A Scroll of Degree: Everybody's Determination

In the main hall of the Cultural Activity Centre, UIAM Gombak Campus, Kuala Lumpur

Who on earth doesn’t dream of procuring a scroll of degree? Tell me. Pretty convinced that everybody does if they’ve truly got an opportunity. Even school children have dreamt of holding a scroll of degree ever since their first day entering a school, have they not? 

 

Alhamdulillah… alhamdulillah. Too incredible to believe that I’m now one of them whose dream has come true. Back in the 90’s, I wasn’t even amongst top-notch pupils and was only a so-so pupil with poor academic achievement. 

10/10/11 was such beautiful numbers! Not only that, it will ever be a very historical, momentous date in my life. What made it special for me? It’s the day when my dream to hold a scroll of degree was a daydream no more, Convocation Day. 

Besides calling it my Big Day, it’s also a day of recognition for an ex-undergraduate student like me after 4 years burning the midnight oil at Uni. It’s the day when I was so looked up to by the ceremony and was to walk elegantly on the red carpet, just like a walking popular celebrity attending Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian. Ha! Ha! I know the ‘award of the year’ is the most genuine and priceless present for my caring, beloved parents, teachers, siblings, etc. Thanks a lot for all the support.

To be frank, my academic performance in the preceding course, BEN (Foundation of English Language) was terribly poor. No A’s except Arabic. My final CGPA at the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), IIUM was lower than 3.0. Despite the lower CGPA, I should still be proud of myself for being among the earliest 6 BEN graduates of the centre whose matric no began with 061xxx. Subsequently, we’re offered by the Uni to further studies in bachelor’s degree and the course was BHSc (English Language and Literature) with honours at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Gombak Campus. 

Did I do well with the same course?

Things changed after I was accepted by the Institute of Education of IIUM to be one of the Bachelor of Education TESL students. In fact, I used to apply TESL at Maktab Perguruan but my application was rejected. I believe that every cloud has a silver lining. It was as if a dream that I got TESL back. 

Experience in TESL? Being a TESL undergraduate student was completely awesome. Plus my academic performance was way better. I maintained 3.2 onwards every semester and was once on the Dean's List. After 4 years, I was eventually rewarded Second Class Upper.

Holding the current status as a varsity graduate, I easily got jobs, seriously. Having English proficiency is an extra bonus for me. I agree with Usop Wilcha about the significance of English education.

Studying at university from My Perspective

Studying at Uni is indescribably enjoyable. I recommend that you be one of us if you haven’t. Today, there’re lots of chances out there offering diplomas or even degrees. Why not start with a diploma at a college? And later, who knows you will get admission at IPTA too. In order to succeed, difficulty or ease isn’t the question because ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way!’

PS: My determination is to pursue my Master’s Degree someday. Ameen.

Another Job: Should I give it a shot?

Aaaahhhhhh!!!

I had a ‘nightmare’ on October 23rd! A ‘frightening’ call from Pejabat Pelajaran Daerah (PPD), Kuala Terengganu branch REALLY GOT ME UP last Sunday. The PPD rep informed that my application for Guru KGSK was successfully approved and I was required to come to the office ASAP to collect my appointment letter. He said, “Your teaching duty will be starting tomorrow morning. Congratulations!”

OH MY GOD!

Ironically, the good news was in fact bad news for me. I didn’t even feel thrilled as I was supposed to be. To be honest… I wasn’t fascinated to accept it. It’s all because I had already made up my mind, just wanted to keep staying at home for the rest of this year, may I? Urgh! Please stop whining Khairul Anuar.

Well… I think I’ve worked enough, haven’t I?

1^st – English Relief Tutor at a tutorial centre

2^nd – Front Office Assistant a.k.a Receptionist at a 3-star hotel, and

3^rd – a Sales Assistant at a sundry shop.

This didn’t cause me to reject the offer, nonetheless. I had to say ‘OK’. No choice, actually. Hmm… more fascinatingly, this simply means I’ve got the chance to be a relief teacher twice. Wait! A chance? Come on, this isn’t a chance for me. But why? Erm… doesn’t matter. I’m gonna tell you soon. Just keep reading!

The previous school I taught was Sek. Keb. Pulau Bahagia in Manir and presently at Sek. Keb. Seri Budiman – a primary school I had never dreamt of teaching in my life, ever!

On the first day I stepped into the school compound, I walked as usual {Ala.. baik tak payah cakap}. Not the least bit scared, nervous, anxious or anything. So very confident. School, you know, has been something quite ordinary for me. By the way, according to the Senior Assistant, the school is now lacking of English teachers and sorry, that one I can’t help. It’s kinda good news for primary school teachers-to-be, regrettably I’m only gonna be a secondary school teacher even though she recommended that I apply to be one of the school staff {Sape cakap guru dah cukup kat sekolah bandar?}.

FYI…

I’m taking over Mrs Halina Ibrahim, an English as well as Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesihatan teacher. She is also a class teacher for Year 3 Takwa – oh my, another bad news for me! Besides teaching English for Year 3 and 2, I’ve to teach PJK for Year 2 as well. I used to teach English for Year 2 previously, so not a big problem. 

However this is the first time I’m teaching English for Year 3. Anyways, no big deal. I can still live with that. Year 3 Takwa, 2 Siddiq and 2 Istiqamah – these are the only classes I’m teaching at the school. Year 3 is a bit fine for me whilst Year 2 Siddiq is the first class. Oh, I’m really very lucky. Nevertheless, Year 2 Istiqamah is, so sad to say, the most terrible class. I mean the last one. In other words, the methodology I need to utilize is sure distinct for both classes. Alright, scratch that!

Just like most schools in the country, the school mistress usually monopolizes the staff room. Do I care? Seriously NAY! The number of school masters if I’m not mistaken is no more than 15. No teachers as young as me there whom I can speak to. Hence, my communication turns a little bit limited and the interaction seems like no more than between a son and parents. What a life! I’m unable to converse with them that much and our topics are more into school matters or something like that. You know that.

What’s the school like for me?

So far, I so dislike going to the school. Neither has the reason got something to do with the school environment, for sure, nor the teachers or pupils. I’m just not prepared. That’s all. I intended to spend much more time at home. At least, it could make me feel more comfortable than being at the school, really.

I realize the school days for this year are only few weeks off. The pupils will be sitting their Final Year exams next week. Whoopee! After that, I will feel dizzy no more. No need to think about daily lesson plans and teaching methodologies anymore. Ah, so nice! 

YET… STILL…

No more teaching is gonna take place doesn’t mean I’ll be idling away. Definitely, not really! I’m good only if had I to mark pupils’ English and PJK exam papers, but the worst thing is I’m a class teacher too. Shoot! I’m gonna deal with anything related to Year 3 Takwa pupils’ marks, textbooks to be returned, etc. Urgh! I loathe this so much! I wished I could escape, you know.

I’m not such a great motivator like Dr Fadilah Kamsah on TV, but I do motivate myself sometimes, “Why not give it a shot and it’s likely to be something better to do. Trust me.” Think positive! Ya, I know I never had experience as a class teacher, hope this might be such a golden opportunity for me to get learning and exploring. Hope so.

The class teacher is the busiest annually especially at the end of year, to my mind. Hey, maybe it’s merely my ridiculous assumption.

But… what if this position will burden me too much soon?

Cos it seems it really does.

Oh, no way!

Do wish me luck, guys.

The Devil Wears Prada

FYI

You needn’t have to tell me that it’s actually a movie title just because I’ve already known. I don’t wanna know how many times you’ve watched it because I’m not the least bit interested to find it out. Er… my two cents? One simple sentence is more than enough… to describe everything about the movie – I very much like it!

I like it? Is it on account of the fashion? or,

Just maybe one of the public figures is my favorite?

Hmm, hope you’ve the time to think twice.

Neither.

Paris was a daydream destination. Nay, I didn’t say it. The film actor pointed it out that way. Well… who cares? Not even my dream to go travelling there someday. Whoops, sorry.

Look, I’ve got a question for you. Let’s say, you got an offer to work at Runway – that biggest company in the film. Would you like, by any chance, to be Miranda’s assistant? Just like the new Emily… oh, I mean here, Andrea?

Hey, whatcha thinking? You don’t need to. You aren’t being asked for a view as I’ve got my own. Erm, to my way of thinking… the job she was hired is freaking out of my league! Cos when it’s time for your death… one thing you might possibly be thinking about is… what you’ve done over the whole life. What’ve you done all this while? Aha, you now have only 10 seconds to think.

9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2…

OK, time’s up. Please stop thinking!

Here we go…

Why?

Yep, definitely, working! What you’ve done is working! In the American film, she seemed to have been ‘worshipping’ another God, namely The Job. What the hell living just for the fucking job?

Recall one scene when she said ‘I love my job’. I’ve heard this for several times. I see that ‘the job does pay the rent’ as expected. A job is a must-have thing for us to keep surviving in the ever-challenging world. With that, you’ll earn for a living. Of the economic perspectives, undeniably precise.

I dare to say that Andrea put the status of her job at the very top of her daily life. That caused her to be in a stand-by position at all times. Alright guys whether you feel that’s actually what we call ‘work ethic’ and that how you define it via your self-dictionary. Me, simple! Go to hell with your work ethic. What can it do much for me in return for my ‘ever-lasting life’ later? Any answer?  Moreover, we shan’t live in the world for evermore, shall we? The Day of Judgement is awaiting ahead.

In fact, this life comprises so many fascinating things to explore for and I couldn’t agree more. Just like knowledge. On the other hand, we’re never asked by anybody to torture ourselves by accepting such a job which entails us to concentrate it on more than our devotion to Allah the Almighty. Even worse it’s merely a job which can never promise us happiness? Or you’ll be much happier?

What do you say?

Were I you, I’d ensure that I do love the job I’m going into and it’s my interest. Then, happiness is guaranteed. Anyway, back to the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, Andrea realized she was wrong eventually. She chose to return to the old life and I salute her decision the most! Hope you guys are thinking the same as I am, are you not?

What if

…you were in her shoes at the moment?

Were you down to be the new Emily? I can’t help you!

You decide, then.

Me? I thought you already knew. Hehe.