Page 6: Push and pull of Powers

Wonder why all this hustle, positions held by people without a sense of what to do.

I have been in this place, holding positions like no bodies business. I did my undergraduate in University Utara Malaysia from 2008 to 2011. a three year degree in International Affair Management, so called Diplomat. during this period I was way to busy to study, I enjoyed most of my time attending meetings and student activity planning sessions.

Other students would jolly go back during weekends and holidays, I was here in the Sintok Forest Reserve completing paper works, assigning new tasks, providing motivation session, drawing clear lines on framework of things that can be done, venues that yet to be occupied and so on and so forth. throughout this period I learned many things especially on how to manage my time, manage people, managing issues and conflicts and especially sensitive one was managing myself through the thick and thins of power struggles.

I have learned much on the last part, power struggle. In this ever evolving place of new humans, coming and going some staying because of its abundance, I saw myself an opportunist of some kind, that was always looking out for the chances and things that can be done. I made friends and foes through out this winning war i fought, some stayed to face me some left getting tired. I never had enough. I continued the struggle, each project I did had a story behind it, there was discoveries, there was a stepping stone of some kind there and here.

The period that I would never forget is my semester 4 and 5, a little bit of 6. This was the ultimate power battles, my President ship at the International Affairs Society was shrouded with controversies, little that anyone knew I never took part in any programs organised by the senior committees. I was just there knowing more people because of the accidental placement of myself in the MAS residential Hall, the same Hall that hosted the then President, Deputy and 6 of the committee members, soon I became their favorite junior that entertained them at every dinner and accompanied them to class every morning. I happened to fall in to the class of seniors, so thought my same semester students. It was funny but I never had the time to clarify.

The fires erupted when some of the "Juniors", my batch students that felt the senior are over staying their invitation to form the government. Little that I know it was time for them to give up and hold election. honestly everyone was busy with their thing. Seniors were tangled in assignments and final projects. Then came the news when the then president  had an Idea to just suggest and appoint through his own discretion. Mechanism of democracy forgotten and Authoritarianism prevailed over this sleeping society. 

The adviser of the society, one of the feared lecturers of the faculty, was drawn in to the battle, less that she cared what was to happen to the sleeping society, she appointed me. suddenly and shockingly I was in trouble.  Not so really the years as Residential Hall Committee member and Student Elect Committee working member helped me allot. I was very quick in planning programs and events that would place other societies in mishap and jealousy if I may. 

Ending one power struggle I was facing Internal stress in the society, the new committee I formed was made up of people who talked more than they did. It was more of a team of ducks. The problem was, the ducks wouldn't even follow. attendance at the meetings were scarce, working papers never reached places they intended, making it worse there was a new camp in the committee that planned to take over, which I had to counter by constant meetings and discussion with adviser (the Veto holder of my seat in power).

Pushing through in to semester 5, I met a group of new students, semester 1 that were eager and fast in doing projects. These students formed my sub committee, a team that helped me out n the projects that I placed in par, I passed the paper work and they executed it. In total I executed more projects then the combined number of project of the other 6 societies in the academic collage. I was tired, but it was worth it.

My academic grades were good, I made it through well, as planned. I never regretted a single day of that days. I still love looking at the pictures. well I don't have any one else to fight over, my days are over. I can only comment now.

It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on

to a new generation of film-makers ~ George Lucas

Be A Light, Not A Judge,
Be A Model, Not A Critique - Ancient

pridiv . 31 December 2013 . UUM Library 5th Floor . 4.57pm

Page 5 : A New Experience

Looking back on to the past experiences, a different city, a different air, different culture developing the little me to a better person - the person I have become now. 

Thank you to my dad, by profession a teacher provided me and my siblings with the education and discipline, to me is one of a kind, the values that was seldom said but we took it up by example - may be it was in the blood maybe. He was a tutor with no exception - writing this make me think, where am I heading. maybe the same shoes in a bigger place. may God lit the light for this humble being. 

Following him to all the places he has been, teaching, spreading knowledge, collecting deeds. sparing us the best. From the ever changing schooling at my birth town Muar, Johor i did my first primary education in SRK Sultan Ismail, followed by a brief period in Oxford Public Matriculation School, Thanjoor, India for two years with my grandparents. I continued my secondary education in Malacca, just next to the Historical A'Famosa, looking down the hills at SMK St Francis till my higher secondary at SMK Tinggi Malacca, which then i finished at SMK Majakir, Yup right Negeri di Bawah Bayu, Sabah.

Wow...Why that long list? smile... all those places made me better at each turn, my most memorable collection was being a prefect at all the schools, disciplined, on time, almost perfect. Forming the characteristics that you may wonder which book said or showed. sorry friend it was learned the hard way, the diplomatic speech is my favorite. I know i sweep people of the feet, steeling the treasures. Winks.

What is the difference i'm talking about? the people i mean, what is diversity u ask me. and I may tell you education and the way we perceive the people of what they say. When u ask a Malaccan what can we say of ethics. He may just point out at saving the best for yourself but a Sabahan may say getting a descent food tonight. and of course an Indian in the subcontinent has not reached an understanding of the ethics to my conscience. 

Putting that a side, at different places I matured at each steps, at each development I looked at how to improve myself and as well as how much difference I can make at changing the life's of the people I meet, the people that I make contact to. How much that I do that makes people think of a better and changing future? a constant question. Gandhi observed making change of yourself ensures the change of others" 

It was as if the changes and words we say to people make them better, makes them more you, makes them a little different. This made me think what and how can I do it?

In my Bachelors Degree I learned much of the people skills, the skills you don't know when you don't have. But the skills that you notice people don't have when you already obtained it. I took part in as many events I could, I made my self so busy, I couldn't make the time to finish my personal chores, I don't regret the smallest bit of the time and energy I spent this way.

At each event I learned the steps of being a manager, from the observation to planning, deciding, implementing and evaluation. It was a gruesome but enjoyable process. I contributed much, and I earned the award for the best contribution to the University. 

Leaving that on the sidelines, 

I'm actually thinking of the people that I encountered in this tiring ordeal,  During Bachelors degree, I was with people that would lent me a hand in any situation. we were as one in friendship and hardship, never relenting in taking each others back at times. I miss those days when there was the sense of comradeship among the students around me. 

Not only in class, I also had friends and juniors as well in positions that of co curricular activities, Holding position as a Students Residential Hall Exco, I was lucky to be flanked by people who enjoyed helping each other. In DPP MAS people were endless of the helping hand and Support. I will never forget the President ship at the International Affairs Society of UUM as well, I could name a whole list of quality people that helped the causes of development.

But, when it came to my Postgraduate studies in this same University I left few years back, I'm straddled to see students that keep to themselves, sadly stressful on things that could bring good and benefit to the students. people are jealous for things that should be a common interest matter, students stab each other over issues that can be shared. Why this negativity in a center that could boost the development of all?

I can Only say I felt Morally Obliged to do what I did ~ Nelson Mandela

Pridiv . 31st December 2013 . Tradewinds Student Residential Hall . 1.12am