Tiffany

I had never went on a trip with friends, alone with no adults, out of the city. I know I'm 19, but parents nowadays often worried on their kids despite their age because of the change in lifestyle and era that seems to be inclining towards negativity.

Anyway, we planned a trip together to Pulau Redang, Terengganu. I admit the trip wouldn't be as fruitful if you don't have any friends or relatives that's willing to fetch you around Kuala Terengganu while waiting for the jetty to the island. Vanessa's parents were from Kuala Terengganu and her father was really friendly and willing to fetch us around the town. I thought he was working because we went on a Thursday morning, but he fetched us for some good breakfast and then, he left us at the town for us to explore ourselves, with Vanessa's leads.

Kuala Terengganu town was near Syahbandar Jetty (not exactly super near but it's walking distance), and there are a number of lorongs (small alleys) with wall arts and designs. It's pretty interesting and we had some group shots there.

Can't believe I'm so rajin to type all these things and post. Finals got me like, anything is good as long as it isn't about studying. So anyway, here is a summary of Sem 2. Just like my previous sem, I took up the same 4 subjects.

Basically, sem 2 is like, 5 times harder than sem 1 and I'm not kidding. Okay, maybe a little. Maybe I got lazier but anyway, sem 2 is tough.

Sem 2

English: English had changed a lot compared to sem 1. When sem 1 is all about analyzing, double that in Sem 2. Sem 1 has some articles to read and we had to write an essay about it; Sem 2 you gotta double that stack of article into a novel, 2 movies, 1 long text and 1 stack of chapters from a book. Of course, no foundation in this world is designed to kill students or else how are private universities going to earn money?

The first few months of English class will be concentrated on analyzing and understanding the study materials like what I'd just typed up there to write an essay based on a prompt. I'm not sure whether Monash will change their format or not, but for my year we study about the theme "Justice/Injustice".  The essay you got to write has formats too, and it will take you only 2 days to finish, unlike sem 1 where you have 3 days.

There are 2 core materials & 3 other materials to support your stand when it comes to writing the essay:

(1) The Kite Runner; Core material. It's a novel and I actually kinda like the story. Unpopular opinion here, but honestly if you read this novel in a different angle, let's say you treat it like a novel you read to pass time on a Sunday evening, heck. This story portrays a superb scene of what's happening in Afghanistan and the story between a dominant race and his slave. Trust me, I'm not really thaaat emotional kind of person, but this story is potential. Don't watch the movie tho. Read the novel as soon as you got it during the holidays because when Sem 2 starts, investing time to finish a thick novel during a series of busy classes will be the last thing on your list.

(2) 42; Core material. Yes, that's the title of the movie. The first time I watched the movie in class (yes, we will be watching movies in class), it was pretty wow effect. Then the next few times I watched right, I kinda realized the movie didn't actually show what really did happened in history. It's based on a real story in America about breaking the barriers between the blacks and whites in baseball. Download the movie and subtitles to assist your understanding.

(3) Rabbit - Proof Fence; Other materials. There's isn't any rabbits in the movie, mind you. I was expecting big, chubby brown rodents hopping around but I was definitely disappointed to the core. Anyway, this is based on a real story too, in Australia years ago where the Aboriginals are greatly suppressed by the whites. Here we can understand the ideas of both sides, the Aboriginals and the whites, of the reason of the happening of the Lost Generation. This movie don't really have great actors in it so it's normal to complain about boredom but obviously this isn't the point here. Likewise, download the subtitles and watch the movie at night when you have insomnia.

(4) The Apology Speech; Other materials. This is a speech by Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, apologozing to the Aboriginals on behalf of the previous generations of politicians regarding their harsh treatment on the minorities. Take a read, it's rather long. Either way, I did not use this material AT ALL in my entire sem 2 because, I have no idea how to use this to support my points. Haha.

(5) Half the Sky; Other materials. This one is disturbing. It's based on reality and everything that is written are about the loss of woman rights. Based in Cambodia, Congo, India, ladies of all ages were surpressed in any way possible. When religious laws used to protect the chastity of women are perverted into disrespecting females. This is really heartbreaking and it will get you thinking.

After reading all that and understanding them, you have to write an essay answering a prompt just like sem 1, but with more evidence to support your ideas. Writing the essay is not easy at all, you don't need to memorize everything, you just got to understand the stories then you can do it.

Not to forget, there will also be a report followed by a presentation. For this round, I did "Does Cosmetic Surgery bring Negative Impacts to Teenagers". Just like my previous post, practice and you will make it. My lecturer was Ms Ashley and she is wonderful :) English lecturers for Sem 2 are all quite nice, of course there will be a difference in preference of the way they teach but overall they are okay.

Mathematics: Unit 2 of Maths is wayyyyyy easier than Sem 1. You gonna need your graphic calculator a lot, there are lots of calculations and concepts to understand. But at least it doesn't require memorizing. The hardest part of this subject is Combination and Permutation. The topics we learnt are closely related to Form 5 Add Maths, but deeper of course. Recommended lecturer: Ms Jessey. She is the most sarcastic, fun to be with kind of lecturer and probably the most sadistic person I've ever met. There are other lecturers too and they are good as well, so getting either one is great. There isn't much to compare.

We have a research project which is a group project too. And yes, a good team mates helps a lot. For this project we need to get surveys in simple forms, and it's all about statistics.

Economics: When I thought I had moved on with Ms Pratiba, she came back teaching for Sem 2. But she was pretty okay compared to previous sem. Economics unit 2 is all about macroeconomics, and brace yourself, it's tough. You need to be able to relate from one concept to the other concept, using the concept of Unit 1. If you need to read the sentence a few times, that's what gonna happen when you are studying Econs Unit 2. It's confusing, but trust me when you managed to understand one small subtopic, you can mostly get the entire topic. And you have to make sure you understand the first chapter before going to the second, because they are ALL RELATED. It's not a killer subject I would say, it's just hard to understand. Probably easier to understand women but still hard but people still get married happily so it's possible to get a HD on this (i hope).

We don't have a research project this time. But we have one media commentary and one research essay. The research essay is a bit tough beecause its an open book test which means, we need to get information beforehand of Australia's economic data and statistics to answer the questions as well as the recent news. The media commentary was okay so no worries on that.

Accounting: Accounts is harder because there are more formulas and new stuffs and postings journals and different formats here and there. But still handeable. Among these 4 subjects, I would actually say that accounts is the easiest. All you need is just practice and you are the winner. We only have one accounts teacher, Ms Lai and she is literally, everything you need to learn accounts. She answers every single one of your stupid questions and dumb doubts patiently. She can explain from head to toe about why journals existed in such a way that we find it confusing to post, but her explanation will make you understand some shortcuts. She can be rather clumsy in class haha, either way I like her class even though its boring at times.

So, yeah. This kinda sums up my experience in the MUFY Foundation programme. The nice thing about it is that you can choose your own timetable, the bummer is you won't get the same classmates unless you gang up. Coming here to Sunway College and choosing MUFY alone, I just had to start making friends from scratch. It can be rather disappointing when other people already have a gang to hang out with but you don't and that's fine. This is how you learn to be independant and I actually found myself happier that way. I recommend you to find positive friends too, there are loads of rich kids that cares 90% of themselves only and they can ridicule you on the choices you make. You don't need this kind of negativty in life, move on. Make new friends.

Enjoy your foundation year :)

I'm a MUFY student, just done with my Sem 2 finals (hopefully no sem 3) today. Its probably a rush for me to update my blog about this but seriously, I have nothing to do now since I'm done with the exams. Let me make things clear first: I'm a July intake student who takes English, Mathematics, Economics and Accounting for both two semesters.

So if you guys saw my latest Instagram post, you guys might probably wonder how I took the photo?

Its kinda obvious actually, I took some photos of the procedures tho. But let me tell you this, this shot was a rather failure in my eyes haha

Procedures:
1. Draw a pair of eyes. Try to make it even ahahhaha it doesnt have to be perfect

2. I tried to use gel pens to make those crying tears effect. Like, you know when girls with mascara cries, there are like those black tears trails rolling down their cheeks? Yeah, I was trying to make the effect, but I tried a few times. That also means drawing a pair of eyes a few times.

3. Add a few drops of water on the corner of the eyes because that's where your tears are formed, right. Then, try your best to make the trail.

4. Since it was raining, I took the chance to make the window as advantage. So that its like, crying. Like. Idk how to say ._.

5. Take the shot and with some edits, tahda!

As Malaysians, I'm sure many of us are aware of the recent news regarding a MARA scholar who was jailed after having amount almost 30, 000 child pornography in his possession. A scholar who was studying in London, carrying the name and money of Malaysia. Recently, in an "unofficial" discussion by the MARA council members announced that this scholar should be given a second chance after he had served his sentence.

No, seriously I have no idea that I'm going to get this scholarship. I'm quite a low confident person actually, I'm not good in many aspects compared to others, for example my roommate and housemates. They are Maybank Scholars and Sponsors as well. But we all went through the same hardship.

So, anyway, I decided to write this post because of the other Maybank scholars from my year. It started from Sabrina, then Farida... and hopefully the trend ends here in this blog post ahaha. Can't believe I'm doing this two weeks before finals but okay, nvm.

How I got Maybank Scholarship
When I got my SPM slip results, I was super shocked. I got 8A+, 2A. Just one more A+ to getting a bursary scholarship. But I wasn't aiming that because I knew academics has never been my strong point since young, and getting these much of A+ seems a lot to me. Even my parents accused me for cheating in SPM because I had NEVER gotten so many As in my study life. Okay, the day I got my results is the day I started applying for every single scholarships online.

Clarification: I'm not from a wealthy family, but neither am I poor. My family lived in a condition where everything is just in the right amount. Also, as general as this may get, Chinese parents would want their child to achieve high standards occupation, for example doctor, lawyer, engineer, architecture, you know lah. My parents wanted me to be a pharmacist, which at first I was okay with the idea. Until I woke up one day and realized that being a pharmacist would mean that I will have to get up from bed every morning and distribute pills and medicines as ordered by the doctor to patients in a 10ft x 10 ft room. I don't want this, man. I can't do this.

Of course there isn't any scholarships that offers medical courses (maybe there are but the quantities are pretty small). Then, I told my parents that I wanted business. Also, as general as this may get, most parents would disagree because come on, a business degree? Everyone can do business without having a business degree. And this sort of degree isn't wanted in the society.

I have no idea how to refute this argument but my parents have a point too.

'Even if I work hard?" I told my parents but they just rolled their eyes and my mom said that if I can get a scholarship to study business, then they will give in. Or else I will be going for matrikulasi and fight my chances to a pharmacy course.

And the challenge is on! I love challenges (even though I knew my chances are limited with competition so huge..T.T)

Ranging from SimeDarby to Felda to some small scholarships... I don't care. I only cared about applying for all these scholarships and I got motivated each and every day. Why? Because there are a lot of news reporting the increase in 9A+ in Form 5 students, scholars here and there, students getting courses they want...etc. The competition was tough.

So tough, that I didn't get any email replies after applying the scholarships. Felda called me up and I failed their group interview. I tried to keep positive because that time it was only April if not mistaken. I failed the Asasi Pintar assessment because I wasn't good in patterns and logical questions. But then one month later, I thought that was my last chance for a scholarship.

I wasn't good enough. Not in koko. Not in studies. I have two people I knew that had already gotten the Petronas scholarship. I admit, I was sad and moody and grumpy like nobody's business.

Until one morning, I did my usual routine of checking my email inbox and tahda. An email from Maybank for a online assessment. Yeah! Well, I had actually posted it in my blog before regarding this and it was written like a year ago so please please! Forgive me if I had written it in a rather childish way, I just hope you guys can learn a thing or two from there <3 haha

Maybank Foundation Interview Experience => http://callmetiffany.blogspot.com/2014/04/maybank-foundation-interview-experience.html?showComment=1428338966763#c2418166421148151092

Maybank Foundation Round 3 => http://callmetiffany.blogspot.com/2014/05/maybank-foundation-scholarship-round-3.html?showComment=1430112027600#c8176047448110867786

Check out the comment sections for what I had replied to the previous esquires :)

And if you are a Maybank Scholar too and by any chance would like to thank me (ahhahaha im just kidding please dont thank me okay Im helping you guys out for the fun of it) do add me on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter.

I would humbly want to be friends with you *bows 90 degree*.

My FB profile page: https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyPeiEr
My Twitter: @tiffanypeier
My Instagram: @tiffanypeier

So I saw this photo on both Facebook and 9gag and I think its rather motivating.

You are probably frowning right now like, what?! But the title said 'Reasons people gave up' or something like that.

Exactly that is why its motivating. Because often I met people giving up simply because 'it was too hard for me'. They don't realize the real reason they actually gave up.

So, with this picture, reading through the reasons shown may bring you some deja vu. Some of the reasons are pretty obvious and some are just familiar to the happenings around you.

Personally, I find the reason 'thinking your problems are unique' quite relatable. Often I gave up over small, little things like homeworks just because I think my problems are 'unique'. For example, I suck terribly (no exaggeration) in maths, and I gave up on maths homeworks easily just because I have no maths genes in me. My problem is pretty unique, huh?

In reality, no. There are billions of people on planet Earth so no, okay. Your problems aint unique unless you are the first black president of America who have to suffer criticisms like 'Thanks Obama' or black racism complains because there is only one black president in America. Okay, so mot having maths gene sucks, because even going shopping with all the discounts hanging around the shops will not make you excited but confused with the actual price of the product you want to buy.

Its all about whether you want to do it or not. Just as the saying goes, 'if there is a will, there is a way'. I hated it when I asked people why they gave up on something and they told me, 'because I can't, okay?' I heard excuses like, 'Who cares anyway?' Or 'I'm tired and I want to sleep so all these shits are just a bother'.

Okay, maybe giving up on something you don't like to do, like homeworks can be acceptable in some ways because it stresses you up and all you want is to give up.

But in my opinion, that's kinda bullshit. Yeah, I know everyone has their own opinion but reading this is an opinion-based blog post. I may not have the best mentality or mindset or attitude in writing this sort of thing but its just what I thought of. I agree to be disagree :)

Anyway, I'm just a stupid girl who sucks in academic and books and I know that well. So, do I give up as a student? Do I waste my time, energy and money in college, hanging out with those rich kids that often gets on my nerves with their negative mindsets (I'm not saying ALL the rich kids, okay, please don't feel offended), etc. Many times I want to give up in college (well, life basically) but no, I got to be determine and fight back my weakness.

It takes lots of mental energy and control to do so, but why would I want to trouble myself so hard since I'm a talentless student in studies? Why did I stay up late till 2am during Fridays and weekends studying? 

The reason is simple:

Because I want to.

I want to get good results. I want to be better. I want to learn. To gain knowledge.

There are so many people the same age as me, who are smarter than me. There are many kids who are rich and expenses for failing subjects will not be a bother to them. These people are already a few steps ahead of me in life thanks to their fortunate environment. I'm not rich, but I'm not poor, which I'm grateful because it had trained me to make the besr out of everything with the limited resources. I'm not a smart kid. Not the type that can bury my head in stacks of books and papers.

Work for it. That's all I can say. You want to be good? You work. You don't give up just because 'its hard' or 'you dont understand my life' kind of excuses. You only wishes it was easy, nothing in life is easy. Even breathing is hard when you are constantly feeling like you are drowning. Yes, I dont understand your life at all because I had never walk in your shoes. But one thing for sure, giving up on something with some lame 'reasons' is just cheating yourself. You told yourself beautiful excuses as lies to make yourself feel better after giving up.

Of course there are certain circumstances or situation that left you no choice but to give up but that isn't the context right now.

Sometimes, the biggest decision we have to make in life is either to walk away or to not give up.

I probably had trailed off from my main point of this picture but that's fine. Before you sleep tonight, just give this a thought. Count how many things you have given up or want to give up. Was it because of the reasons stated above? If no, was it some excuses that was so lame, it didn't even deserve to be in this picture?

Quit thinking in your comfort zone or in that square box in your head. No one grows in a confined area or a static position.

Have a good night :)