Choosing the right profession

This is the question which keep banging on my head lately. Last semester, one of my lecturer told us how important it is to choose the right profession for us because it is something we have to do for the rest of our life. He told us how he was torn between becoming a dentist or an educator. Of course he chose to become an educator and study chemistry instead. His reasoning is simple. He just didn't want to see rotten teeth for the rest (or at least until he retire) of his life. Haha.. No offense for dentist or dentist to be.

Speaking of which, I'm now having the same question. Does being a chemist suits me?? I know I still have a year and half more before graduating and it is relatively still a long way to go. But I got to have a plan for my life rite? For some reason, I'm thankful that I wasn't given a chance to do medicine anymore. Lately, my grandfather frequently admitted to the hospital. While visiting him there, I can say that being a doctor is not a profession for me. Yes, the monetary reward is very tempting but money can't buy anything rite? Seriously. I'm not saying this because my door of doing medicine has been shut long time ago. But from my observation, it's quite boring. Maybe the situations are different in a private hospital. Maybe it's better in the private but I can't comment on that. However it is, it's still a noble profession.

So, does being a chemist suits me? Honestly, I don't think so. Being a chemist is just the same like being a doctor. I think it's probably worse. Firstly, being a chemist, you have to spend a lot of your time in a laboratory. Which means your only friends are laboratory apparatus and a few lab assistants. Secondly, spending more time in laboratory can be harmful to your health. A lot of chemical (carbon tetrachloride among many) can be carcinogenic and can damage much of our internal organ (liver, kidney and central nervous system) if exposed to our body.

After much though and consideration, I think I'm better off as an administrator. I love to work in an office, wearing nice attire (although I'm not very fashion conscious), getting to know people and I love managing things. I know it has nothing to do with chemistry, but I believe that degree is just a stepping stone for you to get a job. And since my parents wants me to work with the Government of Malaysia, I plan to plan to apply for Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik @PTD) upon finishing my study. I heard that the admission is tough though. There are several stages of selection process we have to go trough before we are accepted. However, it is the most elite scheme in the government sector. Promotion is fast and the job prospect is bright. You can go as far as the Secretary General (KSU) of a ministry or perhaps the Chief Secretary of the Government (KSN)! Hopefully I can make my way to that. Prays for me guys. Ameen...

Interview with Western Digital (HEIGIP program)

On the 25th of October, I was interviewed by a representative from Western Digital for participation to High End Industry Graduate Internship Program. For further reading about the program, you can go here (http://icn.uitm.edu.my/programs/heigip-program.html). It came to me (about a week before 25th October) as a bit of a shock partly because I never heard about this program but mostly because why they chose me. I don't really know what is the criteria for choosing the interviewee but only 250 places are offered throughout the whole nation (IPTA) will be chosen to be involved in the pilot program which is scheduled on the coming semester break. It was a short interview (lasting about 15-20 minutes for each candidate). And to be honest, this is not my first interview since I was born to this world. So, I didn't get caught into my nervousness at that day. The interviewer (a woman) didn't even take a glimpse at my certificate file. She only looked at my resume and the first thing she noticed is that I said I can speak a little bit of Czech and German. And of course she asked me how come. I said I learn Germany in UiTM (3rd language subject) and Czech because I spent 2 years studying medicine there. She is shocked. And the interview went on to that matter. A lot of questions were asked but the question that caught my attention was "How do you overcome the feel of disappointment? You are in the way of becoming a doctor which is the most noble profession (by Malaysian standard I believe) but didn't made it through". This time, I'm the one who shocked. Firstly because I've never been asked to answer such question. Secondly because I'm not prepared by any means to answer it. This is what I call as out of the box question. But mostly because I've no idea how I overcome the disappointment. I pray a lot. That's for sure. And I guess I keep telling myself that this is part of His plan. He is the best planner and who am I to go against His will. Whatever it is, it was a very unforgettable experience to be asked that way. Thanks Ms Hafeeza of Western Digital for that question. It makes me think of how I overcome it. Oh.. Before I forgot, my chance?? Nahhh... Haha..

Hess's Law

If you're looking for an academic explanation of the above law, sod off. You've come to the wrong blog. What I'm going to write in this post isn't about the brilliance of Germain Hess, a Swiss-born Russian chemist. Instead, I'm going to relate his formula to the real life situation.

As I'm sure whoever followed my blog (ade ke??) has already know that I'm a chemist in the making. InsyaAllah. I'm in the 3rd semester now and I still have 3 more semesters to go. That means that I'm about half way through. On this current semester, one of my lab instructor is 25 years old. A year older than me. And he already has a master degree. Can you imagine that? A 24 years old boy still at half way of his degree course and the other boy who has already become a lecturer and they are only a year apart. Pathetic isn't it? Then, courageous girl of my class asked me what do i feel. I explained Hess's Law to her. She looked a bit confused at first. Then I relate the work of Germain Hess to real life situation. This is how it goes. The enthalpy of some reactions can easily obtain in a lab by a single reaction. However, for some reaction, a few different reactions need to be conducted in a lab in order to determine the enthalpy change. The final value is still the same regardless of the different pathway that the reaction is having. The same goes with life. Some people is lucky to have no obstruction in their way through life. Some people, like me, aren't very lucky not to have a hassle free route. However, our destination is still the same. Only the time of arrival is different. Me for instance, I'm going to finish my degree first. It will take another 1 and a half year. I will be 26 by then. InsyaAllah, with the help of Allah, I intend to continue with my master after that and followed by PhD. If everything goes smoothly, by then, I will be around 30. I will still get there, you see?. But I travel a longer route as compared to most of the people. Can you see the connection between Hess's Law and the real life now?

The late Steve Jobs once said "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." (Referring to his cancer diagnose). I agree with him. But for me, abandoning my medical study is the most precious thing Allah bestowed me with. It makes me feel stronger and having a broader view of everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that happen in my life. I can't get that even if I'm admitted to Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial or any other university in the world. You can only get that at the university we called life.

A short-lived celebration

This morning, PMR result was annouced. I could see on TV how the high achiever burst to joy when they found out how excellent their result is. Looking back 8 years ago, I had a similar situation. I got 8 A's. It was possibly the happiest moment in my life. It was my happiest moment until I got my SPM result back in 2005. This time I got 10 A's (9 1A's and 1 2A to be precise). I got even happier. The reason why I said this is not to be cocky with what I have achieved in my schooling years. It's a history now. Actually I would like to give all the high achievers out there a little warning. There's nothing wrong to celebrate it after all the hard work you've been through all these years. Do so. But you must remember that your journey won't stop there. You have a long way to go. One day, it will be a history and on that day, the present is what matter. Not the passed. Despite of achieving all that, I still haven't finish my study when most of my friends already hold high position and earn a handsome amount of salary. Funny enough, most of them didn't get straight A's in the exam. :)

I miss HK. I really do...

It's been a year since I left HK (Hradec Kralove, not Hong Kong). Funny thing is I miss that place. I miss the quietness of HK. I miss its weather. I miss the spring, winter and the autumn.

HK is a very nice place to live in. Despite of my bad memories regarding my study there, I still think that HK is a great place. It is not very busy but everything is there. Ideal place to live in if you are looking for a nice peaceful place. My kind of place to be honest. There are a few Tescos where you can buy your groceries, a couple of kebab shop to get instant halal food, the public transortation is very good (million times better than Malaysia), nice people, a lot of nice and helpful muslim and many more good thing.

The thing I regret the most is that I haven't got a chance to fully explore HK. I actually had the chance to do so but at that time, I wanted to save some money to bring it back to Malaysia. I am sure there are many more unexplore nice place that I missed.

I really do miss HK..

Old Town

Old Town lagi


Eurocenter..


Hlavni Nadrazi (Main station). Skrg mybe dh lawa. Time aku blah tgh renovation

Now...

For those who are still not clear, I'm now in Malaysia. Not for holiday. But for long. At least more than 3 years. Yupp.. I left Czech Republic. I continue my study at Malaysia. UiTM to be precise. No. Not in medicine. This time BSc. (Chemistry). Regret? I don't have any. I've experienced the fame and the struggle of a medical student. To be honest, I can't keep up with it. Medicine is not something for me. Besides, becoming a doctor is not the yardstick of success. Being a doctor is not neccessary that you have achieved success is life. If you are really extraordinary person, you can be successful even without a scroll of degree.

To be honest, I am very happy to be where I am today. I know a lot of my friends have already graduate by this time. But Allah shows me a different way. With His willing, I will get there. Only the time of arrival is different. The time I lost is the experience I gained.

By the way, I would like to thank everybody whose have helped me all this while. Your courage is the thing which fuelled me, gets me going. And for those who are not helping (even when I asked for), I will still remeber you. Of course for a different reason. You know who you are (officers at KPT, a 'friend' or rather person I knew). I have jotted down you name in my diary of life. Life is a cycle. I am sure one day you need me. That time will come and you know what exactly going to happen.

MAS Psychomotor test.

Last Thursday, I was invited to attend psychomotor test for MAS cadet pilot at MAS Simulator Building in Subang. It didn't float my boat initially but having heard that MAS pay a considerable amount of money for their pilot, I started to rethink about it.



I have to admit that I have no idea what Psychomotor test is all about. So, I started searching on the internet about it. Feeling quite informed about the test, I went on the test. My session is at 1045. I arrived there early (too early at 0830) to avoid jam on the Federal Highway. It was held on the simulator building. To get to the test room, we have to pass through a few simlators. I could see simulator for Boeing 747, 777, 737 and Airbus A330-300. Then my time came and I started the test. Damn!! It was harder than I thought it would be. As a result of that, I think you know what happened. I failed. Only a few of us made it through. Those who succeed are required to sit for another test on the same day. It is called Psychometric test or MAS called it Mispa. I was informed that the test is going to be even tougher.

Funny enough, after failing the test, my interest of being a pilot grows bigger. I think being a commercial airlines pilot is the easiest way of being rich at young age (other than being a son of a millionaire of course). Besides, I love the idea of being at different places all the time at other people costs. And I like being at the airport. I think it is one of the nicest place to work. That's what I think.

Because of that, I am going to apply for it at the next intake. One MAS personnel told me that they usually will have intake every year and they will publish it on the paper. InsyaAllah, next year with a better preparation and better luck, I will try again.