All About Studies ~maybe a little of HSM3

A thought bunny jumped at the last minute...

Really... it happened to me. I've been feeling rather moody and out of sorts this week. This might be the main contributor to why I have not been updating regularly for the past few days -make that a week. If you think I'm lazy.. that might be closer to the truth than I am willing to admit.

I found that studying outside in the evening when no one is around is the best way to enjoy my biology textbook. That, and having Sakuraneko-chan playing in the background.

It's quite cool and comfy at 6 p.m. outside so it's a good time to sit on the makeshift bench outside to properly absorb the text. At least then there will be less temptations and distractions.

Did I tell you about the High School Musical on the big screen? I think not.

My mother thought it was the best out of the three. I'm inclined to agree with her. Before you ask, my mother was there as there were 7 young cousins that I had to look after. At least she took care of two of the younger ones. I get to take care of the slightly older ones. The downside of it is that I used up my savings from the money/gifts my relatives have given me to pay for their tickets. Trust me... if I hadn't made the order online for a morning screening, I wouldn't have had the early-bird discount.

On another stressing news; I am currently going on a scholarship/sponsorship hunting spree. I'm open to options. I'm not averse to taking up IB diploma programme if I'm unable to secure CAL A-Levels. STPM is the last resort as is Matriculation.

Hence, I am signing out now so that I may concentrate on swallowing my History textbook.

Ciao.

Enneagram Test

Your result for The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test...

8 - the Asserter

Thanks for taking the test !

you chose AY - your Enneagram type is EIGHT (aka "The Challenger").

"I must be strong"

Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• Stand up for yourself... and me.



• Be confident, strong, and direct.



• Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.



• Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender,
  vulnerable side.



• Give me space to be alone.



• Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.



• I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's
  a personal attack.



• When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just
  the way I am.

What I Like About Being a EIGHT

• being independent and self-reliant



• being able to take charge and meet challenges head on



• being courageous, straightforward, and honest



• getting all the enjoyment I can out of life



• supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me



• upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a EIGHT

• overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to



• being restless and impatient with others' incompetence



• sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
  



• never forgetting injuries or injustices



• putting too much pressure on myself



• getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when
  things don't go right

EIGHTs as Children Often

• are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit



• are sometimes loners



• seize control so they won't be controlled



• fugure out others' weaknesses



• attack verbally or physically when provoked



• take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

EIGHTs as Parents

• are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted



• are sometimes overprotective



• can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy

Discover the 9 Types of People

Harper
SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You liked the test?

so S P R E A D I T ! tell everyone!!!
(use Quick-Paste below)

you wanna know MORE?

so check out, what Google found
about your type...

or do you prefer to

---

You are not completely happy with the result?!

You chose AY

Would you rather have chosen:

BY (FOUR)

CY (SIX)

AX (SEVEN)

AZ (THREE)

Take The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test at HelloQuizzy

Again and again and again...

Will it ever end...

Mom's at it again. She's been debt-ridden all year. Ever since dad quit his job so suddenly and dropped the bombshell on us -unprepared, by the way, we've had to listen to mom's complaints and woes.

Today is one of those days. I had hoped we would have a happy family after we moved to a new place, you know, start anew. It doesn't seem to be so. I offered to work part-time at the local pharmacy, doing clerical work or cashier but I'm not allowed. I'm of age, ya know. The legal age to work here is around 17 or 18.

Now she's lecturing my dad and he, as usual is turning a deaf ear. Only that I hoped he would at least listen and do something about it.

My parents keep on telling me about one another, complaining about each other. My ears are getting itchy. I know I shouldn't involve myself with their business but they dragged me into this problems. What can I do but listen and sometimes despair? Even my school cousellor had noticed by change of attitude and sullenness. Am I that obvious?

Let me go now and mope for all I care.

Graduation Day

Farewell...

This is dedicated to my fellow Form 5's of SMK Damansara Utama. Remember that we sang this as our graduation song this morning to the melody played by the school orchestra? Lots of tears and hugs...


And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of the night in June
I Didn't know much of love, but it came too soon
And There was me and you, and then it got real blue
Stay at home talkin' on the telephone and
We would get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

Chorus:
As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change, from whatever
We will still be, friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will that joke still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

Repeat chorus

La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there? Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

Repeat chorus 3x

Vitamin C - Graduation Song (Friends Forever)

This morning, I wore my crisp white shirt and black dress pants. I seriously considered wearing my pink 'baju kurung' which was incidentally the same colour of the dress shirt my beau decided to wear this morning with his red tie. I should've worm the pink 'baju kurung'. We'd match then.

I arrived at school at around 7.15 am. When we arrived, everyone was getting ready. Some girls were in the toilet putting final touches before the ceremony, me included. I wasn't about going to put any mascara or the sort. Just to emphasize my lip balm -succulent taste, by the way.

When I got to the assembly area, people were already putting on their robes. I quickly put away my bag and went around asking friends for safety pins to spare. I managed to put on my robe and class code with a little bit of help.

Even before the ceremony, people were already starting to take pictures. Our teachers had to tell us to sit down and calm down. Heh, I promptly did as told anyway.

The whole ceremony was short and sweet. I particularly liked the Head Prefect's speech. Funny, bittersweet, cute, short, nice and all the right stuff. Even the Senior Principal's address was not bad. Then we all received our scrolls (Believe me when I say funny things happened during this time.. This was followed by awards for 100% attendence and best student for each course (Science, Arts/Social Science).

After that, we sang the graduation song followed by Peterpan's Mungkin Nanti to the melody played by the school orchestra. Then we sang the school anthem. I have never heard my fellow form 5 students sing that loud since form 1. I guess we all have already missed normal school life and that the song has sentimental value.

Finally, the ceremony ended. Photographs were taken and tears were shed. I hugged some of my teachers. Took pictured with them. I cried when I hugged my former Malay Language teacher, Pn Zaiton. I guess I love my teachers, especially her, more than I thought.

After that, we went for some small feast. Then the picture-taking frenzy continued after we had returned our robes.

At around 12.30 pm, my dad arrived and I got home.

Well... that's about it! The written and compressed version of Graduation Day. I hope that we could all stay in touch and never lose sight of the friendship and good times we have shared. Finally, good luck and all the best to my fellow DUrians! Let's live up to our reputation and give stellar academic performance.

Just about tertiary education

Life can bring surprisingly good spring rolls...

This morning, my class was one of the chosen classes to go on a trip to Kelana Jaya for the Education fair. Needless to say, it was fun.

In fact, I met my primary school teacher whom I greatly admire. We were quite close. She was the teacher advisor when I was president of the Environmental Club in Primary 6. We had a chat about our current doings and future prospects as well as my performance in school (that was her part. I was quite embarrassed to tell her.)

Anyway, I went through a lot of colleges and local as well as international institutions. Let's put it this way, I'm confident that I want to major in English and Linguistics and minor in other languages. In order to do that, I would have to pursue a Foundation in Arts or A-Levels or equivalent. Quite a huge leap from the current Science subjects I'm currently taking right now.

After going through so many institutions, I finally narrowed it down to UCSI, Curtin and New Zealand Universities. UCSI offers English and Communication degree (3 years) after undertaking a Foundation in Arts (1 year) at any UCSI campus which is locally situated. Curtin is in Australia. I'm not so sure about going to Australia to further my studies ... it all depends on whether I will be financially able or not. As for New Zealand universities, I could probably snag a scholarship if I am able to ace all of the subjects I am currently taking in SPM (10 subjects). Foundation studies is in New Zealand, but I could take pre-U courses instead (i.e. SAM, A-Levels) if I wanted to.

If that doesn't work out, I might just be able to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering at UNITEN (Universiti Tenaga). If I get very good results, I should be able to secure a scholarship from Tenaga Nasional in some form. When that happens, less financial burden would be placed on my parents. Besides, when I'm a graduat of UNITEN, I would get an opportunity to work with Tenaga Nasional Bhd. or with UNITEN itself.

On another note, I was thinking of setting up an account with SSPN just in case I need to apply for a study loan. I need to go to BSN and apply. An RM 500 minimum savings is a must.

Besides that, I was also thinking of buying a PIN number from my school counsellor to apply for diploma programs after SPM. This is just for back-up purposes only. We can never be too careful.

Now, without futher ado, I shall excuse myself for a long-needed rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is Graduation Day! I'm graduating High School! I can't believe it's already been five years since Primary 6.

Later, I need to drop by the pharmacy to buy things as well as something for my cat's eye.

Ciao.

Eid

There's always a first time...

This year, we celebrated the first day of Eid at home. Believe me, it's very boring. We ended up sleeping by the time it was three in the afternoon.

My family and I made for my mom's hometown in Muar, Johor the next day. My grandmother didn't show it but secretly, I think she was quite glad we visited her. Anyway, we were ensured a full and tiring schedule. Visiting relatives after a year of estrangement would surely spark lengthy conversations.

In the meantime, my aunt went to a wedding which turned into a funeral when the young lady who was supposed to get married died instead. Turns out, she had a hole in her heart which went undetected.

The day after, I visited my grandma's cousin. She's part Chinese and I saw a few newspapers in the language within the compound. Did I mention that the husband sells used cars. Some of them are cool and awesome.

We also visited my aunt' mother. She suffered from stroke so she had been unable to take care of herself. She cried when she saw so many people visiting her.

Then at around 8pm, after a meal of 'bee hoon sup', we left for home. My grandmother looked at me and asked, 'Are you really going home so soon?'. I was rendered speechless. Really.. I didn't know how to respond to that. Of course, it was entirely up to my parents. I looked at her apologetically and whispered a yes.

We arrived home at around 11pm. Then we received news that one of my uncle's mother-in-law had passed away. God bless her soul.

Sunday, we had an open house. Yes... eat all you can. I made shepherd's pie. My sister made brownies. My mom made asam laksa/mee rebus fusion and Nasi Lemak. I also made the highly popular sirap selaseh with kasturi lime.

None of my friends were there... I wasn't able to contact them. My sister's friends, on the other hand managed to make it. The brownies were a huge hit. So did the pie and sirap selaseh.

That night, we topped it off with a visit to our neighbour living across the street. We ate and talked all night until it was 10pm. I was so tired but my parents were still in the mood for talking. I think they thought that the children must be tired for they decided to take leave.

So that's it! Nothing special but meaningful nonetheless. Sure surprises pop in every now and then .. (i.e. death) but I still think Eid is a day to be cherished.

The next few days will be memorable...

Hurray! Friday's THE day. Graduation day. It feels melancholic but at the same time, it marks the beginning of a new journey.

I know that graduating from high school is a huge deal. Some are unfortunate to be unable to finish their secondary education. I consider myself blessed and lucky to be able to continue to further my knowledge in the fields I love and cherish.

Well, now that we've come to that... The rehearsals, robe fitting will be held tomorrow. The only things that mars all of this is the fact that my bestie is not going to the graduation ceremony. Too lazy, according to her.

Anyway, there will be a trip to Kelana Jaya this Thursday. There's this tertiary education convention with all the prestigous institutions taking part. It'll be exciting for sure. My only hope would be that the participants won't be MIA on that day. Otherwise, trip's cancelled. It's a chance of a lifetime!

As a side note, I'd like to announce that I have created a website with the sole purpose of publishing my fiction works -including school essays. You may visit http://publiclyunveiled.weebly.com to see for yourself.

To remind all blog readers, SPM (Malaysian Certificate of Education) examinations is just around the corner. In about a month or less.. to be precise, 11th of November, the SPM examinations will begin. Let us do our very best and pass with flying colours. Besides, for SMKDU student, you all have about a week excluding Friday next week off since PMR students are sitting for their public exam. So use the time wisely. I'd even go so far as to extend this advice to myself for I believe I hardly follow my own advice.

That's it for now. Ganbatte ne!