UGRAD Compilation

12 June 2008: 2008/09 Malaysian UGRAD Debriefing Session

16 June 2009: Meet up with new UGRADers

YeongRu, Alan, EngHwa, Rachel & me

September issue of College Bulletin:

2009/10: EngHwa, GinSeng, Anna, PohSuan

2008/09: KhaiShing & RachelThum

P.S. This blogpost is to compile everything about UGRAD so that I can use it as a link to attach the pics.

Secret to Success?

Thanks to LiYin for sharing this on fb. Short & simple, but yet worth giving some thoughts to it.

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...."your interests are the first and most obvious sign that you are not the same as everyone else. And so, to live a strong, successful life, your interests are the first thing you must take seriously.

A great many people don't. They are quick to discount their interests. They make mental trade-offs with themselves, saying things like,"I'm really interested in teaching, but I want to make a lot of money first. So I'll go into banking, work hard for ten years, and then give it up and go teach." or,"I'm interested in art, but I can't make a living at it. So I'll go get a real job and then do my art at nights on weekends.

In almost every instance these trades are bad trades. They force you to do something almost impossible: put your real personality on hold and then try to bring back to life at some point in the future.

The problem is that while you're waiting for the future to arrive, you spend hour upon hour, for years at a time, doing things that don't interest you. And this takes it's toll. Even if you manage o perform well in this "non-you" role, it still takes it's toll. Your motivation suffers. Your confidence suffers. Interesting people attract others,and with your interest disengaged from your work, you become less attractive, less fun to be around, less energetic. You slowly lose your sense of who you are and what you can do. And so when that "future" finally arrives, you aren't the same person anymore. You've lost yourself along the way.

Don't let this happen to you. Don't make this trade. Look closely at your interests and take them seriously. Start pursuing your life toward them now."

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In fact, this is nothing new to us...especially Asians. We all used to have ambitions when we were young, but how many of us are actually pursuing our so-called 'ambitions' now? I admit, 'accountant' or 'auditor' was never on my list but here I am now, trying hard to pass ACCA and it's almost certain that I'll step into audit upon graduation.

People always say follow your dreams, but, what about being realistic and down to earth? These 2 things seldom come in pair...although we've seen people who've achieved both...but are we ever gonna be like one of them? I doubt. I've had different interests that are totally unrelated to accountancy, I won't say what they are but I think most of them fits the characteristics of being a left-hander. I guess I'm also one of the many who fell into the trap of making the mental trade-off. But let's face the fact, as much as we want to follow our interests, we still tend to fall back to the 'safety zone', getting a degree (doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, etc) that will guarantee us a job in the future. It's not just about money, it's more about security...taking the route that has a clearer road map, at least it gives us more certainty.

Following your passion and perhaps choosing the road less traveled by definitely requires a lot of courage. If your interest is something realistic, then that's great. But what if it's something else, something different? There are certain things where you've either gotta be the best to be successful or you'll be getting nowhere. "Having interest doesn't mean you'll do well in it; doing well in something doesn't mean you're interested in it."

I've got a friend who took the bold step of giving up her degree in medicine and pursued her interest in photography. I really admire her courage and I do believe that she'll make it big someday. Here are some pics of New York from her 'point of view'...check out how her photos tell stories.

~Life Doesn't Hold Tryouts~

So, what do you think? Just sharing some thoughts, hope I didn't sound too pessimistic.

BitterSweet 2009

Few more minutes to go and we'll be saying goodbye to 2009 & welcome 2010!! I can't believe that one year had actually passed by...gosh...it doesn't seem that long ago when we were counting down for 2009 at New York! Unlike last year, New Year's eve this year is gonna be so quiet coz I'm goin' nowhere. =.=

And so, it's the time of the year again for us to look back at the past year and start making New Year's resolutions. As for me, 2009 had been a bittersweet year...or should I say...'sweetbitter'. First half of the year was sweeeeettt coz I was still in the States...second half of the year was bitter coz it was all about 'stu-dying'.

(: Sweet :)

Traveled quite a good bit as well this year:

1.Countdown in New York
2.Baltimore with bro & Rachel

3. Mardi Gras in New Orleans

4. Ski trip to Gatlinburg

5. Spring break revisiting New York

6. Global UGRAD Re-entry Workshop at Washington DC

7. Bali with family

8. Singapore with Rachel & Joshua

Apart from all these, I've had a wonderful Spring semester in UAH with all my friends...had lotsa sweet memories with my boo...and it was great coming home to my family!! :-)

): Bitter :(

• Was 'lucky' to get an infection and had to go for a minor operation while I was in the US. The medical bill of $2,000 almost freaked me out...luckily the insurance company settled it.
• Had to say goodbye to my lovely UAH friends whom I may never meet again in the future.
• Bidding goodbye at Huntsville airport was really sad...you know what I mean.
• Coming back to TARC for final year was a huge contrast to my life in the States...tough, stressful, tired, boring...and on top of that, disappointment. Well, I know I shouldn't be complaining about study life, especially after seeing my friends who have started working. It's actually a luxury to be able to study full time...guess I should enjoy my last 6 months being a student.

As for New Year's resolution, I don't believe in it and I've never set my resolutions. How many people stick to their new year resolutions anyway? Life is ongoing and I just try to live my life to the fullest everyday, do what I wanna do and be who I wanna be. We don't have to wait for the 31st to start thinking what we want in life right?

We should reflect upon life to find happiness and meaning now, not next month or next year. Many people get so caught up in looking for what they didn't have that they seldom appreciated what they did have. So, do the reverse New Year's resolution. Look ahead, but also remember to look behind. Know that you need to be happy now, to enjoy your friends and family, and to follow your dreams.

Hope that 2010 will be a greater year ahead!! :)

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Dreaming of Last White Christmas

Merry Christmas peeps!! Pathetically, I spent my Christmas day sitting in front of my computer blogging and sorting out pics instead of crowding the malls like many other people. Well, it wasn't that bad after all coz completing this post was my 'christmas project'. Looking back at all these pics brought back all the memories of last Christmas...there's no such thing as 'White Christmas' here, so it's okay for me to day-dream right? Hehe!! :p

I guess this is by far my looongest post. In fact, I've been working on these pictures for months!! Pheww...finally I'm done with all 11gbs of photos that we've taken throughout the trip. We traveled a pretty good bit within the 12 days' East Coast trip --- New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Niagara Falls, Boston, Connecticut, Rhode Island, & Baltimore...Amazing!! That was definitely a lotttt of traveling and I'm glad I got to visit so many places and see so much within 2 weeks! Best of all, bro & I got to travel with mom & dad and spent Christmas & New Year together!! Sweeeet~~!!!

23 Dec 2008: Central Park - Rockefeller Center - Lincoln Center - YMCA

Picturesque winter scenery at Central Park...love it!!

Snowy scenery everywhere!!

Sunset view of Manhattan from high above...looks like Lego city huh!

Getting darker

The entire city is lit up...so cool!!

Day n' Nite

Watched George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker' by New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. This was totally unplanned but I didn't wanna miss it though.

We weren't allowed to take pics during the performance...and they were really strict about this!!

I've always wanted to watch a ballet performance, especially after watching the inspiring movie 'Center Stage'.

Mom & Dad finally arrived NYC after a long journey from M'sia!!

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24 Dec 2008: Liberty State Park - Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island - Battery Park

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25 Dec 2008: NYC Chinatown - Pier 17 - Manhattan Financial District - Madame Tussauds Wax Museum - Times Square - Empire State Building - United Nations - Rockefeller Center - Hyatt Regency Philadelphia Hotel

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26 Dec 2008: Liberty Bell, Philadelphia - Independence Hall - Washington DC - The White House - Washington Monument - Capitol Hill - National Air & Space Museum - Jefferson Memorial - Lincoln Memorial - Vietnam War Memorial - Hyatt Washington Dulles Hotel

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27 Dec 2008: Hershey's Chocolate World - Corning Museum of Glass - Niagara Falls, Buffalo - Adam's Mark Hotel

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28 Dec 2008: Niagara Falls - Boston Chinatown - Sheraton Ferncroft Resort

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29 Dec 2008: Harvard University - M.I.T - Trinity Church - Boston Cruise - The Breakers Mansion, Rhode Island - Quincy Market

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30 Dec 2008: Yale University, Connecticut - Manhattan, NYC

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31 Dec 2008: West Point Military Academy, NY - Woodbury Common Premium Outlet - Times Square NYC

Freeeeezing!!!!

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1 Jan 2009: NYC - Baltimore

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2 Jan 2009: The Baltimore Basilica - Inner Harbour - PF Chang's - Top of the World Observation Deck

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3 Jan 2009: Inner Harbor - Federal Hill - Back to Huntsville

Haha...congratulations and thanks for 'scrolling'!! I know...this post is so freakin' long!!!!