Happiness & Sorrows of My Past 1 Year

In this post, I would list out my happiest & saddest things that happened to me for my past one year in university. Thinking back the happy moments, it'll always trigger my zygomaticus muscle & move my lips commissure superolaterally. While those sad moments just stimulate my lacrimal gland. Hahahaha...forgive me for the medical jargons...can't help to delete from my mind after 1 year of study. :p

Let's continue on with the happy stuff first :
1)

I find it a great blessing from God to meet a few brothers and sisters in Christ who really cares for me, loves me, and pampers me like I am one of their family members. I can always go to them whenever I'm trapped in a stressful situation or I am upset with the life in university. Gabriel, who consistently sends encouraging bible verses in the beginning of every week, cooks good food and deliver to our windows whenever he is free or during our exams, prays for us when we are weak, be the victim for the juniors to bully, teaches me good beading skills etc. What an amazing CF president! Next is Sarah, who really cares for me and treats me sincerely, makes my birthday meaningful, gives me hotdog on Valentine's Day =D (what a surprise! LOL), cooks dessert and prays for me before every exam. She is the friendliest & lovable senior I've ever met! Of course they are others who are always there to support and care for me, which makes me so touched as I've never experienced such love from non-family members.



2)

I had really experienced God's love in person and learned to trust Him in making changes in my life. I feel really powerless to remember every single thing in every block before Professional Exam, and I decided to just study as much as I could and trust Him to do the rest for me. Faith is the only thing that I hold on to before stepping into the examination hall, believing Him that He'll guide me through. And amazingly, He has awarded me with great results that I've never expected.



3)

[A bunch of crazy dental & medical students having fun while studying serious stuff]

Having a circle of friends who are quite crazy (not as crazy as Form 5 or Form 6 friends) and who invented more nicknames for me. But sad thing is that they only discover my craziness towards the end of our academic session. Hahaha... ^^



There are a couple of sad things that I really care for and will never forget them. Coz they really hurt me. T.T

1)

My birthday. They celebrated for my two not-so-close friends(lets call them Ms. A & Ms. B) and me 2 weeks before my birthday because PRO exam was approaching. Actually the birthday celebration was meant for Ms. A and they invite most of her friends. Only a few faces that I'm familiar with appear. I am contented actually. But the saddest thing is that one of the organizer accidentally said that it was incidentally that they celebrated for me. 顺便... I was deeply hurt. On the actual day of my birthday, none of my dental friends celebrated for me as well coz they were all busy studying for exam. Yet, they celebrated for another friend when exam is 1 week ahead. It was an awful, meaningless, frustrated birthday I've ever had. T.T Luckily, my senior sincerely visited me and bought me cakes + lunch + dinner. This helps me swallow my sorrow back.



2)

People misunderstood me as being too proud of myself when I introduce myself this way : "Hi. My name is xxx. I know it's hard for people to remember my name since I have no Christian's name. But there's a trick and I'll teach you that. Just remember the number 1 and the letter C." Rumours all about this spreaded to the whole campus and seniors came warning me to be humble and quiet. And I ended up being very careful in speech and remain quite and introvert for the 1st few months in USMKK. No close friends at all to turn to in the beginning. I called my parents everyday and cried.


These are a few things that happened and had left marks all over my heart for the past year. Just hope happy things keep blooming while sad things don't repeat for the rest of my uni life in USMKK. =)

Miracles Happen because of God's Grace

Time really really flies in USM. It has been a year now since I enter this "deserted" university in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. Hahaha... Just finished Phase 1 Professional Exam a few days ago and started my movie marathon since then.

Thinking back, I was still busy with the CNY performance a few months back, balancing dancing training with academic stuff. Everyday, I had at least 4 hours of dancing practice plus at least 4 lecture notes to read up. It was quite stressful but I really did have fun! CNY was closely followed by Selanjar 3 (CA), which all the Chinese feeling quite tense up since we had been submerged in the performance too much that we had lost our directions academic wise. But really thank God that I manage to score an A in the exam. Hehehe.... Happy!

I wanted to prepare for PRO 2 months before, but it seems like I can't get the right mood to concentrate and focus on my studies. Homesickness is the main problem. So, I decided to go home during the first week of study week. I planned to finish at least 4 blocks of notes at home, but guess what? I was addicted to TV shows throughout the week and only managed to scan through less than 3 blocks of notes. Anyway, charging up at home brought new breath to my revision back in the hostel. :)

Reading and memorizing are totally two different things. And so, I get really frustrated when PRO approaches, realizing that I wasn't able to recall most of the things I read previously. The only thing I was able to do is to pray hard. And this time round, I know deep in my heart that I wouldn't be able to do it without God's guidance and blessings. Finally, I learnt to let God and let go. For every exam paper that I sat, I went in with a calm heart and strong faith. It was amazing to have that kind of feeling, especially during this major exam as I've never experienced such calmness ever. Praise the Lord!

Anyway, I just wanted a pass for this exam so that I can get the ticket to go into 2nd year.

And today, the VIVA list has been released. My friends urge me to go and check whether I am in the list. And my only reply was,"Ahhh, its is impossible for me to be in the list." I was still doing beads and then I received a call from PPSG admin, asking me to go for VIVA interview tomorrow!!! Arghhhhh!!! I was so shocked that I manage to get an A for PRO! I was still trembling after putting down the phone, knowing that I'll be shoot by a panel of doctors tomorrow during the VIVA interview. I just don't want to be embarrased. So, should I continue reading tonight or should I just enjoy myself (being shoot by the doctors 2mrw)? Hahaha....

God's grace really guides me through all these and I am grateful for everything that He has given me in life. Thank God! God is good all the time.

Time Flies

Now it is just 2 days away from CNY break, another precious 1 week break that we get out of the 'hustle and bustle' life of a medical/dental student. As usual, the holiday is not for us to sit back, relax and celebrate CNY since Selanjar 3 is coming very very soon.

I've been here for 7 months???!!! And PRO exam is in 3 months time????!!!

HEART ATTACK or should I say CARDIAC INFARCTION...

1st Selanjar Exam soon...

Just a short update...
I am going back to the Friday-is-a-rest-day state in 3 days time.
I'll be having 2 exams in the coming 2 weeks, dental exam followed by medical exam.
I've read through the notes for dental syllabus but piles of medical notes are still waiting for me. Nothing seems to be absorbed into my mind now. It's so stressful. I am not sure whether I want to have this kind of life for the next 5 years.

Stress

University life started 3 weeks ago. Such a short period of time huh? And currently, I am having convo break for one week.
But I am feeling tonnes of stress on me already. It is like having thousands of concretes, enough to build a 30-storey building, on my shoulders. Heavy and suffocating.
I wonder whether it's my mind which increases the level of stress activity in myself.
First, I have to follow all the medical lectures as well as my own dental lectures. Imagine the lecture notes that I have to go through. Every words count.
Secondly, we have language classes and we are given tasks to complete : Oral presentation, job interview, assignments, etc.
Thirdly, we have Teras Keusahawanan which is a compulsory unit to be taken for our first semester. We'll have Jualan Keusahawanan very soon, interviews on entrepreneurs, individual and group presentation, report writing, proposal writing and etc.
Fourthly, we have to participate in some activities to gain merit points so that we are eligible to stay in the hostel for the coming academic session. So, I am in the Sponsorship EXCO team for Projek Hari Terbuka Desa and I have to search for sponsors. I am also involved in performances for Mooncake Festival and Borneo Night. Practices are conducted at night, which means I don't really have time to do sufficient revision as every practice session takes up to 2 hours.
*sigh
I need His guidance and strength to help me through all these. God, please help me.

USM Interview 2010 - A Delayed Post

So I passed my MUNSYI test and was given the 'ticket' to attend the interview for DENTISTRY course in USM.

Interview time : 8:30 a.m. (as stated in the electronic 'ticket')
Interview venue : Riverside Majestic Hotel

The day finally came and I arrived Majestic Hotel at 8:00 a.m., thinking I was the earliest. But when the lift door opened, I figured I might be the latest to arrive. Hahaha...It seems that everyone is very enthusiastic to be interviewed, so am I. I was rehearsing the expected interview situation with my friend, exchanging opinions on what questions were most likely to be asked.

At around 9 a.m., the interviewers finally came. I overheard an interviewer saying that Dentistry interviewee will be tested on their hand skills. A jaw-dropping news for everyone involved. There were around 45 people (Sarawakians) shortlisted for the interview, if I'm not mistaken. And we were divided into 2 groups according to alphabetical orders. I was in the second group. :)

After waiting for around 2 hours for the first group to finish their hand skill test, it's out turn. There were a projector, 6 long tables (2 person for each table), chairs and an IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL (but I have forgotten his name...LOL!) in the room. He introduced himself as a academic staff in USM(Health Campus). Although he is a Malay, he speaks fluent English and he is very friendly.

So the first round, we were asked to answer questionnaires, the questions that were much similar to the MUNSYI test questions.

For the second round, it was the much anticipating activity : HAND SKILLS TEST. We were supplied with silverish-normal-looking plier (which costs RM1000++), a 5cm So the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL explains thoroughly what we were supposed to do and he also played an step-by-step instructive video on HOW TO BEND A WIRE.
Using the 5cm long and 0.7mm thick wire, the Adam plier, and a ruler, we were supposed wire into an angled Ohm (Ω) shape. (5 straight sides)

It is not as easy as it looks because all the angles must be 90 degrees sharp and the end product must lay flat on the table surface.

There were some interviewee who were twice my size but they can't seem to even bend the wire. They complained that their hands were painful when bending the wire. Luckily, the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL were helpful enough to teach them (one-to-one).

Actually, we were given 15 minutes to complete the task, but the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSON totally ignored that and allow us to try several attempts until all of us were satisfied and ready to hand in the end product. He even replayed the instructive video throughout the task. Nice huh?

It's about 12 noon and the first badge had not finished their interview session. So we were given an 1 hour time break to have lunch and come back around 1:30pm.

So there we are. 12 people sitting outside the interview room, waiting for the interviewer. The officer said the interviewer were having lunch and they should be back around 2pm. We waited and waited and waited and finally came back. Guess what? It was 2:45p.m. already.

Each person had around 15 to 20 minutes of interview session. Some interviewee were kind enough to share with us the questions they asked. While waiting, we constantly went to the bathroom to 'reheat' ourselves as we felt that we were in Arctic. -.-'

By 4:30 p.m., the waiting isle is empty, except us, still waiting PATIENTLY outside the interview room. For your information, I was the second last in the name list. And I waited till 6:10p.m. FOR MY TURN TO BE INTERVIEWED! I was not nervous anymore. Tiredness had conquered my soul. So, I went in the room and responded naturally to their questions.

*No self-introduction this time round. They'll ask about your family background. Didn't ask for my certificates too. Just plain talking.*

1st Question (in BM):
Siapakah yang menjadi inspirasi anda untuk menjadi seorang doktor gigi? Dan apakah sebab-sebab anda bercita-cita untuk mencenderungkan diri dalam bidang pergigian?

2nd Question (in BM):
Apakah kriteria-kriteria yang anda perlukan untuk menjadi seorang doktor gigi?

*told me a joke that is not even funny* :P

3rd Question (in English):
If you are working in a clinic, who are the personnel that you have to cooperate with?

4th Question (you can choose your own language to answer situational questions):
(they purposely give me this question because my dad is a civil engineer)
Your father dreamed to become a civil engineer but he could not achieve this ambition due to family problem. He asked you to pursue the same field in order to realize his dream. But you have your own ambition. What would you do?

As you answer, they'll keep questioning you and drilling you until they are satisfied with your performance.

5th Question (in English):
Why should we offer you a place in USM? What qualities you have that others don't have?


Be relaxed and answer questions sincerely from your heart help a lot in going through the interview smoothly. But you'll need to do research about the respective university and your chosen course before you step into the interview room. The interviewers love to see one prepare themselves with real facts and strong points. At least that was my experience. =)

A Laughter - Only Happens In Malaysia

My mum just came back from polyclinic. Oh, for those who don't know what's a polyclinic, let me clear your doubts.

Polyclinic is a clinic run by government to serve its people. There are doctors, nurses, medical assistants and medical officers working in the polyclinic. Mind you that when you seek for treatment in polyclinics, you might see a medical assistant instead of a qualified doctor.

So, here's the case.
My mum told the medical assistant that she is suffering from joint pains.
The funny thing was what happened next. Guess what the Medical Assistant said?
Medical assistant asked her, "Why?" The tune of him asking makes it even more funny.

LOL!

Aren't he supposed to figure out the reason why my mum is having joint pains? If my mum could diagnose her illness, then they could have swapped place. Hahaha...Only in Malaysia. :)

USM here I come!

I guess I am very lucky to be offered a place in USM as a dental student. I have read from various websites where students said that they take into account of your results, extra curricular activities, interview and family background in the university filter process. With an STPM CGPA of 3.92 out of 4.00, extra curricular activity CGPA of 9.04 out of 10.00, and being totally honest about my parents' income; I thought I would not get an offer from USM, the APEX uni, especially in Dentistry because the vacancies are really limited. Try to imagine that only 50 seats are available for the both the STPM and Matric students. And I am one of the lucky ones. Thank God for guiding me and giving me the strength all this while.

But there's fear that I need to overcome after accepting this offer. I need to leave home and I would certainly be homesick even a day away from my family, especially my mother. The relationship between my mother and I is very close. No gap at all. And I am worried about her after I leave Kuching. Tears.

Hopefully I can cope with these changes. Praying hard that my parents will be healthy and happy always. Amen.