Second Semester in UCSI

Salam'alaik

I am now enjoying my semester break back in my home town, Pendang, Kedah. Alhamdulillah, praise the Lord that I had been able to finish my second semester as a foundation student at UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur. So many things happened during the past semester that there were times I cried inside the bathroom, pondering whether I would be able to finish this journey of education or not.

First is when the only guy among the MARA's clique left us and went to further his study back in his home town, Sabah. It was a very depressing and sad fact for us to accept that our clique is getting smaller. Even more, it was hard for us to accept that we were to lose a very gentle and kind hearted friend. But, how could we hold the hand of someone who really wish to leave? How could we even bear to deny him, his right of happiness. How could we have the heart to tell him not to go chasing his own dream just because his presence means so much? After all, people come and go. It is the memory that remains, connecting the hearts. But, words could not expressed how sad I am during the day he left.

It is not the sight of you leaving.
It is the thought of not seeing you again,
that brings the tears to my heart

Next, I were given the chance by UCSI Scholars Club or U'Schos to participate in a charity event organized by Kechara Soup Kitchen. We went in a group of 20 to distribute food for homeless people in Kuala Lumpur. My team was stationed to deliver food to Ampang, Keramat and Wangsa Maju. Back to the briefing session, we were explained about reasons people being homeless in Malaysia. Some of them are old people thrown out of their house by their own children. Some are people with mental problems while others have chronic disease. Mr. Wong, the presenter that night is a very hostile and cheerful person. I learnt so many new things from him. One is Kechara's motto "Hunger Knows No Barriers". Exactly. Just like how universal food is, so is hunger. Could you imagine yourself surviving without no proper meals to eat every day when reality is, the middle and high class people in Malaysia are always at loss of words when it comes to dining places? We have so many food yet we also have so many people unable to afford even just one meal a day.

Be grateful of what you have now and help those around,
as for us, tomorrow might never come. 

 Right after my midterm examination ended, I went to another event. This time it was organized by UCSI Centre for Languages in conjuction with the U'Schos. There would be a visit from Hong Kong Japanese International School and I volunteered myself to be one of the facilitator. I were also given the chance to become an emcee, thanks to Yew Mun, Miss Van and Miss Margaret who insisted it on me.

We looked at each other like strangers during the first meeting,
yet after such a tiring day, we chatted and laughed and messed around
just like old best friends.

Two days after that, I were asked to represent Foundation's students for annual Centre of Pre-U meeting. I were given around 10 minutes to give a feedback on the result of Pre-U Department's on-line poll. I tried my best to explain everything and shared some of my opinions with all the lecturers after that. One of my suggestion is to make it compulsory for all students to first attend a lab report's writing seminar before asked to write one. I really think it is important because science students regardless of their major either medic, pharmacy or engineering would definitely be required to write lab reports during their foundation until degree. So, it is better to let us know the right way it should be done so that we could familiarize ourself with the right ways of quoting and referencing.

Other than the activities stated above, as one of the MARA students, I had also been given a chance to attend a 6-weeks English Enhancement Course which was a gratitude of UCSI itself. We learned so much about public speaking and presentation skills besides writing and reading.

The MARA and PENERAJU scholars

The subjects were all getting tougher and so was the final exam. I cried after the General Biology 2 paper. I know, some of you would be like " You crying?? Eww, stop lying" For sure, I am not saying that I cried and wept like crazy just because of exam. I am not that much of result - oriented student. I am just worried about my scholarship bond with MARA. After all, I have no where else to go and no other sponsors would take me if that happen. Speaking about studying, I am really not a type of person who could bear studying 24 hours non stop. I sleep 9 hours every day and I am very active on Facebook. Call me whatever you want to but I really do believe that experience is what makes you. That is why I tried so hard to volunteer myself in all activities possible, I am trying to build myself, to prepare myself for the future challenges.

During this second semester too, I could feel that the bondage between us, the MARA scholars is getting tighter. Especially with Presley leaving. We knows that no matter how hard it is for us to accept each other, to tolerate this huge gap of culture and way of socializing as each of use is from a very different background, it is only the four of us here. We only have us and no one else. I do not care if anyone of them read this but I do hope that if you did, just pretend that you read nothing. I really love every one in our group plus that one senior from PENERAJU who shared the house with us. I would write about them in the next post.

I am grateful that I learned so much in this semester. I am happy that I knew so many new people during the many activities I participated in. I am glad to be closer with the MARA girls and I am glad that I am alive until now to see the happiness around. My definition of happiness is easy, to see my friends happiness makes me happy and to hear their laugh really makes up my day. So, one chapter = DONE.