Self reflection

    As usual, last ppd session was very important for all of us. It was very interesting session because, there was a very interesting topic for the day. It was "Self Reflection".

    At first, Sarasi madam asked about the extra curricular activities that we are doing in the university, other than our academic things. But, most of us were very weak in extra curricular activities. Then she explained about the importance of doing extra curricular activities. 

    The topic was the day was self reflection and she delivered the session on the topic of self reflection. And I got a lot of things to my life during the session. 

    "Reflection" means thinking about something and "Self Reflection" means thinking of yourself and it is a very important term. Sarasi madam explained it very well. She told some examples as well that she got in her life. We can judge ourselves and be good character. WE can judge our own qualities. Self reflection is like looking into a mirror. The most important thing is our character in the society. If we have good qualities, the society will identify us as good persons.

    When we think about self reflection, there are some factors that we have to think about. The most important things are strengths and weaknesses. We must identify our strengths and weaknesses and we shouldn't afraid to the challenges that we meet. Every time we should be very strong and should take right decisions. Other than that we have to identify our skills and improve our own skills. Some times there can be hidden skills that we couldn't identify ever. We have to improve such skills.
    There can be lot of problems in our lives that we face. We should face those problems strongly and think about the solutions wisely. And we have to face lot of challenges as well. We should have a strong mind to face those problems and challenges. Always be yourself and be kindhearted. If you are a person that can get the pain of other peoples', you are a great character for the society. Be a man that lives forever in others' heart even after your death. People will hold your good qualities forever. Somehow I got a new lesson to my life through the session. At last, what I want to say is that "be yourself" and be a great character in the society.       

      

Expert game and thread & pen game

    Life is a very interesting thing with the valuable memories we are getting in the university everyday. Each day is a special day in the university and it is more special with our ppd session. Every week we are getting lot of new things to our lives. As usual, there were two fun games on last week as well.
    Firstly, we were divided to four groups and the first game was the expert game. Before the game, we were asked the expert area of ours one by one. We all had the expert areas that are vary from one to another. The game was to select three expert areas and make a one product by relating those three areas. Each group had to think about a product that covers the three areas they selected and madam said that it should be a simple product. After 30 minutes of discussion, all the teams had to present their products one by one.

     Since madam said that the product should be a simple one, our team decided to present a eyeglass cover, because the areas we chose were reading, bike riding and hand crafting. It is a handmade leather pouch and we made the product for readers to protect their eyeglasses and for bike riders to keep their sunglasses. But their was a one difficulty. As sarasi madam said, only hand crafting was used to manufacture the product. As the solution for that, She herself suggested that we can make the product by hand crafting and deliver it by bike to the readers. Readers are the customers of ours.

    The expert game was very interesting and we learnt to conceive new ideas as a team and present them in a good manner.
    The second game was thread & pen game and we were in the same groups as the expert game. It was very interesting game as well. In this game, we were given a blank paper, a pen, a thread and a selo tape. The task was to write a word on the given paper using only thread and the pen without touching the pen or the paper. We had to think about a strategy to write the word in this manner. So, we tied the thread around the pen and wrote the given word by holding the thread around the pen with the contribution of all the team members.

    It was also a very funny game and we learnt how to manage the resources we have and use them in a proper way. With those experiences, last week session was a very interesting session as well.

Technical writing

    I got a very special experience on last week and it was a workshop in WSO2. It was like a dream of mine became a reality, because it was the first time that I went to WSO2.

    The workshop did on the topic of technical writing. I didn't know about a job position called technical writer before the workshop. It was a good opportunity to learn more new things. Technical writing is related with English language and it is about using the language correctly. as well as it is about writing user manuals or comments of a code or many other things. Things we learnt from the workshop was valuable. It was not like a usual lecture and there were so many things.
    They explained about technical writing and technical writers. As well as, we were taught some English grammar parts. And after that we had some exercises to correct the sentences that had some grammatical errors.

    After the exercises we had a small competition and it was a group activity. We were to write a user manual for a user who wants to withdrawal 1500 rupees from an ATM. They selected a winning team gave some gifts.
    After the competition we got refreshments and after that there was a fun activity. It was a group activity as well. In the fun activity we had to think about an object and write four sentences about the object that describe it. Actually it was very fun. The winning team of this game also was given a gift.
    By the time, we reached the end of the session and lastly we had some photographs with the team. It was very interesting session and we learnt so many new things.

    Apart from the workshop, I could see the working environment of WSO2 and it was very interesting place. That was my first time that I even entered to a software company and it was a great day and a great feeling.

Emerging Technology Trends

    In every ppd session we are getting a new and great experience. On last week, we had a very important industry session. It was based on Emerging Technology Trends. The session was conducted by Research Vice President at WSO2, Dr. Srinath Perera.

     It was full of the knowledge and it was an interesting session. At first he explained about history of technology trends. Then he explained about understanding trends.

    After that, he explained about key trends by two categories. They were current trends and emerging trends. He explained us well all the current trends and emerging trends one by one. During and after the session, we could ask questions from Dr. Srinath. There were lot of good questions and clear answers.
    We got a clear idea about technology trends by this session.

creativity skills

    In every ppd session, we are getting a new and unforgettable experience.Last week also we had two group activities.

    We had an interesting activity with a piece of cake. Actually it was a delicious experience. Firstly we were divided to two groups and then we were given a piece of cake and a thread for each group.

    We had to cut that piece of cake into eight small pieces by using the thread and there should be three moves of the thread.

 

     One team could do the task in a creative way. It was like this.

    In this activity, we learnt how to get quick decisions and work as a team together.

 

Interview-Practice

    On last week, at our ppd session,we had a great experience for facing an interview. Last week miss Sarasi explain us how to face an interview and this week we had a real experience of an interview.

    It was a group activity. Firstly, we were divided to three groups. There were three interviewers and two candidates for a group.
    Each group had to conduct interviews for each candidate. We had to think about all the matters miss Sarasi taught us last week on the topic of how to face an interview.

    I never faced a real interview. So I got a great experience from this session.
   

How to face an interview

    As usual we had very important ppd session on this week as well. It was very important for our career life. We learnt how to face an interview in a proper manner. Sarasi madam explained us very important facts one by one.

    When we are selected to an interview, at first, we need to know about the company that we are going to the interview. Then we have to research about the relevant company. It is very useful in the interview.
    Then we have to prepare for common questions that the interviewers may ask firstly. And we need to prepare our own questions as well. We should have a clear idea about the questions we can ask, whether they are to ask or not.

    During the interview, we should mention and describe our strengths and build a good image about us in the presence of the interviewers. As well as we need to justify ,why I am the most suitable one for the job.
    Before going to the interview, it is good to practice with a friend, then we can have a little bit confidence to face the interview. We need to prepare our certificates properly as well before going to the interview. When preparing our certificates, latest qualifications should be on the top.

    In the interview, our outer appearance is a very important thing. It's about the neatness. we need to dress properly for the interview. Comb hair properly, and if a boy, shave properly. Another important thing is, when we are going to the interview, it is good to arrive the place before 10 minutes. Then we can prepare for the interview without any stress.
    We should shake hands confidentially with interviewers at the beginning and the end. In the interview we should introduce ourselves and we shouldn't share too much personal details. At the end we need to thank interviewers as well.