26th June - Toastmaster of the Evening

Heard of Toastmasters before? Well, then check out this website then: www.toastmasters.org. Sorry, have thinking quite a while about how to start of this blog entry... but then I thought the websites and the relating ones would give you guys an idea about what actually is Toastmasters..

I actually have been in Institute of Engineers Malaysia's Toastmasters Club (IEM TMC) for about four months (previously just a guest, following my father to a few sessions before joining as a member in March). Presented my first speech in March, and then another one I think in April... Well, I really think that this Toastmasters thing really helped me a lot in my public speaking skills (not that I want you to start wonder if I really am a better speaker, or communicator... or something like that... coz I have know I have a long way to go... I am still that kind of quiet guy... haih...), and I believe it will continue to help me in the future.

Anyway, for this post I am going to talk about my experience being the 'TME': Toastmaster of the Evening. The duty of this person is to coordinate the meeting, handle the meeting so that everything that is on the agenda goes on smoothly. I am in charge of scheduling, confirming speakers, mastering the ceremony a.k.a. MCing the meeting... and stuff like that la... According to my Toastmasters manual, usually the TME would be a quite senior member of Toastmasters... but somehow they all asked me to do... so I just accepted it lor... ahha..

Being the TME I really got to be professional and handle things that way: I got to send out emails to correspond with the members, who are mostly professionals such as professional engineers (since it's being held in the IEM Building in PJ...), but there are professionals from other fields as well, who are like two to three times my age... Got to cooperate with them in order for the meeting to be able to run smoothly.

Being the person who stands out there and conduct the meeting wasn't really hard actually, but you need to be a bit creative and able to adapt to the latest changes and going-ons in the meeting. A script was passed to me beforehand, so I just read through it. The result? Really boring... As though what I have been saying the whole night was like... a program or computer like that just executing the commands that have been entered into the program...

Really wanted to elaborate more on this... but can't because I have so many things that I want to blog about, and so many things that I need to do i.e. assignments (oh yeah, still getting used to the term, we now use 'assignments' instead of 'homework'... guess it's more like... higher class homework? haha...)

For more info on the club that I am attending to, you can check out this IEM Toastmasters Club website: iemtm.blogspot.com.

I'll blog more about this topic in the near future... IEMTM holds their meetings every second and fourth Thursday of the month, and unless unavoidable circumstances, I will usually attend the meetings (which means finished Programming lecture --> Straight to home --> Shower --> Dinner-->IEM Building in PJ until around 10 or 11pm...) Phew...

27th June - Class 2nd Outing

Second class outing within a week!! Understandable... understandable... Somehow this day we do not have programming practical... I mean, how often do we get Friday afternoons off? So, it was only right that we use the free time to go somewhere to walk... and we did. Went to Mid Valley... and then we went straight to the bowling centre to bowl a few rounds. Had our 'really late' lunch at McD, after which we all went back home.

At the bowling centre in Mid Valley

Scores for the Game

25th June - Class Gathering & Wern Chiet's Birthday

I missed you guys so much!! Finally... a class gathering for U6F!!

First of all, thanks a lot Zijie for making sure everyone is notified about the gathering. Looking forward to it ever since I was informed about it. In fact, I was the first one to reach Wern Chiet's house that day! (well, kinda need to reach there early since there's transport only at that time when my siblings are attending tuition in PJ...) Anyway, it didn't take long before people started to arrive. A few of us played Wii while waiting... played tennis, football... stuff like that...

Wern Chiet later arrived and soon we had our dinner. I enjoyed the food very much, but it was the company of fellow Form Six classmates that got everyone in such a joyous mood that day. It was really like the old school days... we chat... we laughed... we gossiped... (without the booze) Made feel younger to be honest... at one time I was like thinking...'Would you guys want to go through this again... I would... maybe without the exams and STPM, haha...'

After the dinner some of us spend time on the computer, but the majority of us just hang out in the karaoke room and just sang our lungs out... haha... or chit chatting la of course... Talk about what leh? Public unis... Questions like 'What course did you get? Where are you going?...' fills the air... (Wah, my English...)

It will be WC's birthday the next day, but since a few of us can't stay back until so late, we sang WC a few birthday songs and ate the cake early. Of course, we did not forget to 'try to' smash the cake into his face... haha...

It was almost like two when a few of us left his house that early morning. Obviously, I won't be able to stay that long had I had morning classes the very next day; my class on the next day only starts at two. I was exhausted and went straight to bed upon reaching home. Felt really lucky to be able to be there... hope we can all keep in touch with each other in the near future!

Oh, and thanks a lot to Wern Chiet for the hospitality that night. Hope you had an unforgettable night!!

23rd June - First Tutorial Class Outing

23rd June was the first time that I have went out with my tutorial groupmates in uni. It wasn't just an ordinary outing... one of my groupmate is celebrating her birthday, and another classmate has decided not to continue his studies after being offered a course in a public university near his hometown, and thus was his last day with us. Someone suggested 1 Utama... and so after our last class ended at 2pm, we 'squeezed' ourselves into two cars (I think, correct me if I am wrong...). Somehow, we ended having one car with five person, and another one with seven!! (Unfortunately I ended up in that car!!)

Anyway, we didn't really immediately went for lunch after reaching there... kinda hesitated a bit on which restaurant to go to. Walked around... before we decided on Old Asia. I had a chicken chop set, which was the one which the majority of the people called.

After our lunch, we went to the bowling centre where we bowled a few games. Wah... it has been like years since I last played bowling... A bowling 'noob' already... I have to agree that bowling is a perfect game when you want to hang out and chit chat with friends... but at the same time knowing that you are not lepaking... yeah rite? You are just waiting for your turn, and not 'doing nothing'...

I left One Utama after the bowling game. I think a few people were still walking around when I left. Anyway, it was a very nice 'first gathering'... haha... I really enjoyed it... Will always remember this one...=) Was thinking: now it's not the question whether we can have another outing... it's a matter of when is our gathering... haha...(I think there's such a saying rite? Don't know la...)

'Why not yesterday... or the day before... why TODAY??!!'

Us at Old Asia Restaurant

Outside of the restaurant

Our bowling scores. Mine is 'S'. (Just for archive...haha...)

Why (on Earth) Actuarial Science?

Why Actuarial Science? I am also not really sure myself. But after a lot of researching on the subject, what I can explain to others about the field of actuarial science is: the application of mathematics especially statistics and probability in the insurance and banking fields to make predictions and forecasts... or something like that...

I don't blame anyone if you guys don't know what the **** am I studying.... e.g. "what kind of science is that? Physical science?" Haha...

Why not engineering? Yeah... that's the thing... had a long long chat until the wee hours of the morning with my parents the other day... and one important point is that I don't really have that inquisitive and technical and hands-on thing... even though I still love physics...

See la... I heard a lot of ppl changed course after one semester... failing rate really high... I am here just to try my luck... Kind of digging my own grave... (no la... can't be that 'cham'...)

18th June - Public University Application Outcome

Just in case you would like to know what did I get for my local university application...

I got:

University Putra Malaysia - PK02 Electical and Electronics Engineering

I have thought about it for a very long time after getting the news.... my verdict?

Not accepting the offer.

Anyway, I hope that my other classmates got what they want. Wish you guys all the best... (just in case I forgot to wish y'all later....)

18th June - In the Examination Hall for the First Time

Oh dear... just because we are having two sessions of people attending the same lecture at different times, we can't have our test during normal lecture hours? Or is it that quizzes and tests must not be held during normal lecture hours? Anyway, I think that the former is true though...

The test at 4pm Wednesday was held at the main hall, and the arrangement of the tables and chairs were exactly like the ones that I encountered when I was sitting for the music theory exams long time ago... Luckily it was just a 10-marks test.. not those STPM coz I will definitely faint.

I chose to sit in front so that I don't have to be feeling nervous looking at the blank seats in front of me... But not really at the first row though... On second thought... I should sit at the area where most of my tutorial group friends sit...

Oh dear... this will be a usual scenerio for the few years to come??!! =S

My University Class Schedule

I have to say something about my uni class schedule (with respect to my tutorial group 7)... Actually I think all pre-university courses are like that... the times for the classes can range from 8am till 5pm... and there will be tutorials, lectures, practicals.... stuffs like that...

It was a MESS! Sometimes we got around four hours of non-stop lectures, tutorials... and stuffs like that... and sometimes we only got one hour in the morning... and I have to wake up early just for that class... sometimes we have up to two hours in between classes... (even longer if the class is rescheduled...)

Aih... I know it won't happen but I really missed my classes back in secondary school. No need to worry if it's tutorial or lecture... no need to have unnecessary breaks in between classes... The time scheduled is fixed:

7.30am start class 1.10pm finish class

My afternoons back then were packed with things but at least I don't have to be 'bothered' about my classes... worry if this will clash with that... that will clash with this... I have the whole afternoon and night for me to plan myself...

At least now I started to get used to it... haha...

Father's Day

It's Father's Day!!

First of all, somehow this year, I feel so determined to give my Dad a special day, since, you know, probably I won't be able to be around next year to celebrate the special occasion with him. So, what did I do on that day?

This may sound a bit childish, but every year since I was in primary school I have been writing a card for my father for Father's Day. Nope, I definitely know it is not from Standard One onwards, but it started when my Arts teacher from don't know which year asked us to do a Father's Day card as an assignment during the Arts period. We were asked to use colourful paper, with some decorations on it using other colour papers and so on... And I really did put an effort to make my card look beautiful (and not because of wanting to get high marks...).

But nope, I am not here to describe my first Father's Day card making experience, but just to tell you all about how the 'tradition' came along. And although I am turning 20 this year, for as long as I can remember, there isn't a single year which I have not written my father a father's day card, and give it to him personally on that day. Yeah.... that's why I say I may sound really childish.

Maybe I should kinda like bring my father (and my family of course) out for a dinner (of course, bill on me) but still have not done it. What a teenage son.... (oh no, I am turning into an adult soon, and it doesn't sound nice especially when everyone keeps telling me so...)

Anyway, I followed him to play table tennis with his friends (I suck in table tennis...). Then, I helped out to prepare a special dinner for our family. Yeap, I agree with you if you think this is not something special... Didn't turn out the way I planned (wait, what was the plan?)

Anyway, I am just glad to have such a loving and caring father and mother...=)

UTAR Talent Night 2008

The Talent Night Organizing Committee calls it "the most happening event this year in PJ Campus!" Yeap. It was UTAR Talent Night 2008, and as a fellow UTAR-ian, I told myself that I should not miss out on this 'special' event. And how glad I was when I got to witness some very interesting memorable performances by the students from UTAR, who came from three different campuses, namely Bandar Sungai Long campus, KL campus as well as our PJ campus.

A brief description of the event: The decoration of the venue (Block D Hall) was fantastically done. It was stated on the flyers that it will begin at six, but it only started one hour later (not that I was surprised, Malaysian time mar...). The stage was averagely sized, but was well decorated. Now on to the performances: First was the introduction by the contestants followed by a short thirty something second glimpse of their upcoming performances later on the night (there are 13 performances, some solo and some are group performances).

Next was their impromptu acting, where contestants need to perform a 30-second play from the keywords that they chose randomly. Lastly, they will get to give their full-length prepared performances to the crowd. Thought I would just mentioned the most talked about performance of the night, which was also kinda controversial and 'sexy' and.... wonder how the audition panel was able to include him in the line up.... hmm...

Anyway, my thought of the evening? It was definitely a successful one for the organizers. But who cares about what organizers... I indeed had a lot of fun watching the performances. And oh yeah, T5-T7 Course Rep G-Han performance was amazing (yeah, it was...)

On an interesting note, why did we need to register to enter the hall when the event was free? Isn't it the more the merrier? Furthermore I think there's still places in the hall...

20th till 22nd May 2008 - UTAR PJ Campus Orientation Week

Orientation. That's more like the reason that I am looking forward for when it comes to entering university. Being the person that I am (for those who knows me well) people especially seniors will highly recommend that I attend all the programmes that are being held during the week, especially the Ice Breaking and Telematch session on the second day. Anyway, more about the event later.

I have not paid up my fees when I went to UTAR the first day. Didn't get anything from the registration counter. Was asked to go into the Hall, and was ushered a seat by one of the ushers. I arrived there quite early, but since I was stuck in the middle of the row, I couldn't really walk around. Had a small chat with the person on the right, who seems to be alone. Found out later that he is just like me, sat for STPM last year. He is going for Actuarial Science. I asked him why does he want to take Actuarial Science. His answer was: "Because I love maths." No kidding. I can remember it clearly; his answer was only four words. No further elaboration. That was it. I felt uneasy by the way he answered my question... I thought these people should at least explain to me to convince me that they really do have a passion for mathematics, not just a liking for mathematics.

The person on my left seemed to be with his friends. Looks younger (and dressed and looked less mature also)... and it did not shock me when I found out from themselves that they are taking foundation in arts. (Students from Foundation in Arts and the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) attends the same orientation programme, while the Foundation in Science and Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) students altogether attends another orientation programme of their own.) Talking about foundation programmes: I can understand why people want to take foundation programmes right after SPM in January. But I don't see why people want to take it in the May intake, when they could just go to STPM (It only costs half a year more and it is more cheap too in terms of tuition fees.). Maybe they have their own reasons I guess.

Anyway, there was some introduction of the university, the faculties, the library, the ICTC, the Student Representative Committee and others as well. We were also ushered into separate rooms to meet with our respective Head of Departments and Course Coordinators. I do not really know if this is weird, but everyone seems to be really quiet. No one asked any questions. Anyway, after the thing ended, I went up to the Head of Department and Course Coordinator to ask some 'prepared questions' about the course (reminder: I have not paid my fees yet). I think the both of them must have felt shocked to hear me asking questions about these things when they think: Hmm... this student already applied for this course and now he is asking us these questions that have been asked long time ago...

The second part of the day was the Mass Call Ceremony. Yalah... yalah... the things that you expect to happen. The national anthem, UTAR pledge, introduction of the UTAR officials, a few speeches and then the thing ended. After presentations have been made by the organizing committees of Talent Night, Ice Breaking and Tele-Match, KL Trip and lots more, the day ended.

The second day was the Ice Breaking and Tele-Match. More on that later.

The third day was the PTPTN loan briefing by the Department of Students Affairs (DSA). Have to say something about the presenters of this briefing: The male officer who gave the briefing at the KL Campus while I was there back in January did such a remarkable job in explaining compared to the female officer here who just read out the notes that was shown on the Power Point Presentation. It was at this briefing that I felt such a difference between the people at Setapak during the January intake compared to the students here for this intake... The students over there in Setapak really asked questions that sometimes the DSA officer couldn't give a good answer, and there was a lot of questions which was about how the fees are distributed. The briefing was extended overtime, with many students still crowded around him almost fifteen to twenty minutes after the briefing was over. But here in PJ... the briefing was cut short, the questions asked by the students weren't that many, and from what I heard, the officers just gave simple straight forward answers, mainly to question regarding documentation. Wait, what message that I was trying to convey here??

Anyway, the three-day orientation week ended like that. Culture shock that was indeed. Suddenly realized that I have been such a 'good boy' for all these years... no la, just joking. But I wonder if I am going to be like those kids out of 'college'... punky hairstyle, earings, fancy clothes... hmm...That, for now, will never be me. I wonder if anyone can actually influence me to change drastically. It was an eye-opener really. Oh, I don't think I have encountered this before while I was in Setapak... Explained this to my parents one day during dinner, and what they said were true also... Usually those who came out of STPM are much more wiser in terms of thinking. The people that I met at Setapak were mostly STPM students, those who were denied a course of their choice, in a university of their choice. They waited for another half a year, and they now have to start their bachelor degree's journey almost one year later that those from foundation. No doubt that the people from STPM whom I have met at the two campuses were really mature... and I am glad to be able to know them.

So that was the Orientation. As many would say, it's time to get settled down and concentrate on studies, as the new semester begins for the students... (I am still locked in my house...figuring out my next chapter in my life=(

Fun (working) is over... Now down to business (Studies)...

Worked in Sunway Lagoon for a few weeks around April and May... since I don't have anything to do... getting a few bucks per hour is much more better than just lazying around in the house doing practically nothing... haha...

I am typing this post out after the Orientation Week in UTAR PJ Campus (more on that later... if I am able to find time to blog about it...). To be really honest, I felt very out of place. Yeah... the same thing all over again... the speeches, the mass call, the meetings with heads of departments and so on.... It was the exact same thing that I have encountered before while I was attending the Orientation Week back in January in Setapak. New place, new surroundings.... but why do I felt like I am suddenly awake in a different world? Okay, yeah, this is SUPPOSED to happen after months of enjoying myself, living in a different world as most other students... But the difference was so big... I kinda felt a sense of regret for not really anticipating such a scenario coming at me... I thought I was supposed to be excited... I was hoping that I can fit in but I did not for the first week... I wonder how I managed to get so many phone numbers of the acquaintances on the THREE days alone there in Setapak... I just wonder...

Walked around Sunway Pyramid alone after the PTPTN loan briefing on Thursday. It was a normal school day, a normal working day. Nothing has changed... the mall working people are still checking their stocks, assisting customers, serving them... nothing has changed. It was STILL the same. For them, there is nothing to worry about... except those relating to their work... but still they do not have to worry about exams, assignments, homework... As the new batch of ex-students go back to study in various education institutions at all places, a new batch of students, those who have finished their A-levels, or diploma, or foundation studies, or degree students will come out to 'fill in their shoes'... People come, people go... But life goes on. The show must go on.

Weird as it may seem, I have been excited to enter university in March. But now, I felt the feeling that I missed so much about my 'mall' life (yes, missed my Form Six school life too!)... the place where students hang out after school expecially on Fridays, making me feel so young... During weekends, families came to hang around with children, reminding me of the early months last year (without my mind worrying about STPM) where I usually am 'forced' to go 'hang gai' with my family, upon the request of my younger siblings who just want to escape from their studies in school. There's no need to worry about anything. It is a whole new environment for us young fellas to experience a whole new life apart from just being students. There's so much to learn, yet knowing that we can never stay long here.

Unfortunately I found out that I have taken for granted the freedom that I have been given for the past half a year... always thinking why these people force us to work eight to nine hours per day, leaving us no time to do our favourite things. I also regret not trying out other challenging jobs out there in the city centre, or in other cities trying to survive myself. Yeah, found out that I was really pampered a lot by my family (especially my parents)... eat dinner prepared by Mom, watch TV the whole time, spend time on the computer for so long everyday, sleep until so late everyday (work don't start until 10.30am on a weekday)... Especially the sleep thing... SO don't want to wake up early for college... Now after meeting new people from other places from as far as Alor Setar and Kuching, who is staying in various accommodations around UTAR... living independently... I was so scared that I will not be able to survive if I were to be one of them, or if I were to go to Kampar for this course right now (FYI, I heard that I am going to continue my bachelor's degree in Kampar in January next year.) I got to toughen up now... Of course, I felt blessed and lucky to be able to live in current conditions, where I got to see my family EVERY SINGLE DAY (and it IS a good thing).

There's this saying: All good things will come to an end. Guessed this is it. Partying is over, it is time to get down to business... time to start my journey in university... time for a whole new chapter of my life which I expect to be filled with ups and downs... But I can't wait to see what's in store for me in the future!

Why (on Earth) Actuarial Science?

Why Actuarial Science? I am also not really sure myself. But after a lot of researching on the subject, what I can explain to others about the field of actuarial science is: the application of mathematics especially statistics and probability in the insurance and banking fields to make predictions and forecasts... or something like that...

I don't blame anyone if you guys don't know what the **** am I studying.... e.g. "what kind of science is that? Physical science?" Haha...

Why not engineering? Yeah... that's the thing... had a long long chat until the wee hours of the morning with my parents the other day... and one important point is that I don't really have that inquisitive and technical and hands-on thing... even though I still love physics...

See la... I heard a lot of ppl changed course after one semester... failing rate really high... I am here just to try my luck... Kind of digging my own grave... (no la... can't be that 'cham'...)