Self-Introduction [updated]
Subject: Introducing Rachael
Dear Professor Blackstone,
My name is Rachael, a first-year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology. I am composing this introductory letter in hopes that it allows you to paint a vivid picture of who I am.
My academic journey towards engineering is a compelling blend of family influence, personal interests, and a sense of adventure. Growing up around engineers exposed me to the captivating world of mechanics and innovation. My innate curiosity, coupled with a love for hands-on activities, has led me to explore diverse hobbies ranging from crocheting to baking and beyond.
Before venturing onto my current degree, I earned a diploma in Engineering with Business from Singapore Polytechnic. During this time, I encountered projects that redefined my perspective and further refined my interests towards this field of engineering. My team and I were tasked with dismantling household appliances to understand their inner workings and propose creative innovations. For me, this project, involving a humble toaster, ignited a profound fascination for engineering, reinforcing my decision to continue pursuing this path.
A distinctive aspect of my communication style that I’ve recently recognized is my adaptability. I possess a natural ability to connect with a diverse array of individuals and seamlessly adapt to various conversational situations. This chameleon-like effect, where I subconsciously mirror the person's body language and speaking manner aids in fostering a sense of rapport and empathy. However, I also acknowledge a corresponding weakness—an occasional hesitation in my speech, stemming from thoughts processing quicker than I can verbal expression, which in hand leads to temporary pauses. Nevertheless, committed to improvement, I aim for a smoother flow in my verbal expression.
Embarking on this module, I aspire to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of my communication. My goal is to ensure precise and efficient information delivery, fostering sustained listener engagement and comprehension. Additionally, I aim to cultivate more confidence in my speech, diminishing hesitations for effective message conveyance. These goals align with my vision of becoming a communicator who is both bold and effective.
What sets me apart is my adventurous spirit and openness to new experiences. Despite initial hesitation as an introverted child, I have gradually evolved into an individual who enthusiastically embraces opportunities for growth. I firmly believe that fear should never hinder personal progress, and I view challenges as invitations for self-improvement and expansion. For instance, pursuing a class 3 driving license, known for its difficulty, entails mastering additional maneuvers, demanding enhanced motor skills. This presented an exhilarating challenge and an opportunity to acquire a valuable skill.
While composing this letter has provided me with a valuable opportunity for self-reflection, I also hope that you have found it insightful. Thank you for your time and I can’t wait to embark on the shared adventures that await us in this module together.
Warm Regards,
Rachael
- Athena
- Justin
- Carl
Hi Rachael! Great work on your introduction email. Just some points to praise or take note
ReplyDelete- Although it is quite interesting, the amount of details about your communication style may be a little much (a little over the word limit), and also maybe combining your strength and weakness into one paragraph and paraphrasing to make it even more concise would be better.
- The structure of your email is really good! I could easily tell which paragraph correlates to which point, and the flow of the email is quite smooth.
- A good mix of simple and complex language, making your email both easy to understand with simplicity but also engaging with its complexity
Hello Rachel, Carl here! I think the language use is engaging. How you relate your experience with your interest is seamless and so is the transition between strengths and weaknesses. Your aspiration for the module is clear.
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the highly informative, articulate and, yes, 'bold' letter. It's well organized and richly detailed as you provide ample examples to illustrate the important points you make about yourself.
I was especially impressed in this post by how you could at once explain that while your interest in engineering might have been born in your home environment, and that your 'sense of adventure' and passion for various hobbies is mixed in with a strong sense of curiosity to make you the person we see today, you were also able to adopt a humble perspective and break down your comm skills weaknesses to the precise idea that you may pause too often in conversation. (Would it be impertinent of me to say that I've taken note of that occasionally in class? As you might have seen, one of my main weaknesses is I'm an impatient listener. :) )
Developing more oral acumen is indeed a worthwhile module goal, Rachael, though I have to admit, the best strategy for becoming 'quick on the verbal draw', in my book, is that constant effort to leave one's comfort zone and gain experience. (This is something it seems you're well suited for. And that's really the biggest adventure of all, I guess.)
I'm also impressed by your ability to characterize anything, say, the project work you did in the poly on the toaster, as fodder for discussion. You certainly don''t seem tongue-tied in your writing.
I do have one question: What's the 'difficulty about ácquiring a class 3 driving licence?
Your language use in this post is exceptional, but is one area of writing where this letter can be improved: overuse of caps.
-- a diploma in Engineering with Business
-- a first-year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering
That's a minor issue. This is really a fine intro. I look forward to learning more about you this term.
Brad