MASUM 2011

I didn't expect that I will return for such prestigious competition after leaving the secondary school.

We had a coach who was totally irresponsible. Late for every training sessions, showed his face for only 2 mornings out of the 3 competition days, left the team without water on the last day and gave demotivating words to us. He does not understand the exhaustion of running under the hot sun and sizzling track.

UM management sucks. The stadium is 20 minutes on foot from the hostel and the 4 UM buses refused to take us to the stadium with reason saying that there were only 15 of us.

The manager loves us so much that we called her ‘Kak Ijan’, spending all her time arranging our schedule and taking care of our welfare.

Then the Dr Lela joined the team. We have no doctor in the team at the first place and she would come to the stadium at 8am everyday to give us treatment until the volleyball game in the opposite hall started. She returned to us once the volleyball game was over.

I salute all my teammate for putting up not just good, but great fights. After the all-star national runner team or so called UPM team, UM came 2^nd among all the universities in Malaysia and yes, we had only 15 people in the team. Each of us took many events which require a lot of physical and mental strength. We endured the process, fighting those national athletes and SUKMA athletes like soldiers. With bandages on our legs, we kept fighting till the last second. The doctor stopped the boy’s team from attempting the last event which was 400m relay because she couldn’t stand us from suffering more injuries.

In the girl's 400m relay final, I pulled my exhausted legs in the final hundred with excruciating pain on both my hamstring, I leaped myself forward to the finishing line before passing the baton to my teammate. We finished last in the relay but we were proud as the team of 4 was formed from the only 6 girls in UM team.

I love my teammates. Thanks for having me as one of you. I have learned so much from you. Thanks. And one more thing...4 golds, 8 silvers and 4 bronze from a team of 15 people, UM, you can take all the fame you want but our spirit stays deep within our hearts.

An unexpected bronze medal from 400m hurdles =D

Work

Walk in slowly
5 minutes late
Sit and stare at your surroundings
Chit chat for awhile
Walk to the pantry
Make a cup of coffee
Eat a packet of nasi lemak
Then turn on the computer
Read some online news
And start working when your boss walks in.

The norm in the office
and the country is facing unemployment problem.

While complaining about the unemployment
have you ever ask, 'Am I a good employee?'

While there are people out there searching for a job
are you jeopardizing their opportunities?

Walk in slowly 5 minutes late
Sit and stare at your surroundings
Chit chat for awhile
Walk to the pantry
Make a cup of coffee
Eat a packet of nasi lemak
Then turn on the computer
And start working when your boss walks in.

Sorry, this is just not my style.

The Gym Thingy

I don't know how, I don't know why, I just don't like to workout in the gym. Despite the well-equipped and air-conditioned space, I still don't like it. Maybe I have not come across a good gym yet.

I won't say that the UM weight gym is bad. In fact, it is quite good. Ventilation, temperature, equipment and everything. Maybe it's just that I could not stand those ego guys posing in front of the mirror especially when there are ladies in the gym. Self-indulged in their own world, I'd rather get some sunlight.

However, I won't deny the benefits of gym. It helps to improve your targeted muscle in no time IF you know how to use it. 3 gym sessions and I can't believe I can do 10 sets of hip extension (40 lifts per set at 90lbs) in less than 20 minutes although I did 200 x 110lbs for quadriceps and 200 x 40lbs for hamstrings in the first day. With these statistics, I know which muscle I should train more.

Perhaps I should not do too much of gym. So I will sneak out during the gym session to catch some fresh air. And still I prefer moving exercises like running, cycling and swimming under the Sun rather than becoming a workout machine and rely on statistics.

Finally, don't get kick by me now...you will die. =P

Here it comes again

When I put something into

deep thought

great wish

strong mind

big dream

they will come to me

in the most unusual way

at the most unusual time.

To test and to see if I am ready

I know I will be mentally and physically exhausted

but I also know that I will be psychologically strong.

I am ready

for what's coming to me.

I am ready

to face these few weeks of toughness.

As I am always ready.

UM Toastees @ Edmat 33

3 evaluators for 40 speakers.
I have done even harder evaluation before.
But the number of evaluation is a new record for me.
Just imagine sitting down to listen and observe 40 people speaking in one night.
And you have only one minute to prepare for each evaluation.
It was so fortunate that three of us are used to multitask
performing not only evaluation but other roles such as ah-counter, grammarian and time keeper.

Multitasking...you learn it without knowing and you will know it when you need it.
We have done our best and it's great to give positive and encouraging feedback from the organizers and participants.
I think that they didn't expect much for us.
After all, we are still students and of the same age as them.

Vincent and Dr Devi have trained us well.
And not to forget Kimmy and Debbie (The best speakers ever from UM Toastmasters Club)
Not to say that they are our club instructor because there is no such role as instructor in Toastmasters.
I often take them as my source of motivation and inspiration.
I have learned a lot from them and lots more to learn in the future.

It's time to bring the club to President's Distinguished Club again.
I know it's tough but I want my name printed in the Hall of Fame.

Focus

Strongly focus on what I need and what I want

Believe in it and it will eventually come to me

This happens sometimes

Although it may come to me

Unpredictably

Unexpectedly

Sometimes I forget about it

But the subconsciousness will slowly awake

And I am back in the game again

3 out of 4

3 years

I need to focus for one more week and it's done!

I'm heading towards my final year soon.

I need to polish myself for my future

and at the same time

I want to go back to some of my favorite activities.

And the journey continues...

with more challenges ahead,

you can choose to be a leader or a follower,

you can choose to be a good and responsible leader or a lousy one,

you can choose to be a loyal and dedicated follower or a bad follower.

and I choose to be myself.

The freedom-lover, positive and well-focused in everything she has targeted to achieve.