The document discusses the author taking the Microsoft Excel MOS certification exam after being encouraged by their professor to pursue the certification, describing how they studied on their own and nearly ran out of time but ultimately scored exactly 700, the passing mark, feeling a great sense of relief and accomplishment.

1. One day, my Microcomputer Application Software professor Katie Burton
had a conversation about career. When she talks about qualifications and
skills, she said MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) is a very good skill or
certification to have on the resume and it will give a competitive advantage
over other candidates. I had always been paid attention to the professor so
my Microsoft skills are very good. Early this year 2012, I took my chance
and went to do the Excel examination. I was told that the exam might be
different to what the college has taught so they told me to take their trial
course and see if I were ready. They gave me some good advices but I
was confident in myself so I took the exam immediately. The passing mark
was “700”. When I was doing it, there were some similarities to what my
professor taught me but some questions were not yet been covered, some
I had to take some time to search for the tools. Time was my greatest
enemy, I was taking too much time and I still had some questions
unattended and I was stuck with one question, I told myself that if I do not
move on I might not pass it because I was sure how I was doing and I
need to attend all the questions in order to pass. Finally, I gave up on that
question and moved on, I attended all the questions and finished just
seconds from the stoppage time. The result came out and I got so worry
because what if I did not pass and I was not listening to them to go
through the course sample then do it. My subconscious will brother me for
the rest of my life and at last it showed up, “700”. I thought I was just
seeing the pass mark for the exam so I went to read more and it said
“Your Score: 700”. At that moment I felt so relief and at the same time I felt
like I have accomplished something very big like a job promotion or
becoming a father. That moment was very special and I am proud to tell
people that I am MOS certified. Most importantly thanks to my professor
who encouraged me to take the exam and my family who motivated me to
made that decision.

2. Business Communication Presentation. This was the most important presentation
for this course, it worth 20 percent of the final grade. Presentation has never been
a big problem to me but honestly I was very nervous. I made a number of
presentations in the class and I was very familiar with everyone so I was not
worried about how to communicate with the class. The most difficult thing is to
remember what I have to say. I completed the report and the speech the night
before and I did not sleep for the whole night. I got to college early and spent two
hours practicing my speech. The class started, I was chosen to present third. My
friends kept giving me advice and support. I was very happy for what they have
did. My turn came, I went to the front of the class, facing my classmates, professor
and the video camera that records my presentation. I started with a different
opening other than what I was practicing, may be I was nervous. After the opening,
I started to follow back to the original speech. I did not know why but I was not
thinking about anything anymore and I just saying what I remembered from the
outline that contains my topic and sub topics that would guide me throughout the
presentation. At middle of the presentation, I could not remember some details
about a topic so I paused for sometime. I decided to moved on to the next topic
and so I finished my presentation. I was very confident with this presentation and I
remembered most of the materials because I chose Rogers Communication to
present and I am very interested in this company and I had interviewed an
assistant manager of Rogers so I was familiar with their company and the topics
that I had to present. At the end of the presentation I asked my professor how I did
and she said that this was the best presentation among all my presentations. I
knew that I did the best among my other presentations because first, I was
interested in this company and second, this was the most important presentation in
the course. I was proud that I did very well on this presentation and I learned that
presentation is a good skills to have in today’s business environment. I built
confidence and public speaking skills that will benefit me in future career.

3. I have volunteered to work at JVK Optical because my parents knew the
boss and they asked the boss if I could work there for couple of days so
that I could learn about sale skills, customer interaction and business
functions. I got the chance to communicate with customers, answer
questions, give opinions and learn about what optician tasks and
responsibilities. I do not know what I wanted to do when I finished college
but I was very interested in working there and learn business skills. Plus,
businesses all have to communicate with customers, offer advices and
opinions so that was what my parents were thinking. I appreciated what
my parents did for me and I used that opportunity to understand and learn
about customer service. Customer service is the most important aspect of
business that would determine the success of the business. I learned that
in order provide an exceptional customer service I must listen to their
problems, give sympathy to the customer, solve the problem quickly and
always apologize to the customer for their inconvenience. For the past
couple of days that I have worked in JVK Optical I gained knowledge of
how to satisfy customer and solve customer problems. By the time I
finished working there I went back to college and continue my program. I
have three more semesters to complete in order to graduate and receive
my diploma but what I experienced in JVK Optical was very special and
that would retain for the rest of my life.

4. Before I came to Canada, I went to school in Barbados’
Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School. I spent nine
years in this school and I had very good connections with
my teachers and friends. My English was not good nor
could I speak properly at that time and school was very
difficult for me. In class two, I had a teacher that gives
lessons to students to improve their English skills. I
asked my teacher to give me lessons so that I could
improve my English. I spent one month with my
teacher, every weekday to practice and pronounce
English. By the time I finished primary school and went to
secondary school I realized that my English has
improved dramatically. My grade before secondary
school was averagely 50 -60 percent and when I got to
first form, my grade was 82.2 percent, fourth in the class.
I have worked hard and studied often because at that
time I was very attentive and my teachers gave me great
advice and believed in me. In our school, if your grade is
higher than 75 percent, you will make the “Honour Roll”.
I was called up in the church to receive my Honour Roll
badge and at the same time I was awarded a
Deportment Trophy for my outstanding discipline. I was
very proud of what I had accomplished and I thank my
teachers for teaching and believing in me. Finally I could
speak, listen and read English properly and correctly.