Sophie had attended classical piano lessons at the Selangor Institute of
Music. Her talent as a pianist since childhood is evident in not just the records of her distinction
scores in her yearly music examinations from Grades 1 to 8. The transcripts, penned by the
examiners representing the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK), sang praises
of her performances.
“In the transcript of my very first exam, for Grade 1, the British examiner wrote that I was a
musical child. I was also very proud of the fact that I was very close to scoring the full marks, for
each of the three songs I was required to perform during the exam,” recalled Sophie.
It was at that moment, at age six, that Sophie began to dream of becoming a musician. She
added, “The movie, Fame, also had a heavy influence on me. It was inspiring – I would imagine
myself performing on a grand piano in a huge auditorium, songs that I have composed myself. It
was the perfect setting for a talent scout to offer me a contract and the road to fame and success.
I wanted the world to know that Malaysians too, have musical talents. Since then I started
dreaming of making it to The Julliard School in New York City!”
The Julliard School, founded in 1905, is a prestigious college of performing arts – dance,
drama and music. According to the official website, The Juilliard School alumni have
collectively won more than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26
Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts.
***
Sophie’s childhood was more than just about music. She grew up mostly with her elder
brother and younger sister. “We were the senior kids in the family, as the youngest two were not
born till later”.
“Those were the days, when life was carefree, not just because I was still a kid. We were
always the first in the neighourhood to get our BMX bicycles, skateboards, and many of the
latest fads in the ‘80s. I have fond memories of attending Christmas parties at big hotels, going
for joyrides in my father’s Mercedes-Benz … but things changed drastically overnight when I
turned nine.”
When Sophie turned nine in 1985, Malaysia was facing one of its worst economic crises,
which took years to recover. Sophie’s father, a representative dealer for ExxonMobil, was unable
to collect payments due to him, as the regular clients with the big-ticket invoices were having
financial difficulties.
“My mom told me that my father resorted to legal actions against his debtors. The conclusion
was unfortunately not at all fruitful, as the debtors had filed for bankruptcy and my dad had a
huge bill to settle.”
Most of the family assets, including the expensive furniture, were sold off to make ends
meet. “Everything had to go – the antique grandfather clock, the rosewood furniture, the cars, my
mom’s jewelries … almost everything except for the piano.”
***
Sophie’s parents insisted on her continuing with her piano lessons in spite of the challenging
situation.
“I knew it was quite a substantial amount of cash to part with, every month, to pay for the
lessons, as there were months when the payments were delayed right up to the following month.
Yet they continued to encourage me, and insisted for me to complete at least until Grade 8. So I
am very grateful to my parents for the sacrifice.”
When Sophie completed her Grade 8 exam, the certificate was good enough for her to give
piano lessons to young children. “After completing secondary school, I started teaching piano,
but I was not assigned with enough students to earn a decent pay, as I was hired only on a parttime basis.”
The future seemed bleak for a period of time, until the day Sophie came across a job ad for
an entertainment journalist for a local English newspaper. “To cut the long story short, I went for
an interview, sat for a three-hour assessment and had one of the best learning experiences of my
life.”
Sophie’s most memorable assignment was one that involved making a trip to Hong Kong, to
interview Jackie Chan on the release of his then latest movie, Who Am I?.
“Throughout my two years with the publications company, I managed to save enough for
college. Well, I couldn’t afford The Julliard or Berklee, in the United States, but my savings
covered my tuition fees at a local music college.”
Sophie remembers the advices of her relatives, who did not agree with her decision to pursue
further music education. “I appreciated their concerns, because to be realistic, we have not heard
of any local musician who became successful. Somehow, I still insisted on my choice.”
Sophie worked very hard throughout her college years, and subsequently earned the Best
Student Award upon her graduation.
***
“Well, I’d hate to say this, but my aunts were right!” said Sophie.
“My parents later reasoned out to me, that they were persistent on me completing my piano
lessons because it was only appropriate to finish what was started – not for me to make a career
out of it,” she said with a smile.
“Only I would know, that it was truly, truly, my dream to pursue a musical career. But what I
have built around me, within me, today, in the financial services, is something I would never
trade away. My dream now is to live the life that I want, and enjoy many more things that I can
afford today, compared to before.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
An Interview Transcript with Sophie Lee
By Tiong Poh Yee
Could you tell us a little bit about your family?
I am the second eldest amongst my siblings of five. My father used to run his own oil business,
in partnership with Exxon Mobil. My mother is a housewife.
How was your childhood like?
The youngest two were born much later so it was very much the three of us ‘seniors’ in my
childhood, around the early ‘80s. Those were the days, when life was carefree, not just because I
was still a kid. We were always the first in the neighborhood to get our BMX bicycles,
skateboards, and many of the latest fads in the ‘80s. I have fond memories of attending
Christmas parties at big hotels, going for joyrides in my father’s Mercedes-Benz … but things
changed drastically overnight when I turned nine
How was your schooling year like back then?
Schooling years was all right, but when I was nine Malaysia was facing economic crisis. My
father, a representative dealer of Exxon Mobil, was unable to collect payments due to him. My
mom then told me that my father resorted to legal actions against his debtors. The conclusion
was unfortunately not fruitful, as the debtors had filed for bankruptcy. One morning I woke up to
an emptied home. Everything had to go – the antique grandfather clock, the rosewood furniture,
and the cars, except for the piano.
I knew it was quite a substantial amount of cash to part with, every month, to pay for the lessons,
as there were months when the payments were delayed right up to the following month. Yet they
continued to encourage me, and insisted for me to complete at least until Grade 8. So I am very
grateful to my parents for the sacrifice
Hence, concentrating in school was a little bit tough, but I managed to pulled through SPM. I
watched my friends leaving the country, some got into college and pursued their higher
education. One after another, I slowly reckon options I had. Getting into private colleges are too
expensive and the results I acquired was not good enough for public universities. It was then I
realized I had no options for myself.
What did you do then, seeing everybody pursuing his or her dreams?
I didn’t have options, didn't I? When I finally realize that I was left with no options, I quickly
settled for an entry-level job not of my preference, and told myself it would only be
temporary until I secure an offer for the job of my dreams.
To cut the long story short, I went for an interview, sat for a three-hour assessment and had one
of the best learning experiences of my life.
What happened next?
The so-called temporary job lasted five years. Throughout that period, I was committed to my
work and even got promoted twice. However, I was still holding on to my dream. Yet it was far
from becoming reality and it felt more distant, year after year. After five years, I lost hope that
my dream will ever come true. So at that point in time, I made a decision to move on. I believe
that my success began, when I finally decided to let go of my dreams
Dreams? Tell us more.
Since I was five, I had attended classical piano lessons at the Selangor Institute of Music. In the
transcript of my very first exam, for Grade 1, the British examiner wrote that I was a musical
child. I was also very proud of the fact that I was very close to scoring the full marks, for each of
the three songs I was required to perform during the exam
I was around six when I began to dream of becoming a musicion. The movie, Fame, also had a
heavy influence on me. It was inspiring, when I imagined myself playing my own composition
on a grand piano in a huge auditorium, and as I approach the chorus a bunch of ballerinas would
appear and start to dance to my music. Since then I started dreaming of making it to the Julliard
School in New York City!
That’s a really big dream, yet achievable. Tell us, what was the best thing that happened to
you so far?
Being the youngest journalist in a local publication company! I was only 19 years old.
After SPM, I got a job as the entertainment journalist for one of the big local publication
companies in Malaysia. To be fair, it was not what I wanted. But having left with no option made
me took the job.
It was approximately six months later when things got interesting. I was asked to go to Hong
Kong to interview big stars like Jackie Chan, Lee Hom, Beyond, Raymond Wong and many
other more! From there, I gained so much invaluable learning experience that money can never
buy. It was one of the few events that shaped me to become a better person today.
What about the worst scenario that happened so far?
Having to let go my dreams.
That’s rather unfortunate, but now that you’re a successful banker, would you consider
picking up the pieces?
I waited five years, but my dream was far from becoming reality. It felt more distant, year after
year. Well, you can call me impatient but at 29, I was losing hope that my dream will ever come
true. So at that point in time, I made a decision to move on.
But don’t get me wrong; I still love music a lot. Just not as a career.
Any reflection?
Well, I’d hate to say this, but my aunts were right! They did not agree with my decision to
further my studies in music. I appreciated their concerns, because to be realistic, we have not
heard of any local musician who became successful. Somehow, I still insisted on my choice.
Only I would know, that it was truly, truly, my dream to pursue a musical career. But what I
have built around me, within me, today, in the financial services, is something I would never
trade away. My dream now is to live the life that I want, and enjoy many more things that I can
afford today, compared to before. The rest, as they say, is history.
An Interview Transcript with Mdm. Lee
By Tiong Poh Yee
Tell us more about Sophie Lee, as a child.
Sophia is a very good girl. At a very young age, she took up classical piano lessons.
Everyday after class, she would practice for at least two hours. She would not miss any practices
or classes.