Convocation season is here. Best wishes are sent to those completed their tertiary education and graduate from their respectives higher institutions. It's time for them to close the chapter of a student's life, and move on to the working world, or maybe continue to a higher level of learning.
In the past few years of university life, these students learned to become a better person. They were molded to be more wholesome in every way, from academical knowledge to maturity in behaviour. They were taught to serve the society after their graduation. They were strengthened before taking off into their separate paths of life.
They would have met a lot of people, from the admin staff to the lecturers, their friends, and the community beyond their campuses. They would have met wonderful people and learnt from them. They would have met awful people and endured through their company.
They, too, would have made changes into others' life. Let others have the chance to learn from them, or to endure their presence. They cross other's path and left foot prints. They came to show guidance, to rebuke, to lend their ears, and last but not least, to mold you also, to become a more wholesome person than you are today, when it's your turn to walk up to the stage and receive your reward during your convocation ceremony.
Some of my friends are graduating this year. Although we entered university at the same time, they take off earlier than I do. They are angels of mine who has been a good companion and made my university life awesome. They are friends who give the warmest hugs. They are a part of me, and I shall give them the bestest wishes as I watch them taking a part of me with them when they leave.
This post is specially dedicated to my fellow darlings: Kathrin, Jerry, Delwyn, Keat Lim, Anthony, Theresa and Huai Ming. All the best for your future undertakings!
With Love,
Cher Linn
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Tragical Musical
I never favour sad endings for any story, be it a play, a book, or movie, drama etc. If it is a fiction, I like it to be written in such a way that it makes me chuckle as I flip through the last page. If it is a play, I like it to have a happy ending which makes us go:"Awh... don't they looked adorable in the last scene?"
To many people, life is a form of suffering. That's why they need to create something to entertain themselves. Such as a comedy. From sitcom to stand-up comedy, the audiences look forward to some good belly laugh. And they actually pay comedians to make them do so. Everyone is having a merry time when the time seemed to stop and laughter fills in. All worries and blues vanished, albeit temporarily, for the few moments of cheers.
To me, I can't say the above is the exact reason I prefer happy endings. God has been merciful to me and my life has been filled with joy and sorrow at quite a balance ratio. There are always things to cheer me up, and things to make me long for Friends series sometimes. There are others' life which'll inspire me to be optimistic about tomorrow, yet there are also others which forces hesitation upon me.
A tragic ending, on the other hand, is a turn on (not that kind of turn-on) for some people. After all the happy endings and comedies, one would just equally love a twist at the ending, maybe a sad one. One which plays out the reality in life. One which reminds us to appreciate the peace and order we have at the current moment before it's becoming something like what is narrated. One which makes you cry to realise that you, too, have emotions despite the stern look we're wearing everyday for so-called protection.
I have watched two musical dramas with sad endings. First is Sweeney Todd, and another one was performed by KTSN talents - One Hope. Both were abso-fantastical-lutely awesome and I can sincerely see a lot of effort put into the show. Both ended with leading character died in the story. Yet, both were very beautiful. The dances, props, actings, and most importantly (for Sweeney Todd) the musics and lyrics were so astonishing that you'd want to watch it back-to-back!
One Hope was a good show, and good job to Jason and Ming Min for directing it, while kudos for the rest of the team! Musical drama is my all time favourite. Art comes in all forms, some of them are revealed in a musical. Art connects people, doesn't it? =)
To many people, life is a form of suffering. That's why they need to create something to entertain themselves. Such as a comedy. From sitcom to stand-up comedy, the audiences look forward to some good belly laugh. And they actually pay comedians to make them do so. Everyone is having a merry time when the time seemed to stop and laughter fills in. All worries and blues vanished, albeit temporarily, for the few moments of cheers.
To me, I can't say the above is the exact reason I prefer happy endings. God has been merciful to me and my life has been filled with joy and sorrow at quite a balance ratio. There are always things to cheer me up, and things to make me long for Friends series sometimes. There are others' life which'll inspire me to be optimistic about tomorrow, yet there are also others which forces hesitation upon me.
A tragic ending, on the other hand, is a turn on (not that kind of turn-on) for some people. After all the happy endings and comedies, one would just equally love a twist at the ending, maybe a sad one. One which plays out the reality in life. One which reminds us to appreciate the peace and order we have at the current moment before it's becoming something like what is narrated. One which makes you cry to realise that you, too, have emotions despite the stern look we're wearing everyday for so-called protection.
I have watched two musical dramas with sad endings. First is Sweeney Todd, and another one was performed by KTSN talents - One Hope. Both were abso-fantastical-lutely awesome and I can sincerely see a lot of effort put into the show. Both ended with leading character died in the story. Yet, both were very beautiful. The dances, props, actings, and most importantly (for Sweeney Todd) the musics and lyrics were so astonishing that you'd want to watch it back-to-back!
One Hope was a good show, and good job to Jason and Ming Min for directing it, while kudos for the rest of the team! Musical drama is my all time favourite. Art comes in all forms, some of them are revealed in a musical. Art connects people, doesn't it? =)
Friday, August 01, 2008
10 Yays!
10. For the first time ever, I visited a PC Fair! I know it sounds very kampung, but what to do? I'm not a technophobe by name only ok? Yay!
9. I managed to narrow down my target printer to only 3 options, which I don't really remember the model name now, but there are 2 from Canon, and one from HP. Not bad for a first-timer, eh? Yay!
8. Tried Starbucks' Peach Frappacino today. Not bad, but I still prefer their caremel machiato. It is simply coffee-taste-buds tantalising and soothing. But still, it's a good try, yay!
7. Visited Chilis today, good foodI Oh, and no waiting list! Yay!
6. I bought myself a black blouse from Dorothy Perkins. Yay!
5. Have a good laugh today for whatever reason that the news is funny. Yay!
4. My lethal combo effects have subsided a lot and I'm feeling normal now. Thanks to my body which loves me and care for me (Dr.Rohi's famous line), I'm able to say all the yays here. Yay!
3. My computer darling has just recovered from its second viral attack within 2 weeks time. I sent it to the technician in my campus to have a look at it, again, and they healed it efficiently. Yay!
2. I bumped into Kandahar from MMU Cyberjaya at KLCC, yay! Up to this stage, I nearly wanted to do the hula dance right in the middle of Signature food court in Suria KLCC already! That gentleman is a very pleasant person to meet up with, isn't he?
1. My parents are coming over to KL tomorrow, yay!
9. I managed to narrow down my target printer to only 3 options, which I don't really remember the model name now, but there are 2 from Canon, and one from HP. Not bad for a first-timer, eh? Yay!
8. Tried Starbucks' Peach Frappacino today. Not bad, but I still prefer their caremel machiato. It is simply coffee-taste-buds tantalising and soothing. But still, it's a good try, yay!
7. Visited Chilis today, good foodI Oh, and no waiting list! Yay!
6. I bought myself a black blouse from Dorothy Perkins. Yay!
5. Have a good laugh today for whatever reason that the news is funny. Yay!
4. My lethal combo effects have subsided a lot and I'm feeling normal now. Thanks to my body which loves me and care for me (Dr.Rohi's famous line), I'm able to say all the yays here. Yay!
3. My computer darling has just recovered from its second viral attack within 2 weeks time. I sent it to the technician in my campus to have a look at it, again, and they healed it efficiently. Yay!
2. I bumped into Kandahar from MMU Cyberjaya at KLCC, yay! Up to this stage, I nearly wanted to do the hula dance right in the middle of Signature food court in Suria KLCC already! That gentleman is a very pleasant person to meet up with, isn't he?
1. My parents are coming over to KL tomorrow, yay!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Lethal Combo
This morning I woke up and found myself down with sore throat and seeing stars above my head.
Sore throat + slight fever (getting worse) + headache + slight cough + lethargy = slow motion in whatever things I do, if I ever get to climb out of the bed.
Hope the ceiling fan in my room can be more considerate by slowing down the cracking noice it makes for every spin.
Sore throat + slight fever (getting worse) + headache + slight cough + lethargy = slow motion in whatever things I do, if I ever get to climb out of the bed.
Hope the ceiling fan in my room can be more considerate by slowing down the cracking noice it makes for every spin.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
I'm just amazed that I found someone who helplessly has no whatsoever freaking sense of direction and are afraid of leeches to death. Oh, he dislikes smokers and not into watching football game, too! *High five*
Let's go have coffee.
Well done for KTSN juniors debating team who went through all the prelims and made this year's VC Cup a KTSN final! We're so going to make it a humor round :-) Ok, I mean, hang out at McD or maybe a movie together. What do you think, babies?
I always love you all =)
Let's go have coffee.
Well done for KTSN juniors debating team who went through all the prelims and made this year's VC Cup a KTSN final! We're so going to make it a humor round :-) Ok, I mean, hang out at McD or maybe a movie together. What do you think, babies?
I always love you all =)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I'll Always Be There
For some reason, other people can easily say they're busy and cannot make it for a certain event, believing it's still alright because the one who's always there will always be there.
I can never say "I quit!", can I?
And if you want some other people to understand that everyone is as busy as they do and should work together to lift the burden together, they'll say that you're a dictator because you never try to understand their situation. What? Oh, no, they never have to understand that you are busy too. They never need to know that your thesis proposal is next week and your supervisor has flewn back Iraq at this critical moment. All they need to know is that you are informed about their inconveniences and make sure that you understand their situation.
Hence when the work for 10 people is accumulated onto only 3 people's shoulder, this will chase people away even faster than a dictator's pressure. But they'll say they don't want to commit because the leader is a dictator at the first place. So from time to time, the so-called dictator has to plea for the other people to come back to help, by right it's their responsibility to help up with the team at the first place. After all the skills you taught them, all the time spent to get them the most comfortable training venue and bus ride to Bangi, help them to give excuses when they cannot make it for a certain event, paid RM50 from your own pocket for their accommodation during their VC Cup Debate Tournament yet remain silent about it until now... they still have all the excuses to leave and come back to the team as they like because you are a dictator who never understand that not everyone is as free as you do.
I'm nearly exhausted, but am tired of the never-grow-up babies already.
I can never say "I quit!", can I?
And if you want some other people to understand that everyone is as busy as they do and should work together to lift the burden together, they'll say that you're a dictator because you never try to understand their situation. What? Oh, no, they never have to understand that you are busy too. They never need to know that your thesis proposal is next week and your supervisor has flewn back Iraq at this critical moment. All they need to know is that you are informed about their inconveniences and make sure that you understand their situation.
Hence when the work for 10 people is accumulated onto only 3 people's shoulder, this will chase people away even faster than a dictator's pressure. But they'll say they don't want to commit because the leader is a dictator at the first place. So from time to time, the so-called dictator has to plea for the other people to come back to help, by right it's their responsibility to help up with the team at the first place. After all the skills you taught them, all the time spent to get them the most comfortable training venue and bus ride to Bangi, help them to give excuses when they cannot make it for a certain event, paid RM50 from your own pocket for their accommodation during their VC Cup Debate Tournament yet remain silent about it until now... they still have all the excuses to leave and come back to the team as they like because you are a dictator who never understand that not everyone is as free as you do.
I'm nearly exhausted, but am tired of the never-grow-up babies already.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Rest Before Striving Again.
Walking down the dimly-lit corridor, I was on my way back to my room in KTSN. This is like one of my most familiar paths during these recent years. However, the faces of new juniors make all the difference. Of course, new term is starting next week - my forth and final year.
I’m the kind of person who dislikes changes. I can be random at some of the time, one of the evidence will be revealed below. But the longer I grow in something, that something will grow in me, too. And it’s sorrowful for me to accept the fact that I will be leaving something behind when it has grown this much in me.
I thought I love to spend my time in KTSN. Not to mention I’m the first one to enjoy the brand new comfort in my room as mentioned in previous post. The shocking fact was, it was not that appealing to me at that time. Even with the wireless strength in my room was at its full blast, I couldn’t bear the meaningless life here for even one day, hanging around just to start straight off with my thesis. That explains why:
Last Monday morning, I did meet my thesis supervisor. I was told to focus in Toxoplasma gondii infection in local wet market. In the afternoon, I spent my time searching for books in library and hanged around in my “new” room.
Approaching evening, I suddenly had the urge to go back home - very strongly indeed. At first I told my mum that I’m not going back home after meeting my supervisor because I figured a lot of student from other university will be heading KL during this weekend as we will be starting our new term at the same time. But the urge is so strong that I couldn’t bother much about traffic jam or whatnots anymore. Deep down I yearn like a child – I wanted to go home…
Again, I made use of my speed-packing skill I acquired by attending debate tournaments. It has passed 6pm as I headed for KTSN gate. I flagged a cab, hopped on LRT, bought myself a bus ticket at Plaza Rakyat station and there I was, sending sms to surprise my parents.
Life in KL is exciting and happening. Shopping malls with cinemas are easily accessible, high-end restaurants with good food is everywhere, and my favourite bookstores cannot be any nearer. Beautiful Titiwangsa Lake is just opposite KTSN, national library is just a gate separated from me. I shouldn’t complain. In fact, I find nothing to complain about.
On the other hand, life at home is home-cooked food, TV, some hawker food for dinner and more TV at night. It sounded like a boring routine. And if you’d ask me, yes, this is exactly the kind of life I missed. I haven’t really enjoyed my holiday during the break. I was having my LI. LI was indeed fun, but a relaxing holiday can’t be replaced with satisfaction during LI. They are two different things.
Hanging around at home is more relaxing than at my hostel room, where all my neighbours had yet to come back. I love watching my mum’s favourite Taiwan drama with her, although I don’t really keen on the progress of the drama. It’s the moment that I missed. I missed sharing a plate of fried hor fan with my dad. I love watching news at mamakstall and discuss what had happened that day. Oh, if you’ve lived under a bombshell for the recent three months, Malaysia politic changes in term of days ever since the last general election. I love to watch Scrubs and Friends and some other TV programs which I don’t have the chance to watch when I’m back at hostel. I love to spend four hours just to read that day’s newspaper. I miss the taste of white coffee at home. I missed the quiet moment when I can absent-mindedly swing myself on the swing and stare blankly at the blue sky above, day dreaming, with the occasional roaring of motor bike or the chatters of school children passing by my house.
Life passed by at a very slow pace, but it was like the most contented life I can ever have. All of this makes the peaceful life at home a lot more meaningful.
Now I’m back in my hostel room, for real. I’m going to start my new term next Monday. Hope it’ll be a good term, and as fruitful as the previous!
I’m the kind of person who dislikes changes. I can be random at some of the time, one of the evidence will be revealed below. But the longer I grow in something, that something will grow in me, too. And it’s sorrowful for me to accept the fact that I will be leaving something behind when it has grown this much in me.
I thought I love to spend my time in KTSN. Not to mention I’m the first one to enjoy the brand new comfort in my room as mentioned in previous post. The shocking fact was, it was not that appealing to me at that time. Even with the wireless strength in my room was at its full blast, I couldn’t bear the meaningless life here for even one day, hanging around just to start straight off with my thesis. That explains why:
Last Monday morning, I did meet my thesis supervisor. I was told to focus in Toxoplasma gondii infection in local wet market. In the afternoon, I spent my time searching for books in library and hanged around in my “new” room.
Approaching evening, I suddenly had the urge to go back home - very strongly indeed. At first I told my mum that I’m not going back home after meeting my supervisor because I figured a lot of student from other university will be heading KL during this weekend as we will be starting our new term at the same time. But the urge is so strong that I couldn’t bother much about traffic jam or whatnots anymore. Deep down I yearn like a child – I wanted to go home…
Again, I made use of my speed-packing skill I acquired by attending debate tournaments. It has passed 6pm as I headed for KTSN gate. I flagged a cab, hopped on LRT, bought myself a bus ticket at Plaza Rakyat station and there I was, sending sms to surprise my parents.
Life in KL is exciting and happening. Shopping malls with cinemas are easily accessible, high-end restaurants with good food is everywhere, and my favourite bookstores cannot be any nearer. Beautiful Titiwangsa Lake is just opposite KTSN, national library is just a gate separated from me. I shouldn’t complain. In fact, I find nothing to complain about.
On the other hand, life at home is home-cooked food, TV, some hawker food for dinner and more TV at night. It sounded like a boring routine. And if you’d ask me, yes, this is exactly the kind of life I missed. I haven’t really enjoyed my holiday during the break. I was having my LI. LI was indeed fun, but a relaxing holiday can’t be replaced with satisfaction during LI. They are two different things.
Hanging around at home is more relaxing than at my hostel room, where all my neighbours had yet to come back. I love watching my mum’s favourite Taiwan drama with her, although I don’t really keen on the progress of the drama. It’s the moment that I missed. I missed sharing a plate of fried hor fan with my dad. I love watching news at mamakstall and discuss what had happened that day. Oh, if you’ve lived under a bombshell for the recent three months, Malaysia politic changes in term of days ever since the last general election. I love to watch Scrubs and Friends and some other TV programs which I don’t have the chance to watch when I’m back at hostel. I love to spend four hours just to read that day’s newspaper. I miss the taste of white coffee at home. I missed the quiet moment when I can absent-mindedly swing myself on the swing and stare blankly at the blue sky above, day dreaming, with the occasional roaring of motor bike or the chatters of school children passing by my house.
Life passed by at a very slow pace, but it was like the most contented life I can ever have. All of this makes the peaceful life at home a lot more meaningful.
Now I’m back in my hostel room, for real. I’m going to start my new term next Monday. Hope it’ll be a good term, and as fruitful as the previous!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
of New Room and New Books
I've just checked in to my KTSN room. Same old location, but the room is not very same this time! :D
I was grumbling when all residents in my block, Block H (Yes, ONLY Block H) had to move out from their room during the last term break, unlike previously when we still can sort of rent a room and put our stuff in there so that we didn't have to bring all the stuff all the way back home. The reason being - the colloge wanted to renovate my block. We all knew that Pengetua wants to change all triple rooms into double rooms for juniors, and hence (logically thinking) some seniors room may be affected. Anyway, so there goes the renovation.
And TaDa~ my room remains a single room and I'll still be staying in the same spot, for 3 years in a roll! That is a good news, but a better one is - my room is also renovated! Well, at first I thought only the juniors rooms are affected.
They:
(1) upgraded my semented floor to tiles-covered floor;
(2) cleaned the spider webs from the ceiling and the dusts from the ceiling fan;
(3) and re-painted my room from pink to cream colour!
I am really thrilled by all these! Pink colour is fine with me. It is soothing and warm. But cream colour isn't bad either, as long as it's a bright colour. Besides, the wireless is back! Hopefully I still able to search for information starting next week when all the students are back.
New Books Targeted:
1. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
2. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
3. maybe the biography of Nelson Mandela
4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
5. The Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Yes, I still can't locate the book despite the search system in Borders tells me that the book is in the store).
And since I found a lot of discount coupons for certain books in Kinokuniya and MPH, I'd also consider the following:
6. Evening Is The Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan
7. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella (my favourite chick lit author)
8. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (who is also the author of The Devil Wears Prada)
9. Sex And The City by Candace Bushnell
10. A Friend Like Henry - Nuala Gardner
Maybe it's a bit obsessive but that's what happened after a long break from the book stores!
I was grumbling when all residents in my block, Block H (Yes, ONLY Block H) had to move out from their room during the last term break, unlike previously when we still can sort of rent a room and put our stuff in there so that we didn't have to bring all the stuff all the way back home. The reason being - the colloge wanted to renovate my block. We all knew that Pengetua wants to change all triple rooms into double rooms for juniors, and hence (logically thinking) some seniors room may be affected. Anyway, so there goes the renovation.
And TaDa~ my room remains a single room and I'll still be staying in the same spot, for 3 years in a roll! That is a good news, but a better one is - my room is also renovated! Well, at first I thought only the juniors rooms are affected.
They:
(1) upgraded my semented floor to tiles-covered floor;
(2) cleaned the spider webs from the ceiling and the dusts from the ceiling fan;
(3) and re-painted my room from pink to cream colour!
I am really thrilled by all these! Pink colour is fine with me. It is soothing and warm. But cream colour isn't bad either, as long as it's a bright colour. Besides, the wireless is back! Hopefully I still able to search for information starting next week when all the students are back.
New Books Targeted:
1. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
2. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
3. maybe the biography of Nelson Mandela
4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
5. The Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Yes, I still can't locate the book despite the search system in Borders tells me that the book is in the store).
And since I found a lot of discount coupons for certain books in Kinokuniya and MPH, I'd also consider the following:
6. Evening Is The Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan
7. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella (my favourite chick lit author)
8. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (who is also the author of The Devil Wears Prada)
9. Sex And The City by Candace Bushnell
10. A Friend Like Henry - Nuala Gardner
Maybe it's a bit obsessive but that's what happened after a long break from the book stores!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
An Ending Is The Beginning Of A New Chapter
The final trip on RapidPenang bus to go back home marks the end of my industrial training (Latihan Industri, or LI in short) for 6 weeks as required in my course. I couldn’t help but to feel relieve that everything went well after days of waking up early, traveling, running tests and finally to return home for report typing.
The part which is the most exhausting is the report writing part. After nights (especially this week, in a roll) of reading, report-typing, flow chart-constructing, re-reading and editing, finally the completed report was printed and bound. This process wouldn’t be so exhausting if the printer in my house AND in Seberang Jaya Hospital didn’t break down at the same time.
I went to submit my report at Seberang Jaya Hospital and Bukit Mertajam Hospital this morning. Thanks to RapidPengang bus, I managed to finish all these in 3 hours time. Well, I always hear a lot of Penangite passengers still aren’t satisfied with the public transport here, which includes RapidPenang. Not that I want to defend RapidPenang because those bad experiences the former faced might be true. It’s just that I have never encountered them myself, not that I can remember. OK, except the time I went to Queensbay Mall in Penang Island. Maybe due to lack of demand, there is very limited number of bus going there directly.
OK, let’s go back to the industrial training experience. Honestly, I think HBM has a friendlier working environment than HSJ. Maybe because the latter has more work loads, that’s why they don’t have the time to sit around and do some team-bonding stuff. However, all the personnels working in both labs are nice and pleasant people. I have definitely learnt a lot in Microbiology Lab in HSJ, but not much in Histopathology Lab because we only receive specimens and directly refer all out to Penang General Hospital. Nonetheless, I think it’s good for me because I need time to complete my report and hand in to HSJ, HBM and UKM as requested. Heck, some of my friends don’t have to hand in report to so many parties, and definitely not immediately on the last day of LI.
I’ve re-learnt a lot of principles and tests, manned a number of machines (I’m a technophobe, by the way), and have my share of record-keeping experience. Oh, I’ve been suspecting that HSJ purposely leave a lot of records for 2 months to be keyed in by the attachment students there. Not that I don’t like to do this record typing work. I just don’t like to do the work which is supposed to be done ages ago. If it’s things we do when the time is here, like preparing culture media and stains when it’s running low, photostating request forms, dispatching results, or even keeping records for that very day, I don’t mind to do all these. Dealing with other people’s mess isn’t what I happy to do. Well, maybe this might happen in future, too, eh?
I’ve also seen some work place politics and hope that I can live with it when I’m working in the future. I’ve met people who are annoying though with good intention, people who love to compare work loads, people who have nothing better to do than to gossip about other people behind, people who’d leave their job behind and go for activities that interest them, people (actually it’s the USM Microbiology female attachment students) who knows nothing about basic laboratory rules, not even the tie-up-your-hair-and-no-open-toe-sandals-are allowed-in-lab rules. Sometimes Tay even wears open-toe high heels in lab! Puh-lease! *eyes rolling* You know what, this bunch of people expect to be C41 Pegawai Science (something like a manager in lab, hold a higher post than the normal lab personnels – the MLTs, who run the tests) whose job scope includes quality control, ordering stocks and validating the tests results.
Oh, not to mention for up to two years of microbiology study, the USM student who were also attached in Pathology Department (the labs) have never seen blood agar, TSI (Triple Sugar Iron, one of the media to identify bacterial species via their biochemical reaction), or maybe every test in the lab. Although it’s their own field and they should know it better than I do, I can’t blame the students because it’s not them who decide on the subjects to study. But please, as you’ve come for LI in hospital lab and known that there are still many things to learn, please be more humble and don’t have too high an expectation. Even if you are lucky to get the post (albeit immediately) after you graduated, that doesn’t mean you are sure ready for the job. You will only be respected because of the real knowledge you have, not the piece of paper you call Degree certificate.
This LI as a whole keeps reminding me of UKM. The things thought by our lecturers, especially. I don’t feel so nervous when I know I’ve learnt about something on the tests. Hence I only need to read further to know them better, that’s all. I’ve also remember how the lecturers in UKM want us to be humble, especially when working at the same bench with the MLTs. Because we actually learnt the same thing, and no doubt that they may know something a lot more in-depth than we do. With years of experience reading and interpreting the tests results, the MLTs definitely deserve our respect. It’s us who should work hard to earn ours from them.
I think that’s all I wanted to say. I’m going back KL tomorrow because I need to meet my thesis supervisor on Monday. I think I better read something before I meet her up. I was too busy (too tired after every day in the lab, actually) with the LI for the past 6 weeks. This LI has strengthened me somehow, to meet with more challenging tasks in future. Hope this experience can help me through my thesis year =)
The part which is the most exhausting is the report writing part. After nights (especially this week, in a roll) of reading, report-typing, flow chart-constructing, re-reading and editing, finally the completed report was printed and bound. This process wouldn’t be so exhausting if the printer in my house AND in Seberang Jaya Hospital didn’t break down at the same time.
I went to submit my report at Seberang Jaya Hospital and Bukit Mertajam Hospital this morning. Thanks to RapidPengang bus, I managed to finish all these in 3 hours time. Well, I always hear a lot of Penangite passengers still aren’t satisfied with the public transport here, which includes RapidPenang. Not that I want to defend RapidPenang because those bad experiences the former faced might be true. It’s just that I have never encountered them myself, not that I can remember. OK, except the time I went to Queensbay Mall in Penang Island. Maybe due to lack of demand, there is very limited number of bus going there directly.
OK, let’s go back to the industrial training experience. Honestly, I think HBM has a friendlier working environment than HSJ. Maybe because the latter has more work loads, that’s why they don’t have the time to sit around and do some team-bonding stuff. However, all the personnels working in both labs are nice and pleasant people. I have definitely learnt a lot in Microbiology Lab in HSJ, but not much in Histopathology Lab because we only receive specimens and directly refer all out to Penang General Hospital. Nonetheless, I think it’s good for me because I need time to complete my report and hand in to HSJ, HBM and UKM as requested. Heck, some of my friends don’t have to hand in report to so many parties, and definitely not immediately on the last day of LI.
I’ve re-learnt a lot of principles and tests, manned a number of machines (I’m a technophobe, by the way), and have my share of record-keeping experience. Oh, I’ve been suspecting that HSJ purposely leave a lot of records for 2 months to be keyed in by the attachment students there. Not that I don’t like to do this record typing work. I just don’t like to do the work which is supposed to be done ages ago. If it’s things we do when the time is here, like preparing culture media and stains when it’s running low, photostating request forms, dispatching results, or even keeping records for that very day, I don’t mind to do all these. Dealing with other people’s mess isn’t what I happy to do. Well, maybe this might happen in future, too, eh?
I’ve also seen some work place politics and hope that I can live with it when I’m working in the future. I’ve met people who are annoying though with good intention, people who love to compare work loads, people who have nothing better to do than to gossip about other people behind, people who’d leave their job behind and go for activities that interest them, people (actually it’s the USM Microbiology female attachment students) who knows nothing about basic laboratory rules, not even the tie-up-your-hair-and-no-open-toe-sandals-are allowed-in-lab rules. Sometimes Tay even wears open-toe high heels in lab! Puh-lease! *eyes rolling* You know what, this bunch of people expect to be C41 Pegawai Science (something like a manager in lab, hold a higher post than the normal lab personnels – the MLTs, who run the tests) whose job scope includes quality control, ordering stocks and validating the tests results.
Oh, not to mention for up to two years of microbiology study, the USM student who were also attached in Pathology Department (the labs) have never seen blood agar, TSI (Triple Sugar Iron, one of the media to identify bacterial species via their biochemical reaction), or maybe every test in the lab. Although it’s their own field and they should know it better than I do, I can’t blame the students because it’s not them who decide on the subjects to study. But please, as you’ve come for LI in hospital lab and known that there are still many things to learn, please be more humble and don’t have too high an expectation. Even if you are lucky to get the post (albeit immediately) after you graduated, that doesn’t mean you are sure ready for the job. You will only be respected because of the real knowledge you have, not the piece of paper you call Degree certificate.
This LI as a whole keeps reminding me of UKM. The things thought by our lecturers, especially. I don’t feel so nervous when I know I’ve learnt about something on the tests. Hence I only need to read further to know them better, that’s all. I’ve also remember how the lecturers in UKM want us to be humble, especially when working at the same bench with the MLTs. Because we actually learnt the same thing, and no doubt that they may know something a lot more in-depth than we do. With years of experience reading and interpreting the tests results, the MLTs definitely deserve our respect. It’s us who should work hard to earn ours from them.
I think that’s all I wanted to say. I’m going back KL tomorrow because I need to meet my thesis supervisor on Monday. I think I better read something before I meet her up. I was too busy (too tired after every day in the lab, actually) with the LI for the past 6 weeks. This LI has strengthened me somehow, to meet with more challenging tasks in future. Hope this experience can help me through my thesis year =)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sometimes you had have too many things to share because of the long duration you haven't been blogging, you don't know how to talk about them all anymore!
I am very busy with me industrial training lately, and every evening as I drag my tired body back home, all I wanted to do is bath, dinner and Friends (Scrubs, if I got the chance), check mails then sleep. And I do just that. Reports will be done when I'm not THAT tired, like, during weekends.
Industrial training in Seberang Jaya Hospital is alright, in fact, quite fun, because I've got to know a couple of other attachment students from PTPL. Thanks for the good memories, friends (Yes, I'm talking to Leen, Ain, Suraya, and last but not least, dear Non!). Not to be forgotten is Sharon who's kind enough to give me a ride to and fro hospital =) You're the angel God sends to save me, you know ;-)
All right, till here this time. I'm really exhausted, but contented at the same time :-)
I am very busy with me industrial training lately, and every evening as I drag my tired body back home, all I wanted to do is bath, dinner and Friends (Scrubs, if I got the chance), check mails then sleep. And I do just that. Reports will be done when I'm not THAT tired, like, during weekends.
Industrial training in Seberang Jaya Hospital is alright, in fact, quite fun, because I've got to know a couple of other attachment students from PTPL. Thanks for the good memories, friends (Yes, I'm talking to Leen, Ain, Suraya, and last but not least, dear Non!). Not to be forgotten is Sharon who's kind enough to give me a ride to and fro hospital =) You're the angel God sends to save me, you know ;-)
All right, till here this time. I'm really exhausted, but contented at the same time :-)
Friday, June 06, 2008
Urine Pregnancy Test – POSITIVE!
*Gasp*
Gosh! If this happened to me currently, I’ll get myself killed by my mum in no time. But it’s equally complicated when this happened to a 40-year-old woman.
The Indian woman read the result word by word, then stared at it blankly for a moment, then walked out without an outrageous facial expression.
I observed her response behind the window in the lab I’m now posted – Biochemistry lab. I don’t know what’s going on inside her mind, but it is definitely nothing to be happy about for whatever reason, for she didn’t show any positive response.
With oil prices hiking and everything which hence follows, I guess I can understand how life can be more difficult when one has another child to raise.
***
“How is it? Is the level normalized now? Has it decreased?”
An anxious father asked without reading the result for serum bilirubin level of his newborn. Well, the digits on the thin sheet of paper don’t make any sense to him anyway. Yet I can feel his anxiety for his jaundiced, one-week-old baby.
The serum bilirubin level had been fluctuating since few days ago. Some of the time I even run the test twice to double check the result I obtained. I’m not suppose to explain to the patients of the condition or give any form of consultation. Patients should refer back to their respective doctors for these.
However, every time when I see the fathers’ faces receiving the report from me and anxiously reading it like reading their academic result slips, I felt empathy for them. They could be a first-time father, or maybe a husband to a 40-year-old woman who has just given birth to an underweight baby. From them, I can feel the whole family’s emotion for the baby’s health condition – concern.
As a father, they wish their baby to be healthy. They wish what doctor say about newborn-having-jaundice-for-the-first-few-days-of-life-is-normal is true, and that very day should be the last day of the “few days”. Some of them saw the level was dropping and mumbled “Ah, it’s getting better…”. I could only smile politely at them, because I know very well that having a 205 μmol/L of serum bilirubin is way too much from the normal level which is 17 μmol/L.
It reminds me of how our parents love us so much that they always wish we have the best things – the best education, the best piano teacher, the best baseball bat, and most importantly, the pinkest stage of health. When parents get older, we should always still wish them the same – the best doctors, the best nurses, the best medication and treatment (if we can afford it), and most importantly, the best attitude and greatest love from us as their children.
Gosh! If this happened to me currently, I’ll get myself killed by my mum in no time. But it’s equally complicated when this happened to a 40-year-old woman.
The Indian woman read the result word by word, then stared at it blankly for a moment, then walked out without an outrageous facial expression.
I observed her response behind the window in the lab I’m now posted – Biochemistry lab. I don’t know what’s going on inside her mind, but it is definitely nothing to be happy about for whatever reason, for she didn’t show any positive response.
With oil prices hiking and everything which hence follows, I guess I can understand how life can be more difficult when one has another child to raise.
***
“How is it? Is the level normalized now? Has it decreased?”
An anxious father asked without reading the result for serum bilirubin level of his newborn. Well, the digits on the thin sheet of paper don’t make any sense to him anyway. Yet I can feel his anxiety for his jaundiced, one-week-old baby.
The serum bilirubin level had been fluctuating since few days ago. Some of the time I even run the test twice to double check the result I obtained. I’m not suppose to explain to the patients of the condition or give any form of consultation. Patients should refer back to their respective doctors for these.
However, every time when I see the fathers’ faces receiving the report from me and anxiously reading it like reading their academic result slips, I felt empathy for them. They could be a first-time father, or maybe a husband to a 40-year-old woman who has just given birth to an underweight baby. From them, I can feel the whole family’s emotion for the baby’s health condition – concern.
As a father, they wish their baby to be healthy. They wish what doctor say about newborn-having-jaundice-for-the-first-few-days-of-life-is-normal is true, and that very day should be the last day of the “few days”. Some of them saw the level was dropping and mumbled “Ah, it’s getting better…”. I could only smile politely at them, because I know very well that having a 205 μmol/L of serum bilirubin is way too much from the normal level which is 17 μmol/L.
It reminds me of how our parents love us so much that they always wish we have the best things – the best education, the best piano teacher, the best baseball bat, and most importantly, the pinkest stage of health. When parents get older, we should always still wish them the same – the best doctors, the best nurses, the best medication and treatment (if we can afford it), and most importantly, the best attitude and greatest love from us as their children.
My Greatest Weakness?
I did a several psychological tests on Facebook for fun but I found this particular one is quite shockingly true. My greatest weakness shall be:
Your Heart:
You're an overall strong person who has very few fears. People may even see you as very fierce, but your weakness is your heart. Unfortunately, this shows up at inopportune times, such as in a crowded movie theater during a touching scene or at your child's graduation ceremony. You cry at weddings, funerals, baptisms, birthdays, and yes, even at telephone company commercials. If you're a woman, this is overlooked. If you're a man, other men don't understand, but who cares? Women love it!
Maybe I'll post up other results later. You guys are the one to decide if it's truely reflecting me =)
Your Heart:
You're an overall strong person who has very few fears. People may even see you as very fierce, but your weakness is your heart. Unfortunately, this shows up at inopportune times, such as in a crowded movie theater during a touching scene or at your child's graduation ceremony. You cry at weddings, funerals, baptisms, birthdays, and yes, even at telephone company commercials. If you're a woman, this is overlooked. If you're a man, other men don't understand, but who cares? Women love it!
Maybe I'll post up other results later. You guys are the one to decide if it's truely reflecting me =)
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