Undoubtedly...I am graduating soon. Just finished my first Introduction to Peace and Humanities paper yesterday. Will have a second one tomorrow...one more next week, and a final one the week after. Officially ending 4th May 2009. Convocation in middle August.
I have attended nearly 3 interviews I guessed...and have another 3 upcoming. Looking at the newspaper with the unemployment stories around...frankly speaking it is a worrying time. I don't know how well I would fare compared to other job-seekers...what's more...with my result of a 2nd Class. Not like I am the first class students...to make things worst, I am opting for a totally different job scope from what I am doing right now. I am looking into banking, training, sales, marketing... Practically anything that will allow me my second phase learning of economics and business. Many wonder why I don't continue with MBA since I was so damn sure I will do it one day. Well, MBA in local uni require working experience la...and MBA elsewhere can burn a hole in my pocket. Unlike some people, I have to pay for my own education.
It was a time of uncertainty. Lucking chanting gives me the confidence to push on and accept nothing less than what I think is best for me. This first job after graduating must do more than just supporting my life and allowing me the freedom for kosenrufu activities...it must fulfill another mission that I will place as utmost importance...but sounded quite impossible.
This is where I got stuck. I have something in mind that I would wish to see through in the near future. But it sounded so impossible...that I don't even know how am I suppose to start..or where to start. I just know I wanted it...but geez...how? Sometimes when people begin to question me, why did you want to do that? Frankly speaking I got so tired of answering it, I began to shut up about it and not mention it anymore until one day I ALREADY got it and confirm doing it. What a sad thing la..I wished I had somebody to support me in my decision and help me see through what sources I could find to reach my goal...but too bad...I can't get anybody who will not see it any other way. A silent struggle? Yeah...I guess so. Percentage of success? No idea. I guess that was why I was pretty worried.
It is a next phase for me. Working is a learning life too. I want somewhere where I can learn and be the best. And I am looking seriously into the issue of graduate studies. Very seriously
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
How well educated am I?
Education. What on earth is it anyway? Newspapers are bursting with news of graduates with low quality, no English command and whatsoever nonsense. Even my course lecturers are lamenting the quality of our graduates now. We may be well equipped with the knowledge in our specific major...seems like...we are getting more and more selfish. No la...selfish is too harsh a word...ignorant I think sounds better.
Today, in my course of Introduction to Peace and Humanities, there is a talk by Mr Anis who had once worked with the United Nations for quite some number of years. He came to talk to us about UN of course, and its role in peacekeeping. But half his lecture succeeded in revealing how darn ignorant can these so-called "educated" people can be. How these people, in the course of their own comfort zone in the now peaceful Malaysia, never really bothered about that happen to other people, other countries...and painfully narrow minded when it comes to general knowledge all these educated people should have known. I was probably one among the many in class that were ignorant to an extend.
He started off the talk with a few questions. The few...which lucky me..manage to answer all correct. Some were really my knowledge...some were a guess out of common sense. Here we go:
1. How many countries are there in the United Nations?
A) 200 B) 185 C) 192 D) 195
This question I definitely know the answer...partly was because hey, I love to read. Partly was because I heard this over and over again in gakkai...which mentioned that SGI has also 192 countries and territories in its membership.
He mentioned something very strict...many in class just give it a wild guess. Wild guessing is just like cheating...you do not know the answer and you just sapu one and hopefully you got it correct. Where in the world is your integrity? Nearly sweated when he said that. Can only say that, I was glad I know the answer as in..KNOW...not guess.
2. Who is the UN Secretary General
A) Kofi Adnan
B) Boutros Boutros Ghali
C) Ban Ki Moon
D) Barrack Obama
Well...I should say if anybody who call themselves students or educated and had no idea about the answer to this question should be seriously ashamed of themselves. Except for Obama, the rest of it are all Sec-Gen...just that Ban Ki Moon is the current one.
3. When is the UN formed?
A) 1914 B) 1946 C) 1945
Well...it is formed after WWII...1945
4. How many countries are there in Africa?
Too lazy to type his multiple choice. Generally I was half guessing this question as well. I heard of it before somewhere in my secondary school...But as he went on with his multiple choice, I and another student in class (only two people), chose the correct answer. But frankly speaking, even if you hunt online...it gives many differing answers anyway.
Why do majority of the class know nothing about the Africa continent? When he asked around for their first impression of Africa...nearly all are negative. No wonder... We already have a bad mindset.
5. How big is the population in Iraq?
Hm...I surprisingly got this right. His choices differ from 100 million to 17 million. Many who thought they are very well equipped with people because of so many wars, chose 100 million. I chose 17 million...because I thought many lives are probably wasted anyway... Actually, it is probably less than 17 million...
His talks are mainly to empower us to study hard, graduate well and contribute to the society.. Especially with the thought of working in United Nations. Hmm...nice point to ponder. But he also mention some 'disabilities' of students that can prevent this from happening...inability to communicate well in English, not outspoken, ignorant of the most basic questions like...how many countries are there in the world? Aiya...I don't even know...
How well educated am I huh?
Today, in my course of Introduction to Peace and Humanities, there is a talk by Mr Anis who had once worked with the United Nations for quite some number of years. He came to talk to us about UN of course, and its role in peacekeeping. But half his lecture succeeded in revealing how darn ignorant can these so-called "educated" people can be. How these people, in the course of their own comfort zone in the now peaceful Malaysia, never really bothered about that happen to other people, other countries...and painfully narrow minded when it comes to general knowledge all these educated people should have known. I was probably one among the many in class that were ignorant to an extend.
He started off the talk with a few questions. The few...which lucky me..manage to answer all correct. Some were really my knowledge...some were a guess out of common sense. Here we go:
1. How many countries are there in the United Nations?
A) 200 B) 185 C) 192 D) 195
This question I definitely know the answer...partly was because hey, I love to read. Partly was because I heard this over and over again in gakkai...which mentioned that SGI has also 192 countries and territories in its membership.
He mentioned something very strict...many in class just give it a wild guess. Wild guessing is just like cheating...you do not know the answer and you just sapu one and hopefully you got it correct. Where in the world is your integrity? Nearly sweated when he said that. Can only say that, I was glad I know the answer as in..KNOW...not guess.
2. Who is the UN Secretary General
A) Kofi Adnan
B) Boutros Boutros Ghali
C) Ban Ki Moon
D) Barrack Obama
Well...I should say if anybody who call themselves students or educated and had no idea about the answer to this question should be seriously ashamed of themselves. Except for Obama, the rest of it are all Sec-Gen...just that Ban Ki Moon is the current one.
3. When is the UN formed?
A) 1914 B) 1946 C) 1945
Well...it is formed after WWII...1945
4. How many countries are there in Africa?
Too lazy to type his multiple choice. Generally I was half guessing this question as well. I heard of it before somewhere in my secondary school...But as he went on with his multiple choice, I and another student in class (only two people), chose the correct answer. But frankly speaking, even if you hunt online...it gives many differing answers anyway.
Why do majority of the class know nothing about the Africa continent? When he asked around for their first impression of Africa...nearly all are negative. No wonder... We already have a bad mindset.
5. How big is the population in Iraq?
Hm...I surprisingly got this right. His choices differ from 100 million to 17 million. Many who thought they are very well equipped with people because of so many wars, chose 100 million. I chose 17 million...because I thought many lives are probably wasted anyway... Actually, it is probably less than 17 million...
His talks are mainly to empower us to study hard, graduate well and contribute to the society.. Especially with the thought of working in United Nations. Hmm...nice point to ponder. But he also mention some 'disabilities' of students that can prevent this from happening...inability to communicate well in English, not outspoken, ignorant of the most basic questions like...how many countries are there in the world? Aiya...I don't even know...
How well educated am I huh?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Chinese New Year...
Just finished my 10am-12pm class. Now waiting for my 5pm class. Geez, what a way to arrange time table. But doesn't matter. The internet at the Chemistry Department is 10 times faster than the internet at my own home....can online...
I have just looked at my transcript. Felt terrible that I did not score better. There are a few expected results, but there are also a few unexpected ones. Now I am already in my final semester. What should I do to ensure a nice full transcript??
This semester is quite free and easy. I have full classes on Tuesday and Thursday, and one hour class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have lab though...so for the first 7 weeks, my Wednesday will extend to 5pm, and for the next 7 weeks, it will be Monday instead. I took a Chinese Painting co-curricular course, and I took an elective too. It is called Introduction to Peace and Humanities, taught by Dr Wendy Yee. The lecturer is a personal friend, but it is the first time I have seen her teach.
It was fun...hahaha. Very different from other classes...where the exam of this course is only 20%!! Where is the other 80%? It comes from attendance to classes, participation, individual assignments, group assignments, final project, and working voluntarily with an NGO (I am already in an NGO anyway...). It was just the second class today, and I have handed in an assignment and already planning a group assignment. I read a whole book about Gandhi, because we were required to write about his non-violence practice. Owed really, because I probably won't even bother to read that thick and old book (written a year after Gandhi's death) if it is not because of that assignment. I found I don't really know as much about him as I thought I did. His ideals are superb, but those who practicised it are even more superb. In this society that is so used to violence, some might even thought him stupid. But I find him fascinating...
Gandhi introduced satyagraha which is a name he placed for his passive resistance movement. The reasons why he did not use the word passive resistance is because he found some major difrerences between those two. Here I would like to share a few with you guys...
-If we continue to believe (and let others believe) that we are weak and therefore offer passive resistance, our resistance will never make us strong, and we will instead give it up as a weapon of the weak. However, by offering satyagraha believing ourselves to be strong, we will grow stronger everyday and we will never cast an opportunity to give it up.
-There is no scope of love in passive resistance, but in satyagraha, there is no presence of hatred
-In passive resistance there is a scope for the use of arms if needed, but in satyagraha physical force is forbidden even in the most favourable circumstances
-In passive resistance there is always an idea of harrasing the other party, but in satyagraha there is no remotest idea of injuring the opponent.
The above points are only some explanation of the 'weapon' Gandhi used to fight for Indian rights in South Africa, before he returned in India. He has won many battles there, and gain the trust of the whites and blacks alike, for he hated their policy, not the persons. Even the white government of Africa had mentioned to him that they rather he took to violence, because by then they would know how to get rid of him. But his practice of not even hurting his enemies has in turn make the government helpless and give in. What a way to win.
Tomorrow is final day of uni before our CNY break. Geez, finally, a holiday. Want to have some serious rest, sleep, and dialogues. Of course, have to settle some homeworks and stuff. But I think I should enjoy this year long CNY holiday compared to the shorter ones we have in the past 3 years in UM...
Hehehe...till we meet again
I have just looked at my transcript. Felt terrible that I did not score better. There are a few expected results, but there are also a few unexpected ones. Now I am already in my final semester. What should I do to ensure a nice full transcript??
This semester is quite free and easy. I have full classes on Tuesday and Thursday, and one hour class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have lab though...so for the first 7 weeks, my Wednesday will extend to 5pm, and for the next 7 weeks, it will be Monday instead. I took a Chinese Painting co-curricular course, and I took an elective too. It is called Introduction to Peace and Humanities, taught by Dr Wendy Yee. The lecturer is a personal friend, but it is the first time I have seen her teach.
It was fun...hahaha. Very different from other classes...where the exam of this course is only 20%!! Where is the other 80%? It comes from attendance to classes, participation, individual assignments, group assignments, final project, and working voluntarily with an NGO (I am already in an NGO anyway...). It was just the second class today, and I have handed in an assignment and already planning a group assignment. I read a whole book about Gandhi, because we were required to write about his non-violence practice. Owed really, because I probably won't even bother to read that thick and old book (written a year after Gandhi's death) if it is not because of that assignment. I found I don't really know as much about him as I thought I did. His ideals are superb, but those who practicised it are even more superb. In this society that is so used to violence, some might even thought him stupid. But I find him fascinating...
Gandhi introduced satyagraha which is a name he placed for his passive resistance movement. The reasons why he did not use the word passive resistance is because he found some major difrerences between those two. Here I would like to share a few with you guys...
-If we continue to believe (and let others believe) that we are weak and therefore offer passive resistance, our resistance will never make us strong, and we will instead give it up as a weapon of the weak. However, by offering satyagraha believing ourselves to be strong, we will grow stronger everyday and we will never cast an opportunity to give it up.
-There is no scope of love in passive resistance, but in satyagraha, there is no presence of hatred
-In passive resistance there is a scope for the use of arms if needed, but in satyagraha physical force is forbidden even in the most favourable circumstances
-In passive resistance there is always an idea of harrasing the other party, but in satyagraha there is no remotest idea of injuring the opponent.
The above points are only some explanation of the 'weapon' Gandhi used to fight for Indian rights in South Africa, before he returned in India. He has won many battles there, and gain the trust of the whites and blacks alike, for he hated their policy, not the persons. Even the white government of Africa had mentioned to him that they rather he took to violence, because by then they would know how to get rid of him. But his practice of not even hurting his enemies has in turn make the government helpless and give in. What a way to win.
Tomorrow is final day of uni before our CNY break. Geez, finally, a holiday. Want to have some serious rest, sleep, and dialogues. Of course, have to settle some homeworks and stuff. But I think I should enjoy this year long CNY holiday compared to the shorter ones we have in the past 3 years in UM...
Hehehe...till we meet again
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