Assalamualaikum and hey guys. Hope your day is going well under His blessings.
Today, I
would like to spend my time with giving you some insight about my life after
SPM. Here are some background about myself. I was an ex-student in Sekolah
Menengah Sains Bagan Datoh (SABDA) Batch Avant Garde SPM 2014.
I transferred there during Form 4 after receiving straight
A's during my PMR at SMK Cyberjaya. (alhamdulillah.) It was my dream to further
my study in boarding school because I want to try living away from home and
being independent and all those cliche thing.
Then, after SPM I went to the National Service (PLKN) for 3 bloody months as I was selected from all those form 5 students in my school (bad luck betol). Well, maybe because some said that the students were chosen based on their participation in school. I was not involved in any sports at all. Even during the school Sports Day I just watch all those activity on bench. Haha.
After receiving my SPM results on March 2015, I applied the JPA-MARA scholarship 2015. Eh, wait, take a few step back before receiving my SPM results, I actually got offered by Yayasan Tenanga Nasional (YTN) to pursue my study in Civil Engineering at UNITEN, Bangi. I applied that using my SPM Trial results around December 2014 I think and after I went to the interview, I got offered the scholarship. To be honest, during the application, I just applied to try my luck (try nasib je) and did not have any hopes for it or whatsoever. So, when YTN called my father, the officer said that I need to decide whether I want to accept it or not on the next day. I repeat, the NEXT day. So it was really rushing and my father said why the officer give last minute offer and so on (mcm nak paksa-paksa pulak - bad vibes, lol) Then, my father felt like I can have other opportunity better than YTN (specifically JPA) later. I was very reluctant to decline the offer (first time kot dapat offer scholarship), but after giving some thoughts into it, I just followed my parents decision. Well, maybe because my 1st sister and my 3rd sister were under JPA, so I think my parents want me to followed their footsteps and I think my parents fully trusted JPA because my future is secured as I will work with government and all -.-. Haha, but to be honest, yes I admit that I am very obedient son (anak mak and bapak) because well, I can't decide what I want to do with my future and let my parents decide it. Maybe because I think that they know better due to many experiences (dah makan banyak garam) and I want their blessings maybe.
Ok, get back to the story, after I applied the JPA-Mara scholarship, I went to the interview at Uitm Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. I choose that place even though my house in Puchong mainly because my father said that it will be very jam if I choose at INTEC, Shah Alam. The interview is scheduled in the morning and the traffic to Shah Alam is very severe in the morning (Ok, so thats the reason why I choose at Uitm Seremban) When I arrived at there, I met some familiar faces that I met during XA-Plus program (under SBP) in Melaka before SPM. They are from Sains Tuanku Munawir (SASER) so yeah, I just smile and talk a bit with them. Haha, I am a very shy and awkward person so I didnt talk much >.<.
After register, I received my number (like ID sort of) so that the panel can identify and giving you marks based on your ID. After that, we were given some briefing and we were divided into several groups as the interviews will be held in groups. They are 2 session, the first one is in Bahasa Melayu and the second session is in English.In the groups, we are divided into 2 teams. The 2 teams received different questions and we were given around 30 minutes to discuss and write it on the mahjong paper with our own creativity. Well, in the groups, everyone wants to talk. Everyone wants to be notice by the panel (Lol.) But, trust me, quality is better than quantity. Try giving some creative idea about the topic instead of make noises but nothing really generated as the saying goes empty vessels make the most noise. Haha, and make sure when you give your ideas, cop that ideas as yours and saying that you want to present it later. In some cases, A is giving the idea but during the presentation B is presenting the idea so its like someone else stealing your ideas and get the points (geddit?) So, make sure before the presentation, discuss carefully who will present what and so on. Cooperation is the keys ok (I think cooperation is one of their criteria to judge too). So please cooperate in your group okies.
After all those presentation, the panel will ask the opposite team to ask the question to the presenters and like give some opinions and weak points about the opposing team (evil laugh). Then, the panel themselves will give some questions and insights about the presentation. If you think you did bad or you talk less, the panel will choose you to answer their question. So yeah, dont worry, everyone has the same chance. However, it was very awkward during the English session maybe because it was our 2nd language and we are not very fluent with it (especially for me). Haha My English was average and not that good so yeah, I have a hard time during the session. But everyone try their best and tadaaa, it was the end of our interview. Some of us exchange phone numbers and take pictures and bid farewell to each other.
After it all ended, around April the results came out and Alhamdulillah, I got offer to my 1st choice which is Engineering and Im going to USA after doing American Degree Foundation Program in INTEC, Shah Alam.
So, thats the end for this
post. See you in the next one ! Thanks for reading :) Feel free to ask or
comment below. Assalamualaikum.
