25 June 2008

Today, I am going to go personal with some emotional manifestation poured for this piece of entry. I apologize for being lengthy.

In my point of view, I just have an aversion to people who look down on me or my family members. To tell you the truth, some people do it because they think that my family has failed in their lives due to their financial crisis. Who wouldn’t fail in business? Businessmen are risk-takers. There will be risks of failing anytime. In any case, some might even think that their dependants would be affected because of their difficulties in monetary matters. Most importantly, it is how the dependants turn the crisis around and learn from it.

So don’t tell me that even though my parents faced a crisis, I can’t enjoy. I helped my parents too. My mummy and my brother are staying with me. I bet many people would choose to run away or even commit suicide. Nevertheless, I am proud that my parents faced the crisis. And their situation does not affect me because my parents stood up on their feet firmly and faced the hardship.

Yes, I will tell you how I survived and how my life was bitter-sweetly written with God’s grace.

Back in 2002 when I was studying South Australian Matriculation (SAM) in Taylor’s College, my parents struggled to defend their business and to pay for my tuition fees. I knew it would be daunting for my parents to provide solid education at that crucial point, yet my daddy said that I deserved the best education. I sailed through the 12 months of SAM, passed with an above-average result to qualify for Monash University’s Bachelor of Biotechnology.

I can still freshly recall how my daddy decided to ask UOB Bank for an education loan, in order for me to pursue the course of my dreams. I have been always yearning for a Biotechnology degree since young and my daddy just wanted my dreams to come true.

Being naïve and I thought that my parent’s business will somehow turn okay, I went on with my registration for the Biotech course in Monash, Sunway. It’s not going to be cheap to live in Sunway. The rental per month was priced at RM450 for twin-sharing. I have not included the cost of eating and miscellaneous items.

After the first 10 days in Monash, I pondered deeply. I realized I am draining away my parent’s reserved resources and knowingly that my younger brother deserved it more than me. I wrote a letter in Chinese to my mum, telling her that I will withdraw from Monash immediately. I even called up UOB Bank, and told them not to release the first semester payment to the university.

The next morning, I drove a friend’s car all the way to Nilai to browse for cheaper alternatives. I chose Nilai College over Inti College due to the difference of almost RM1,000 in the tuition fees. In Nilai, the fees was 3 times cheaper than Monash. Without hesitation, I signed up for Nilai’s (3+0) La Trobe University Australia Bachelor of Business,majoring in Marketing. Even though it wasn’t a course of my dreams, it is still a degree after all.

God’s presence was with me. Within 2 weeks, my PTPTN loan was approved and I could diminish my parent’s burden from the tuition fees. How did I survive in paying rent and food? Good question. My mum paid for the first two months. Eventually, I got a part-time job in the college as the Accommodation Office Student Assistant. It was sufficient to pay for my cost of living in the ghost town of Nilai.

As the cost of living began to rise, I needed more cash for books and some personal care stuffs. I started tutoring a 7-year old boy in the nearby neighbourhood in the evenings and “jaga kedai” for a TVB rental shop. You must be thinking that I was crazy to deal with 3 jobs and a full-time study. Thank God that He has mercy on me, I was transferred from Accommodation Office to Business Development unit to spearhead the college newsletter. At the same time, I was paid RM500 to work only for 15 hours a week. With that substantial amount, I quit the job from the TVB shop.

Life went on as usual. I have my weekly Christian Fellowship activities, I was the Australian Degree Council President. I had 2 jobs and many assignments to follow up. In the final semester, I quit tutoring to work as a part-time telemarketer in California Fitness Mid Valley. Despite having 2 major jobs, I persevered through. I survived. In the end I graduated with a proud heart. And I was only 21 years old.

With only 3 days after my final paper, I was a full-time staff with California Fitness as a junior marketing executive. I seized my chances and I performed. Enough to pay my rent and car loan installments for a Proton Iswara. 4 months later, I was offered a job with MSD, the top notch pharmaceutical company. I knew it was tough to be a medical representative, begging for sales around hospitals under my territory, but it was worth all the hard work when I see the incentives rolling into my bank account. Of course, I continued my private tutoring after office hours for side income.

I am not boasting. I managed to place a down-payment for a condo worth RM165,000 by the end of 9 months working with MSD. Now tell me, who can own a house and a car by the age of 22? Can you?

With my performance and God’s guidance in the workplace, I knew I deserve the best. I worked my ass off day and night, to pay for the things that I desire. I worked my ass of in order to travel with my friends.

I am only 24 years old this year. I have travelled to Hanoi, Bangkok, Manila, Baguio and Middle East (Israel & Jordan) for the past 2 years. I worked my ass off to deserve these trips.

At the age of 24, I am earning more than most people of my age are earning.

Thank God for opening doors of opportunities and I am happy in Becton Dickinson now.

So, please take your pair of unscrupulous and ruthless eyes away from me. If you look down on my family and myself, I will show no respect for you too.

I know how to write my life. I know how God will guide me through as long as my faith is planted firmly on His will.

28 May 2008

Due to the recent predicaments, my life was up and down like a roller coaster. Especially when I started to cry, tears will be flowing out continuously. Hence, I will be wiping tears with tissue papers or with my own bare hands.

Lately, before I slept, there was a routine of breakdown and I had no choice to rub my teary eyes instantly as it was late at night. I needed to dry them as fast as I could in order to tuck myself in bed. Without realizing my nails were long, I accidentally brushed one of my nail against my cornea.

Ouch.

Now there are bloody red patches at my cornea. I didn’t have time to consult the doctor due to mum’s situation. However, the nurse did give me some ice to reduce swelling yesterday.

Can anyone tell me is it safe to leave my eye to recover on its own?

11 May 2008

Dear Mama,

24 years ago, you have carried me for 38 weeks in your womb wherever you go. Till the day, you brought me into the world.

The amount of labour pain you have to go through while bringing me into this world. You not only had to go through it once, but twice because of my little brother too.

It has never been easy for you, Mama. To feed and educate us, and at the same time you had to earn a living in order to provide enough basic necessities for me and didi.

There is a famous saying that goes “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love” by Mildred B. Vermont. It’s very true!

Mama, I just want to thank you for all the jokes and joy you have brought into the house. Sometimes, we might be squabbling over little little things that we disagree with each other, but we still love each other very much. Right, mum?

One thing I know for sure, Mama, you have BIG HEART! It’s so big that I wonder how many tonnes of gold can be found in this heart!

Mama, I hereby wishing you HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY!

With Love,

Your eldest child

P.S. Would be bringing you and daddy out for dinner. The place would be remain unknown till you see it yourself, Mama.

19 March 2008

On 14th of March this year, I turned 24 years old. During the day, I was busy with training and I stayed up late in the office to finish up my paperwork due to the tight deadlines.

On the way home, a car banged me from behind and as it was raining quite heavily, I just exchanged numbers with the guy to avoid a slower crawl at LDP.

It was not a good day for me, I thought.

But to my surprise, there were some people waiting for me at home! A Big THANKS to Kevin, Gerald, Ivan, Isaac, Johnny and Elizabeth for making my night wonderful again.

It started with a blindfold in the car. You can imagine how the 7 of us fit into one Proton Waja!

I seriously have no idea where they are leading me to.

Since I do not have the sight for the moment, all I have to do is just to trust Elizabeth and Isaac’s guidance.

I kept telling both of them not to let go as I fear of dropping into any drains or potholes!! I was panic when they told me I had to take an escalator. My goodness, what if my feet got stuck in between???

It was definitely a long walk!! I was scratching my head… where are these bunch of friends bringing me to??

Ta da…. it’s time to untie the blindfold. And to my surprise, they have brought me to Nailis Restaurant in Damansara Uptown.

The food served was well-presentable but did not score as high as in terms of the taste!! It looked great from the outside, but when you take your first bite, it was just an ordinary dish!!

Seriously, only this dish was the best among the rest. It’s a Trio Lamb thingy which Gerald ordered.

There’s nothing to shout about for the food. All I can say is ‘Don’t Judge the Book by its Cover!’

But of course, the ambience provided by this restaurant will suit couples and young generation due to the dim lightings.

Nevertheless, I had a great night and hey, I am aging. I am finally 24 years old!!