In the past two years, I worked for Cathay Pacific Airways as a flight attendant. My writing was confined mainly to in-flight safety reports and filling out Food and Beverage Requisition Forms. The company’s concern was that I was well-groomed, I knew how to smile and greet passengers, and most importantly provide ‘Service Straight from the Heart’. I was not recruited to write, nor was I judged on how well an in-flight safety report I have written. Basically I did a ‘doing’ job, not a ‘writing’ one.

In my Higher Diploma days however, I have done a fair amount of writing. I learnt to write film reviews, news articles and journals in Year One. The following year I progressed on to write book reviews, business communication and analyses of public campaigns. In my final year I wrote press releases, pamphlets and other kinds of promotional material for my final year project host organization. Looking back, I have learnt to write different genre. I have probably improved my grammar, vocabulary and writing style through numerous assignments. With the help of peer feedback and revision of my own drafts, I have also learnt to edit and improve my own writing.

I believe these skills are going to serve me well in these one and a half years to come. I hope to develop and hone the writing skills I have learnt from my higher diploma course. I look forward to developing skills in academic writing, discourse analysis, and case studies. With the guidance of tutors and peers, I hope to produce writings of a more mature and serious manner.

I have come to realize that staying indoors and writing all day is not the only solution to develop better writing. In the past two years, I have traveled the globe, talked to numerous passengers, and read newspapers and magazines from many places. Writing techniques may be important, but content and subject matter also have a role to play in quality writing. I am confident that my experiences will add ‘punch’ to my writing.

Coming back to City University is a big challenge to myself. My ultimate goal is to attain a good degree. My immediate goal now is to fit into campus life and get into writing again. (376 words)