Final Entry

This is my "last" entry that will wrap up the past 3 years of my university life.

It was slightly short of 3 years ago when I first received news I've gotten USM, Penang and 'English Language & Literature Studies' (ELLS) as the course I was destined to take.
I was rather sceptical and yet excited at that time.
Sceptical because I've not heard news about USM before and that doubted my integrity for this unheard of northern university.
Excited because the very first person who knew about it was my childhood friend, Shelby. Call it coincidence, fate or destiny, but right after I checked the posting and course, she checked hers and lo and behold~ Not only did we end up in the same university but we also ended up as coursemates!
And that marked my very first step into the following 3 years of what I would regard as, as of now, the best years of my life.

* University: University Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.

Having been here for 3 years, I've definitely experienced both its' nice and not so nice path.
Without a doubt, I'd say USM has got one of the most strategic location amongst other government universities in Malaysia. Compared to many other universities around, USM has got everything you need around it. You want MacD's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Chinese/Indian/Malay/vegetarian food, cyber cafe, stationery shops and of course shopping malls. We've got it all here.
Its landscape is another breathtaking feature to be bragged about. There are several scenic and serene spot to catch the sunrise as well as the sunset.

The dislikes?
One thing is for sure - I simply can't stand the security guards in USM.
Most of them, not all, are inconsiderate and worst of all very rude and lack the ability to communicate in a more friendly approach. Of course, I've encountered with several really nice Pak guard but somehow my encounter with not so nice ones are more predominant.

* Course: English Language & Literature Studies

My course is rumoured to be one of the most relaxing and stress-free course in USM...
It's true.
I can attest to that... Hehe.
I'm not saying it's easy just cause I'm from an English speaking background but also because of the course outline.
Most courses need to go through industrial training/practical training, well we don't.
In the final year of most courses, final year projects are instilled in the course outline, if not thesis or some sort of a heavy assignment is given... Well, we don't do those stuff.
We do what we do for the past three years.
Coursework and exams... coursework and exams... coursework and exams...
It's both good and bad I guess... Can be quite tedious sometimes.
But that's not the best part of my course.
The best part of it all is that we're a small bunch... in total, 28 of us.
That makes us a very close-knitted group.

I really love my bunch of course mates because we are all so different yet very much united. There's no racial discrimination nor segregation. Malay, Chinese, Indian, Punjabi, Iban, Bidayuh, Scottish-Chinese or Chinese-Islam, we just love each other to bits.
If my course mates and I were to open a mamak restaurant, we would name it "Muhibah".
Hehe...
Some of my course mates are going to get married this year. I'm so looking forward for their wedding! It'd be a really nice celebration as well as a reunion for all of us ;)

* People

It's never easy leaving people whom you've shared part of your life with and moving on seems to be the gloomiest phase right now.
I've met wonderful people who along the way have changed and impacted my life.
ELLS, PKA, FES and floorball are the places in which I've forged many meaningful friendships.
As much as I would love to continue keeping in touch with friends, in reality however, I know things will never be the same again. Even if you meet up with people once a year or maybe slightly more frequent than that, as time goes on people change.
Things change.
Before you know it, there's no common ground left in which we can relate to.
That's a fear I know exists in most of us who are leaving.
For now, we still have USM and the experience here to relate to but in time, we all develop new experience which in a way will replace this memory of USM.
I'm not being pessimistic but rather realistic.
Having said all that, I'll definitely try to keep in touch with as many people as I can.
I'm truly blessed by people who have crossed path with me and made a difference in my life.

* Pitfalls

There have been many downhill roads I've taken.
From trying out smoking to getting drunk...
Been there and done that (No worries, I vowed never to do those stuff).
Falling into a pit is more or less inevitable...
Getting out of the pit, however, is a different issue.
Fortunately for me, I managed to get out of it because of Him.
I always ALWAYS thank God for keeping me intact with PKA and church no matter how guilty I've felt or no matter how lost I was back then.
In retrospect, God has definitely disciplined me and shaped me into a better person (I hope) since going through those rough bumpy roads. It was not easy.
And I always tell this to my juniors, whatever crap you may be in, whatever stupid decisions you've made, never ever leave PKA and our church because that's exactly what the Devil wants you to do and the moment you decide to stop attending PKA or church because of guilt and shame, that's when you've lost the battle.
If there's one thing I've learnt about the Big Guy in the past 3 years, it'd be that He never gives up on us no matter how far or how bad we've become.


Now even as I'm still here in Penang, things just doesn't feel the same anymore.
Good friends have left.
I've gotten a new place to stay as well.
3 years of hostel life was fulfilling and it was quite poignant leaving my room for the last time.
Everything will begin from scratch again from henceforth.
The past 3 years have been so significant to me.
It has shaped and mold me to a better person (I hope).
Now that I'm finally walking through the path of adulthood, I'm sure the Big Guy will look over me and hopefully make this path as memorable as the past 3 years of my life.
Above everything else,

Thanks Dad.