Hey hi! I’m Leonard, a year 3 civil engineering undergraduate from NUS.
Being able to communicate effectively is crucial for me primarily because of
the work I am considering after graduation, namely; structural engineer,
teacher or social worker. How I see myself now is perhaps one that has ideas on
how to do things, but never daring to share with others confidently because I may
be incoherent in presenting my views, and end up coming across as unrefined or
without conviction.
Within verbal communication, some subsets include knowing what
things to ask, clarifying what has been said, being sensitive to how a message
is delivered, and speaking about something that can be easily understood. These
are all very applicable skills that the work I am considering will require. An engineer
has to ask and clarify statements made by the contractor to ensure they
understand the structure on a same level, otherwise by allowing construction to
continue, the safety of the building may be compromised.
A social worker has to be mindful that many of their clients
are emotionally vulnerable, and what they say will have an impact on them. I
have to realize then that I am responsible to others through how I relate to
them, and at the same time be sensitive to the non-verbal cues these clients
may be communicating to me.
A teacher also requires good communication skills, conveying
information one has a good grasp of for people who will be learning it for the
first time. Some of the skills and knowledge I have learnt may come easy to me,
but others may need a longer time to understand. It is essential that I be aware
of this difference in learning pace, and how to present a concept that is
understood universally.
