blue skies ahead

Bla bla bla, me mumbling some stuff. 

Endless Horizon, Blue Skies Ahead

Do you recall sleepless nights, group discussions over lunch, copying and trading notes with your classmates last November? If your answers are yes, yes and yes, I'm guessing you are one amongst 455,849 students who sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 2014. Allow me to extend a hearty congratulations to you!

In 2014, a total of 11,289 students scored straight As in the examination, a slight dip compared to 13,970 students in 2013. Additionally, there is a decrease in the national average grade (GPN), which measures overall performance in the examination. A lower score indicates better achievement, and for 2014, the GPN was 5.08, a short fall of 0.15 from 4.93 in 2013.

How anxious were you on the day results came out? Did you compare your A, B or Cs with your friends and relatives? Put that aside. Just as every snowflake is unique, there could be one hundred reasons for that difference in your number of As. 

Some of us may have exceeded our expectations, whilst some of us may have not. Be optimistic, for opportunities are endless. I know many wonderful, awesomely talented peers whose true potential cannot be measured with their grades. What matters most is the courage, personality and perseverance to explore the new possibilities beyond SPM, not your numbers and letters. Once you have these three keys checked, you will achieve even greater heights. 

Life is bigger than SPM. Look further, my friends!

http://niexter.nst.com.my/2015/03/

Shut up shut up... so what if I used my housemate's History textbook...

the big bang

This post has been taken down by the author. 

expecto patronum

my 2:00 a.m. live stream 

Alhamdulillah alhamdulillah alhamdulillah. Amalin, Ain and Adlin and Amirah are total naturals, I had to strongly refrain myself from saying I told you so. 

Of course, everything comes from God and Alhamdulillah I have so much to thank Allah for. 

So whilst they are busy with applications here and there... I'll just sit and munch on Kettle. Like, oh look, is that an anxious Amirah in front of a white-fanged, red-eyed interviewer? Haha is that Ain being asked questions by a soul-sucking dementor? COOL. Serves them right for ignoring me on Whatsapp. *eats more chips* 

Mum & Dad's tips on How To gET IT AAAALLLLLL 

Part 1: Applications & Interviews

1. Hey peeps I'm here to show off all my golds

Be humble. But not too humble. Bahahah. If they ask you, what are your hobbies? Don't just stop at "Oh I like to draw." Add on, "I do illustrations for school magazine, and I once sold a portrait for five million US dollars, also I find Leonardo Da Vinci's artwork very fascinating, even my phone case is Van Gogh blablabla" Ok maybe you haven't sold a USD 5,000,000 yet, how would I know.

2. That form doesn't do you justice

I'm telling you, those forms don't have enough space for you to brag. Come on, only three boxes for co-curricular activities? Pfft. You do volunteer work, you recycled stuff, you did socially-desirable YouTube videos - yet you can't put those on application forms. What do you do? This is when you tell them. Alternatively, you prepare a CV (curriculum vitae) and submit it with your form. GAME ON GUYS.

3. Remember that time when you said your hobby was reading

It's okay. Me too. It's all surfing the internet now. But if your wish is to go into Economics, for example, if they ask you what books you read, omg are you honestly prepared to say If I Stay. Read a whole lot of Economics-related books and articles. If you need ideas, I've just finished Martin Lindstrom's Buy-ology and Tim Harford's The Undercover Economist series. (available on MPH online)

4. Be the creep you really are (Amalin we all know you're a creep)

Remember their name. Ok, sorry, didn't mean to sound that cray, but you see that lady who's about to interrogate interview you? Remember her name and title. She'll think highly of you if the first thing you do when you come into the room is, Hello, selamat pagi Professor X. This may sound a bit braggish, but heeeeeey, each time I do this, I win every time. #yay #perasan #berlagak #alabolehlaberlagak 

5. We're cool right? Right?

First things first - be comfortable. Ask your interviewers, How are you? Start a casual conversation, once you've established this, it's more convenient and natural for you to show off. Haha. Don't even feel embarrassed, or care about the fact that they'll judge (because obviously that's the whole point of the interview). Chances are, you're not going to see them ever again after the session anyway. 

6. Dear adults read my heart out

Why do you want to study that particular subject? What are you going to do after you finish studying? What have you done that led you to think that you suit that course? What are your biggest, deepest wish and dreams? To whom or what do you give your passion to? Whip them all up in a 500-word personal statement.

Oh yeah, well, you know, if interviewers get too difficult, just expecto patronum them.

prayer room, again?!

Everyday, I have to put up with two goons.

One from Shanghai, and one from (what are the odds) Kajang.

No, seriously, I'm not even kidding.

1. 

"Wait wait I don't get it. Why is it that you wear headscarf, then you don't, then at the hair salon you need a private room but you still need to take off your headscarf anyway? When do you need to wear it?"

I explained.

"Oh. Ohhh. So you don't wear your headscarf around me because I'm a girl... I thought you took it off because I'm your friend and you love me. I'm very disappointed in you, Sab."

2.

We were on Twitter.

A friend of mine retweeted a video, of a 16-year-old hijabbed girl in London, who, out of the blue, got hit by a man. The girl fell unconscious afterwards.

We were both speechless.

"Oh my god. I will protect you, don't worry."

"Maybe you should wear a hat. That way, people can't see your headscarf."


3.

"We're going to London for tea today, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, not too late though, I need to pray."

"You didn't pray the other day when we went to London?"

"She was on her period." Silence. "Umm... you were on your period, right?"


4.

The three of us were pointlessly chattering in my bedroom.

"I don't think I could ever hate you."

"Oh?"

"Except, maybe, when you won't eat my food because it's not Halal."

"But I do when you give me Halal food!"

"Yeah, that's because I'm smart now and I know what Halal food is."


5.

"No gelatine, I checked. For the first time in my life, I actually read ingredients!"


6.

"My mum told me Muslims pray before they eat..."

I acted cool on the outside, but in the inside, I'm all bismillaahi awwalahu wa 'akhirahu ya Allah forgive me I will try my best to remember to baca doa next time I'm so sorry ya Allah.

7.

"Go canteen first, I'm going to the prayer room."

"Again?!"


Yes, my dear, I know I went to the prayer room yesterday. And the day before. And probably tomorrow, too.

three meals

Blimey we have three different timezones now.

take it back

Sometime in 2014, we were at the kampung. 

We had just visited Abah's uncle, who is about 70 years old, and is ailing. His children (aka dad's cousins) were all providing TLC for him - and Abah helps, too.

"Now, if I get sick when I'm older, you'd take care of me, like how I'm helping him."

I looked at Abah. He looked at me. 

It was a few seconds of silence, when I finally said, "No."

He was taken aback; No????

"I mean, like, you're not going to be sick, so don't put it that way. I'd care and love you and annoy you  forever, but you'd still be healthy when you're old, okay?"

"Take it back, daddy. Take it back."

"Say that I'll take care of a healthy and happy you, and you and Mama would go yachting and do all the things retired people do, you won't be sick."

"Take it back. NOW."

Abah looked it at me as if I had just lost my brain and stashed it somewhere I can never get it back.

"Okay... you'll take care of a healthy and happy me..." 

Good.

I believe that one should always, always, have a positive outlook on life, do good things, and let Allah handle the rest. 

Live good, pray good, and Allah will make it good for you.

I pray everyday that Allah will take care of my parents, keep them in the pink of health, and never let any harm touch them. 

I want them to be healthy; for them to be able to help others, to be closer to Allah by discovering more of Allah's magnificent creation in every country that they go as they travel, and to inspire their children to become better, exemplary Muslims as they go along. 

"My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small." (Quran, 17:24)

May Allah safeguard our parents always, and may kindness and compassion towards them be instilled in our hearts.

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