The 2 very educational days of my life (part 2)
The weather is nice today. I had a stupid nightmare.
It was dark in the middle of the night, I found myself in front of a dimly lit store. There was this girl standing next to me, did not talk. So I tried to strum up a conversation to no avail. I think I was waiting for the store owner to get me something while my friend waited somewhere in the dark near the car. The girl just left, and then when I got back my friend was slit open with his intestines and stuff and dangling out. That girl must have been a Pontianak. ( I won’t be specific which friend is that, but take a wild guess)
As easy as dreams change scene I found myself in a second scene where I had awesome jumping power. The trouble was, I was in a realm that looked something like Silent Hill, with only a torch in hand, alone in the dark, with a Pontianak somewhere, I frantically tried to find a way out. Then I entered this forest realm, it was still dark, but now rather than blood I can see green, in the moonlight, then there was this commotion about a lion in the loose, the lion was on the streets! somehow I found myself trying to avoid the lion by entering a house and locking the door, the lion saw me, the lion seems to want to kill me, and the iron grills were failing… oh no, running out of ideas.. that stupid house only had mops and no weapons.
poof* woke up
I wonder if its a sign or something, as usual strange mechanical noises could be heard outside the window as is the case whenever I have a nightmare, the time was 6 something, still dark…
Later that day.
Front seats again! Today I’ll probably sit through all 4 talks, so I prepared myself by buying chicken floss buns and an egg tart. Stocking them in my pocketful pants, I won’t have to worry about lunch anymore. jajaja. The first talk of the day was entitled Options after SPM by Jerry Tan. Again, excellent presentation by a seemingly serious and authoritative speaker with a tinge of humor… One man show it seems
After SPM: Its important to select your interests first. After that you will need to plan your course in terms of the time, your budget, your strength and weaknesses, as well as the usefulness and prospects of the course itself. If you don’t plan properly say, your budget for example, You may find that you can get by the first year but then have an account of zero balance when it comes to the second. To those who are really so ambitious to take medicine, be warned that it is not easy, there are many other health science such as chiropractic etc. Food science is also interestingly marketable. If you can create something that children all over the country in schools eat in the canteen and is healthy nutritious and agreeable to parents, then you can very well become an instant millionaire. Forensics is also an interesting field and is increasing in popularity now with the likes of CSI influencing the younger generations. Its not as easy as it seems of course, you can’t solve crime in just an hour like the shows but its a rewarding career. For engineers, ensure that you have professional recognition from the Washington Accord so that you can work anywhere in the world. Be sure of the course you want, computer science in particular is misleading because of its seemingly similar sub science courses, some students study multimedia expecting to study drawing, that is wrong of course. And don’t think just because all you have to do is sit down in front of a computer screen your work is easy. As quoted of a game designer, he had to play a game 24/7 for 6 months before he was sure that it was ready. Now that definitely requires a great deal of interest and patience! Also do not think that business degrees are lousy, they are reasonably good because of its low entry requirements and its usefulness. In light of this, double degrees are also the hot thing in today’s job market, and one needs to get the best combo in order to make oneself marketable. An example of a double degree would be perhaps mass communication plus strong minors like music, science, law or sports, things that interest you. And in this way you’ll find your options and credibility as well as job satisfaction and choice greatly enhanced. Finally as a last point, be sure to check recognition. All colleges must be accredited by LAN and they should always have continuity, meaning the courses don’t just stop there halfway and is left unrecognized. Be sure too to take note of special entry requirement exams. For more information surf up to www.studylink.com.my
Well wasn’t that educational.. ha ha, I didn’t desperately need to listen to this talk of course, I already have planned my higher studies pathway… Form 6, and then either local or overseas university to study medicine.. and between then and now, amass $360,000!.. lol. It sure will not be easy… perhaps I should start a business? hmmmmmmmm…
I stayed at my seat, the next talk was about funding higher education. The talk was to be about the PTPTL loans and the Star scholarships.
PTPTL (pity pity loan?)
I think it stands for Peminjaman blabla Pendidikan tinggi something something…
PTPTL: All applications are to be done through all colleges or universities, do not go to the office, please, we’re busy. In other words, you need to enter a certain college or uni first before applying for a loan. There are 2 dates per semester where the office is open for applications. Documents that are used must be verified by university or college. Naturally, each applicant may only apply for one loan. The loan can bounce if one gets lousy result, (GPA lower than 2.0), or change course without prior knowledge to PTPTL. The loan is open for the application of all Malaysian citizens and has a low interest rate of 1.2%. There are several different types of loans which are offered according to a person’s household income, household income meaning the money that the flows into the family account after deducting loan payment, bills and stuff like that. When it comes to colleges, not all colleges will be supported by PTPTL, but only those that are have been accredited by LAN, take note of the college’s grade of A B or C, as these grades reflect their credibility and are labeled by PTPTL. The paying back of the degree starts approximately 6 months after the completion of the degree.
I think I’ll need to apply for a pity pity loan in the near future too.. lol
Mr Ng Kok Wah - The star Education Fund:
There are 2 tiers in the fund namely tier 1 and 2. The fund is applicable by Malaysians below the age of 25, with excellent grades, co-curricular records, personal qualities such as presentation skills, as well as a low family income. The tenure only covers the tuition fees, boarding and other expenses may not be covered.There is no bond attached to tier 2 because it is sponsored by partner colleges. However, tier 1 recipients must fulfill certain responsibilities to The Star because they are sponsored by it. In the application process, 4 parties are involved mainly the scholarship giver, the applicant, as well as 2 guarantors. There must be no breaching of condition, if it does happen, then the scholarship will be terminated and the applicant must pay back everything. So, choose your course wisely according to your interest, attitude, and aptitude.. it will be good to seek more information about the available courses, the content, institution and fees too. To date there are 375 scholarships available. Scholarships include courses including psychology, music, biochemistry. etc. Forms may be downloaded from The Star website. Closing date for application forms is March 3. Now time for some interview tips. To be successful in an interview, the interviewee is advised to = get background information of the giver of the scholarship, be courteous, be at ease, ask relevant questions and have 2 way communications, be willing to discuss, listen carefully, dress smartly, and most important of all, be honest.
EHEK, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when the idea of funding further education popped up in my mind. I thought they’ll give more creative tips but this is all so very… predictable. Let me guess, no one works or find their own money to fund their own education anymore.. especially not medicine eh… but if we do not strive hard for it both in studies and financially, but only depend on parent’s settlement of study fees, how would one ever be self reliant? As the saying goes, those that we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly, it is dearness that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a price on its goods.
At about this time yesterday it was time to eat and be happy. Unfortunately today because I wanted to listen to the engineering talk, I did not have the liberty of time. Thank goodness that little chicken floss bread managed to tame my stomach. Having swallowed my tiny lunch, I reentered the convention hall, while Weng Sheng went vroom vroom back to KLCC to get something to eat or drink quickly.
Oh no, I think the fat lady chairperson is pissed off at me for reserving a seat for Weng Sheng. In the front seat some more. Fortunately WS arrived just in the nick of time before some other guy had to come up front to take his place. The engineering talk started. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it too interesting. Well, curiosity, not ambition, drove me to place my butt on the chair in the convention hall during this hour.. unlike the aspiring engineers all around me. I almost fell asleep.
Let’s see, lots of stuff were mentioned by the first speaker Prof Dr Rehan Karim. Basically he explained that engineering has a diverse range of disciplines and students who want to be engineers should be good in subjects such as physics and chemistry. He also shares his vision of training more excellent engineers in the country. Next was Ashaari Mohd Yakub, who added that an excellent quality of an engineer was the interest in making things, to always have a creative plan, yet always investigate and collect data systematically and correctly. Engineers can work by making stuff like well, all kinds of stuff or basically sit in an office and work in the consultation department. The washington accord was mentioned again and examples of recognized engineering fields include civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, agriculture, etc.
Next was the boy genius prodigy Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei, this guy apparently is one of the greatest scholars in the country, having won many awards such as best SPM results, best PHD project and stuff like that. A genius to make things simple.
Too bad genius wasn’t the word for his presentation. As he himself said, engineers can be pretty boring sometimes because they define everything by logic till they get overly obsessed with their jobs. He did raise some interesting point though, that the purpose of engineering is to improve the quality of life through systematic and creative methods. He also stressed of the quality of engineers. Unfortunately the presentations so far seem to overlap engineering with too many other fields which seem to create the image that scientists and engineers are one.
Next we have, not a nerd, nor a Dr or a professor, now this is the type of engineer with the most interesting success story. Mr. Oh Kah Beng, who is head of Lotus for the Asia Pacific region, has an obsession for speed. As a teenager he often participated in races, and liked to dismantle stuff to see how they work, as well as tweak his motorcycle engines to make them go faster. His talent was noticed after winning a race ( a legal one) and soon he was picked up by the Yamaha company to work with them. Eventually this landed him in high positions in automobile companies that finally got him to Lotus. He emphasized the importance of reading and following your passions. Know your passions and ambitions, and then work them to the fullest and give it your 100%. Also, one should develop an inquisitive mind and be curious about how everything works. may i recommend www.howstuffworks.com? Anyway, his presentation technique, serious, and relating to a personal real life story, certainly made his talk the best among the 4 engineers.
The big finale for the event, and the main reason why I’m here today, the talk about medicine.
As the aspiring engineers soon left the scene. An army of aspiring doctors barge at the door in an attempt to enter. to no avail of course, the hall was full! Aren’t I thankful to have a front seat at this point. The wall to my right was peeled away, literally, to combine the current hall with another one adjacent to it. Still not enough space it seems, and inevitably, the latecomers were forced to lace the floor with their butts.
The first speaker: Dr Ong Hean Teik
He really gave an excellent presentation. Excellent presentation metaphors. Simply superb!
Dr. Ong: It is a lifelong passion, to become a doctor, basically one way to become a doctor is to do your STPM, or foundation, then continue on with the 5-6 years clinical course and end up with a medical degree namely MBBS. A long time ago however, there was no such thing as a medical education, and students generally learn from apprenticeship to a senior medical practitioner. To be a doctor, you need to be open minded and humble. You need to have a liking to serve people, to be a community doctor. Some traits that a doctor should have is of course hard work, but as a Singapore doctor once said, you need more butt power than brain power in studying medicine. Generally it means that you need tremendous discipline. After you get your medical degree its not the end of the line, as a postgraduate you’re now faced with a more daunting task where you will need to work and study at the same time. There will be no classes but there will be exams, it is also now where you choose a specialty, even a GP is a specialty… work hard, and always remember that your patients are your teachers. Your chosen line of specialty should be one that you enjoy and have talent for. Even after your career unofficially starts as a doctor you will still require more skills as you advance, such as people skills as well as continuous education of the latest medical updates. So needless to say, doctors should enjoy learning, and have a liking to help a fellow human being. Being a consultant is the aspiration of all medical specialists though it isn’t exactly the most high paying job. There is no money in medicine, a good doctor is certainly not one who only cares about the fees his patients are paying. So if money is your prime motivation, think again. Studies shows that 60% of the doctors in Malaysia are unhappy, because they had the wrong motivations to become a doctor. Here I would also like to introduce to everyone a Chinese word, namely Ting. Which means listen. If you observe the word, it is made out of the Chinese characters, ears, eyes, and heart. So as a doctor you will need to listen with your ears, observe with your eyes, and pay full attention with your heart to your patients. You should also have morality and be principled. Being materialistic is a definite no-no in this line. Doctors should also respect the ones with moral and wisdom and not the ones with money and money. In short, seek competency, work hard, and work professionally.
Yeah that’s him. I’m in the picture too, but its too blur I think. ha ha. He recommended aspiring doctors to read a book edited by him entitled, The Life of a Doctor
Second Speaker: Mr. Teoh Seng Lee, Honorary Consulate of the Russian something something
OK, this is a promoter of Russian medicine, which holds my interest as it is one of my medical study options.
Russia!: Why Russia? well, why not? Do not worry. There are English Medical courses in Russia, and there are currently 5 medical universities that are recognized there. It is also rather affordable and has been a popular choice for Malaysian medical students for a long time. Some basic requirements would include good SPM results or STPM with a CGPA of more than 3.00 as well as subjects like biology and chemistry. Try this website. www.russian-resources.com . There are a few choice of cities when it comes to making a decision where to stay. Moscow, high cost of living but the active lifestyle there makes it attractive to some. In other states, the cost of living is lower but the travel time is a little bit inconvenient. In light of this, I should warn everyone to beware bogus and unauthorized agents, remember that only 5 medical universities in Russia are recognized locally. Also it would be wise to compare hidden costs in a agency’s package to detect hidden costs. Compare the services and reputation of the agencies but the best bet is still to call the Russian embassy for details.
Third Speaker: Prof Dr. Satisha Nayak
The doctor with the heavy Indian Accent, looked very familiar, as if I’ve talked to him recently…
India!:Yesterday I talked to a student who planned ahead so well that he even planned that his last ditch career was to be a nasi lemak seller. I think that is good! And if you want to know just how much passion is needed to be a doctor, just put your face into a bucket of water and wait for 2 minutes, you will need to have that much a wanting for air as much as your passion to be a doctor! A good doctor has 3 key criterias namely knowledge, skill, and attitude. Anyway, the Indian medical system under MCI has 176 recognized medical universities. Placings in these universities are based on meritocracy, in other words the scholar with the better results gets more priority. English is readily available here in India and as you all know, India is now the leading Asian IT giant, and so IT is integrated even into the medical courses in order to make learning easier for the students, For more information about India, try www.mciindia.org
Fourth Speaker: Dr Kuljit Singh
Sing!: What can be said of a doctor? well, for sure there’s ambition involved, noble and caring characteristics, as well as decent monetary strength. To qualify, locally especially you will need a good pre University result of a standard more than 3.5 GPA though its accepted nationwide unofficially, a GPA of 4.0. If you noticed, recently the government has also introduced character evaluation as one of the screening process in determining worthy medical students from those who are better off doing something else. Scholarships and loans are the most obvious choices as the way to settle tuition fees in medical education. Try www.iime.org. In fact, also try calling this number to inquire from JPA - 03-88831400. or visit their website at www.jpa.gov.my. To study overseas you will also need a no objection certificate. Also a word of caution, in medical studies, you must pass each and every exam and dissertation, there is no such thing as failing lest one is prepared to leave the medical institution because doctors must be trained to be competent enough to make life changing decisions. Houseman-ship as is mentioned many a times, is compulsory for all Malaysian doctors. There are many ways for one to practice medicine, either in private hospitals, government hospitals, as an army medic or even as a lecturer in a college or university. Remember however if you’re a lecturer, you still have to see patients and the only difference is that you have more work to do, mainly to lecture.
Finally the talk was closed by Professor Dr Lokman, the Dean of University Malaya medical faculty. His advice was to never give up, enjoy the new medical curriculum and choose a medical institution well based on its facilities. He also dismissed the common myth that a good university is the one with the most cadavers. Most universities now minimize the usage of cadavers, preferring to replace them with mannequins. Human anatomy was after all, only one subject out of dozens which are included in the medical course. Next, Professor Lokman showed us a video clip made by a fellow medical student which depicts the life of a medical student, it was inspiring to say the least, and I somehow feel all the more excited to pursue my ambition to be a doctor.
Later I tried to find the book that was recommended by Dr. Ong at Kinokuniya to no avail. Oh well, I guess its time to head for home. Contemplating on the things that I’ve been exposed to today, just as everyone in the LRT who was quiet was presumably doing, while being whisked away at 80km/hour across KL..
Back home..
And yeah, for a number of reasons I would like to declare that I would no longer be a Naruto fan. I realized that certainly there must be better use for my time than to entertain my brain with cartoons and comics. Time is so much at the essence.
So, yeah…
