My Biodata

My Biodata

Hi. I am Chan Min Min. I am currently a Science undergraduate majoring in Physics. I am a diligent and independent learner who is particularly passionate about Physics. I enjoy learning Physics because it is a subject that encourages one to find answers to fundamental questions and apply basic knowledge to complicated situations. Hence, learning physics has equipped me with critical thinking and application skills that will be important in the workforce. To broaden my academic horizons, I challenged myself by participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS). My strong analytical ability and keen attitude towards learning has enabled me to obtain good results for this programme.

Furthermore, I am also an efficient and responsible leader who has the drive to see my undertakings through fruition. I was given the opportunity to be the Vice-Chairman of National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) in CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School and had taken part in the planning and execution of many events in my co-curricular activity. As a confident and dependable team leader, I motivated and led my team to come in first in the Annual .22" Revolver Shooting Competition in 2003.

In addition, I have a keen interest in music and was an active and dedicated member of the Harmonica Club in Anderson Junior College. Despite being new to the instrument, I practiced hard to improve my skills so that I could participate in the Singapore Youth Festival in 2005. Besides playing the harmonica, I also enjoy singing, jogging and playing the piano. My love for music spurred me to join the music ministry in my church. I had served in the choir before and now, every Sunday, I would serve the congregation as a keyboardist.

Physical Touch

"The most basic form of communication, where words are not always needed."

For this week’s blog entry, I would like to talk about a form of non-verbal communication: physical touch.

As human beings, we are equipped with the sense of touch to help us understand and interact with the environment. Sensor receptors located in the skin pick up information from the environment and sent them to the brain. Through the sense of touch, we could identify pressure, temperature and pain and all these carries a message about the environment we are living in. Hence, nature could communicate through us through the sense of touch.

As I was searching through the Internet, I chanced upon the “physical benefits of touch”. Massage has several medical benefits as it could improve blood circulation in our body. However, I feel that the sense of touch goes beyond the physical. Touch can bring emotional well-being and it is one of the most basic ways human beings communicate with each other.

Sometimes, a touch is worth a thousand words. Touch could help us to communicate to one another without the need for words. Physical contact informs the other of our presence, our caring, and our support. When there seems to be nothing one can say, an appropriate touch can convey the best message of all.

For example, gently stroking an infant will induce sleep, soothe pain, and quiet their rage. Teachers could give their students a pat on the back to show their appreciation or approval for a work that is well done while a slap on the hand indicates the opposite. In business relationships, a handshake could indicate mutual consensus to an agreement or contract. Stroking the back of your friend is a way to show support and it could also soothe your friend when he or she is hurt. A hug from your parents or partner communicates love.

As you approach the other with your defenses down and your hand extended in a gesture of acceptance, you stand a better chance of reaching a mutual understanding. However, there must be a level of appropriateness when we are communicating to one another through the sense of touch. Sometimes, the sense of touch could only be exchanged between two parties who have attained a certain level of comfort with each other.

Do you agree that touch is a powerful way of communication, especially when you are close to the person? What does communication through touch means to you?

P.S: Something that I found while I was surfing through the net.


"When words cannot be heard, when reason cannot be understood, and when vision is impeded....touch can heal. My grandson spent 3 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and for over a month our only form of communication with him was through touch. Our touch slowed his heart rate down, soothed his cries and increased the oxygen saturation in his blood. Just a touch, that's all it takes."