Looking back on my UROPS journey, it has certainly been a very challenging, yet fulfilling one. When I first started off, with ideas on how to go about doing it, it was the hardest part. Almost everyone, including those close to me, was either skeptical, critical, and for some, perhaps wondering why on earth would i want to study the scratchy screechy creatures of the night.
Someone told me 'you're going to create the idea yourself? Oh no, this may be bad unless you have a prof guidance. Do you know the scientific method very well?'
Someone told me 'why is there a need for this project when it has been well-studied in other countries? I'm just telling you that it might be okay for a UROPS but it might be feasible for an honours fyp.'
Some people screwed up their faces upon hearing that I was studying cats.
It did reach a breaking point, but i still went ahead anyway. Perhaps it was my dream to want to do something for the unprivileged strays, or that I have already made the first step, made me not give up. Well all my efforts have borne fruits so far.
I'm gonna continue to study cats (if a feasible idea forms) under the guidance of my supervisor who has been great, although tough at times, and has shared with me much knowledge on cats.
It was a scary, enriching, pleasant, fun experience doing this project. Scary because I first learnt how to deal with not so nice people; enriching because I learned more about myself and life; pleasant because well I made more catty friends; and fun because being a cat spy can be embarrassing yet funny at the same time.
I learnt that:
1. Nothing is impossible, if you dare to take the first step.
2. No matter what others tell you, the end result may not be like what they warned.
