Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Private University

Since last Sunday,I was in deep thought for the title of my new blog post. It was about a retreat I attended over the weekend, organized by the IET YMS (Younger Members Section) Malaysia. When one of my lecturer said something offensive to us students today, I finally had this idea of putting the title "Private University" I will come to the lecturer part of the story later. Let's make the mood happy by talking about the retreat first =)

This retreat, I can say, is not totally for us to enjoy, relax and have fun. Well at least not for me. Before departing for this retreat, Matthew (Chairperson of IET MMU Student Chapter) revealed to me the proposed program flow for the retreat. For example :

Saturday (21st Feb)

3: 00pm – IET Briefing + Overview

8.30pm – Breakout Session 1 – “How do you want IET to assist you or your club for further success?”

10.00pm – Presentation

Sunday (22nd Feb)

9am – Breakout Session 2 – “What can you contribute towards the success for IET Malaysia”

10.30am – Presentation + feedback


ALL I FREAKING SEE IS ONLY PRESENTATION + DISCUSSIONS ON IET IET IET IET IET. >.<" I mean seriously, I din expect to prepare soft skils to a retreat, in A famosa Resort! Our Honorary Secretary, Chee Yen drove 4 of us down, representing MMU Cyberjaya IET Student Chapter. Throughout the journey, we did talk, but eventually I slept off. And, yeah talking about sleeping, my god, I realized lately I have been so sleepy headed. Every break, free time, I will jump onto my bed and snooooze all the way. Bad huh? Too bad then, lol.

Continuing the story, we were the first to reach there, and later other student chapters also reached. In total, there were 6 student chapters participating in this retreat. They are MMU Cyberjaya, MMU Melaka, UCSI, Nottingham, UTAR and INTI UC. Each student chapters are required to send only 4 representatives. So, out of the 24 participants, there were only TWO girls. MISERABLE. PATHETIC. *sighs* 1st thing we did was to listen to the briefing given my Chairperson of IET YMS Malaysia, Mr. Kwong. He's a funny and friendly person. So okay la, give him face I listened to his talks and briefings throughout the retreat. Next was ice-breaking session. Boring, so I'll skip it. Next up was the BBQ session, a.k.a dinner for us. Overall, the BBQ was not that bad, one drawback was I only eaten 3 chicken wings (2 only actually, another was half raw lol), 3 long hotdogs and 3 short hotdogs. That's it. Definitely not enough to fill up my stomach. So were others in MMU Cyberjaya. Hence, what we did was, we went out after the presentation to a nearby mamak stall to continue our "postponed dinner", at the same time watching football. Not bad, this is what I call retreat XD

Second day was relatively a short one. There was only one presentation and followed up by a farewell lunch. I finally got my chance to go out and present our group topic infront of everyone, "thanks" to Matthew. =.= but it was okay, and I enjoyed the presentation, because everyone was concentrating, more like a two-way presentation rather than a one-way presentation like what the lecturers do nowadays *runs away* We proceeded to lunch at Pizza Hut after the presentation. It was an enjoyable lunch with all the student chapters and we discussed about the whole retreat. Gossiping I should say. Luckily 4 of us had our own table and we gossiped all the way. For example, situations on living together with the few student chapters in the same house, and also characters of other student members from other student chapters. *evil* I wonder, did other student chapters gossip about us? =)


PHOTOS!! Only a few, too bad. And I've yet to get those snapped using Matthew's and Sooi Loong's phone. Once I get them, I will edit them here.

Presentations. Group by group basis.

And there, our MMU Cyberjaya Chairperson, Matthew. The one in white T.

Loooooooking up into the ceiling.

The participants, the crowd.

After breakfast on the second day. I took this.

Finally, our group photo before leaving the house and A-famosa Resort.



So, going into the second part of the story of this blog post. I went to a class this afternoon and the lecturer gave the whole class an exercise to do. As usual, we (our whole gang) did not revise, therefore we do not know how to attempt the questions. So we chit-chatted about our plans for the week. Not long after, the lecturer left her seat and started walking around the class checking our work. Finally she came to us and checked. Blank, white papers were the only things she saw, and before leaving she added "Scratching head? Don't know how to do?" She then proceeded back to her seat and "lectured" us. She said "If I'm your parents, I will vomit blood. And do you guys know that you can count yourselves lucky to study in MMU. Compare your fees to local universities, and ask yourself why are your parents paying so much to let you study here? Your fees are almost 3 times more expensive than the tuition fees at local universities. So, please buck up and study well. The future is in your hands. Seliously."

That's exactly what she pronouced "seriously" Omg, you are a lecturer, in an expensive private university and you can't pronounce "seRRRRiously'? Plus, my friend said that if he was her english teacher, he will vomit blood. Well, true. Frankly speaking, the things she said above, I typed it out in proper english because along the way there were other pronounciation mistakes other than "seliously".

But, what she said was true. Actually. MMU tuition fees are very high, compared to other institutions. Yet, we are slumbering and slacking. I was one of them too this afternoon, and when I think back now, I'm at fault. Not the lecturer. All these have to stop. My results since the beginning of my degree year have not been improving and now it stands dangerously at the border of getting a good CGPA in the future, or slump downwards. Its my call, and I hope I'm aware of it. Now.



p/s : I forgotten to bring my towel to the retreat. My sandals were torn, so I only brought sneakers and wore sneakers throughout the whole retreat. And, 4 of us shared the same shampoo for the 2 days. Oh yeah, what a retreat XD












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