nikmah.

While Najah and I were walking back from Mandarin Class yesterday evening, God decided to bless us with the sight of a beautiful sky. Of course, beautiful skies are subjective. But yesterday's was particularly mesmerizing.

It's not that breathtaking on camera as compared to when you SEE it with your own eyes. On top of us, the azure colour was bright and it faded into a lighter hue. The CLOUDS, MashaAllah, were practically decorations with different shapes and sizes- we had a short discussion on stratus and cirrus clouds. I guess my imagination for "Oh-what-does-that-cloud-look-like??" has dimmed ever since studying worms and ascaris (which all has the similar longish tube structure).

We walked all the way back to our apartment with our heads up. We spotted the moon! But most of all, we were filled with wonder and amazement. It was a lovely day. Thank you Najah for being there to share the moment- the nikmah- with me:)

"Look around yourselves

Can't you see this wonder

Spreaded infront of you

The clouds floating by

The skies so clear and blue..."

~Open Your Eyes, Maher Zain

coffee beans.

The carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened! The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity?

So are u like the carrot, the egg or the coffee bean?

this week's

A few eventful things happened this week.

1. CUCMS Sports Carnival: I didn't manage to attend because I had to give the speech about the Smile Train which happened to fall on the same date and time. Especially since I had contributed to help with the banner, flag, tshirt and mascot, I really wanted to go to the carnival! But I couldn't. So in the end, I asked them to leave a space for me to draw myself for when they take photos. This photo was the only one I was rajin enough to draw on:) Wish I was there but the Green Team did an AWESOME job and securing 2nd place was more than good enough. Also, the Green House Gladiator Mascot won first place! So I received a gold medal for that. Search for me in the pictureXD

2. I finally got to go back to Janda Baik the weekend after. And finally got to see them cute rabbits! They are adorable! There are four: Sky, Patches, Lyra and Alby. It was a perfect Saturday afternoon so we went up to the field/backyard/HUGE-grassy-space and let them run around. Of course, after letting them onto a huge field where they were previously pent up in their pen, they were running around like crazy. Scampering here and there as fast as their tiny paws/feet/legs (???) could carry them.

Although it was taxing to get them back from beneath the car and when they hide near a tree, we had a good time and managed to lie on the grass most of the time. Until my brothers got fed up of chasing them that they placed them back into the pen. Lol. Going back to Janda Baik this saturday and can't wait to see them again!

3. Fifi's birthday:) We wanted to do a surprise for her- but i guess it wasn't much of a surprise (maybe). I mean, some plans went awry and I don't know if she noticed me and faz were messaging each other at the table right infront of her haha. Sadly, no balloons like it was for my birthday:( Sorry fifi! But I hope you had a wonderful birthday:) Well, you screamed when you saw the cake. So I'm guessing that's a good sign... Haha. Happy 20+~ my darling:)

Microbiology goes on. Life goes on. It's a brand new day everyday and I'm loving it.

Words from the VPE

20th January 2009: MMU TMC's (Toastmasters Club) first meeting for 2010:)

I can't believe I was late for the first meeting.

Well, technically, I wasn't. The agenda said guest arrival was at 7:45pm and the Sergeant at Arms would actually kick off the meeting at 8pm. But at 7:38 I got a call from Ariff and James that our guests had ALREADY arrived and I was still at my apartment. I was already freaking out and so worried. I finally arrived in the room on the dot at 7:57pm. Being ON TIME would have been good enough- that is if you're not the Vice President. So I had to settle some stuffs; greet guests, reconfirm roles, and we started at 8:05pm. I got kind of scared already because our external General Evaluator, Robert looked a bit fidgety- I'm praying it was because he's tired more than because our tardiness was making him annoyed.

I should really arrived at 7:30pm next time. Guests who aren't aware would think we start at 7:45 and would come wayyy earlier before that and get scared that there's no one. It would look bad on the club.

For some reason MMU TMC always bring out a different side of me. Despite the late hour, the tiredness, the lassitude that everyone feels after a long looong day, the meeting actually rejuvenates, revives and reenergize me back and keeps me smiling for the rest of the day:) Wrapping up everything and normally being the last to go back would mean being home after 10pm; I expect I'd be tired but it's the complete opposite- I feel more alive. Being in a Toastmasters meeting is like being being in a meeting where everyone likes you and compliments you all the time. And of course gives constructive criticism. Although I get all nervous, scared and afraid before and during the meeting itself (that the meeting runs less than how I wish it can) at the end of the day, everyone is all smiles and when I hear they've enjoyed the meeting, that's what makes me happiest the most:D

The Toastmasters Club is a good getaway for me. I get to mingle around with non-medic students. From accounting, IT, working people... It's good to get connected with the rest of the world once in a while:) This sort of implies that I like getting away from medic but... in a way it's true I guess haha.

People think that if you're in this club, you're automatically a good speaker and they get intimidated and don't want to join. Funny because the people here are all not so good at speaking- myself including- and we're here just because we want to get better. There's a difference there:)

I've learnt that there's no such thing as born speakers. You DEVELOP that skill, you HONE the talent, you POLISH that capacity of yours to become BETTER. And you can't do that if you don't force yourself to get better.

I guess what makes Toastmasters so fun is that we all know we're not that good in public speaking but- even when we laugh at each other, or next to one another- the fact that we have a common goal and aim in harnessing our potential of having effective communication makes up for it all and keeps us close together:)

As Vice President of Education who gave an acting president's speech just now addressing about resolutions, I WILL keep up my words and endeavor to make MMU TMC prosper and grow during my term and the years ahead:)

First Speech [Smile Train Project]

When I read that Dr Hirji Adenwalla raised funds for the cleft repair surgeries by giving talks, that gave me the idea to do the same. So I decided that my way of raising funds would be to go around and give talks and raise money that way.

So before I could go and venture out, I needed to be criticized and evaluated by the people I'm most comfortable with- and who better than my fellow Toastmasters:)

This morning I picked up the 4X8 feet banner from Uncle Adino's place. The banner would be for where donors would sign and I'd bring it to Kerala to personally hand it over along with the funds. He has done extremely AMAZINGLY well for the banner because I only handed it in on Tuesday and despite the fact that it required 3 days to print, we had to do a lot of editing and changes and in the end, he got it done over one night. Thank you Uncle Adino:)

Because I was caught up with microbiology and preparations for the sports carnival, I never got to practice my speech. I was able to finalize it last night and started really practicing it and timing it this morning before the presentation. Needless to say, my hands and feet felt numb and cold.

Giving a speech is like studying for a test. You keep the words in, you practice it all day and night and you take mental notes for the key points. But JUST before the big thing, your mind goes blank and you think- can I really do this?

But Alhamdulillah, all I had to do was remember the first line and everything came flowing out til the very end:) The best thing I like during my speech giving was directly looking at people's eyes and seeing them nodding in agreement and having their rapt attention. I think that is the most gratifying reward for a speaker:)

Since it was a toastmaster speech, I think people didn't know that I was actually raising money for real. So my mom told me to announce that I was really going to Kerala and handing over the funds and banner and only then people were more aware of it.

At the end of the meeting, people came up to me and said they wanted to contribute:) I was really happy that this project was REALLY taking off! There were other people who came up to me and congratulated me and said: Alia, you're doing an amazing job. Keep it up:) May God bless you. Some people just unhesitatingly handed me an RM50. At first I was so awed and I felt so touched. Even so, every single ringgit counted and I really do appreciate each and every contribution. I'm glad MIM KL was the first I went to:) They are really supportive. In the end I collected an amazing RM 185. I got pointers on how to better improve my speech and make it more impactful when I deliver it at other places. I got signatures on my banner. And I got suggestions on where else to give my talks.

I have to make improvisations along the way because this is my first time. So a few things I learnt from this was:

• Prepare a receipt to give donors- Name, Amount Donated
• Keep a logbook of donors and amount donated
• Bring permanent markers next time!
• Bring along a donation BOX for people who'd prefer to be anonymous
• Prepare a standard letter to request for a donation drive

I'm confident and all set now!

Thank you's:

Ummi and Ayah for supporting me throughout til today.

Aki for messaging me on the morning itself; it means a lot to me:)

Uncle Adino for making the banner ON TIME even though I was late.

Zahid for surprising me and making it to the meeting just to give me support (alpemoca).

Fellow MIM KL Toastmasters and Contributors:)

Green House:)

CUCMS Sports Carnival was set today and so was the planned Smile Train Speech at MIM KL.

This was my approach-approach conflict. When there are two situations which are appealing and this causes you stress because you're unable to choose which

. Another example: you have a choice between Guilian chocolate and Crunchie and obviously you couldn't choose which- I mean how can anyone choose between the two?

Anyway, I really wanted to go to the Sports Carnival. I was practically rolling my head on the table trying to choose between the two. I guess last year I didn't really feel it because I wasn't that much involved. But this year I could feel the energy and excitement because i was VERY much more involved- what with being the co-captain working alongside and extremely dedicated captain.

Aki said that I should go for the speech because the Smile Train NEEDS me and this is my very own personal project and that the other committee could handle it. Zahid said that the Green Team needs me because as a leader I should be dedicated to my house. Needless to say, I was torn in two.

In the end, I chose the Smile Train speech because it was more crucial. So I dedicated myself for the week before the carnival to do as much as I can for Green House. I helped draw the banner and flag and we together as a team painted it. We also worked on the mascot gladiator outfit all within that week. I guess that contributed to added stress what with microbiology. So even if I couldn't make it, my 'spirit' was with each and every Green House Member- because of their tshirts.

I've been wearing Green the whole day...

Green House won for best mascot. I didn't know there was even a category for it. But it's all because of the captain, Oh Soon Keon. By Wednesday, I was already so stressed out with microbiology assignments and that I hadn't prepared for my MIM Speech yet- so I told Soon that I couldn't do the Gladiator costume. I knew that if I did do it, it would take long because I would not settle for anything less and it just HAD to be something really awesome. Costumes would be THE MOST difficult to make because people either laugh at you or love it. Soon kept quiet for a while and bargained: "Alia, you just tell us w

hat to do." How could I say no to that?

So we DID end up doing the costume (I've yet to see pictures of our gladiator on the field) and I was worrying all the way about my speech. I'm glad that we've got really committed members from the green house so it was really easy because people were cooperative:)

Soon Keon messaged me after the carnival and broke the news- Green was second place and gold medal for mascot:) So I was really happy since last year Green was fourth. I think we've done really well this year and I'm especially proud because we even had green house lecturers replying emails and raising our spirits:D

Green Gladiators, I'm so proud of each and every one of you!:) Let's work harder next year!

GO GREEN HOUSE!XD

Status Updates [Smile Train Project]

*Note: This post will be continuously updated and will always be the first post. For other new personal posts, please read below.*

Help me to change the world one smile at a time:)

What is The Smile Train?

The Smile Train is an organization that is focused on changing the world one smile at a time. It literally does this by repairing facial deformities specifically cleft lips and palates. A cleft is a split or separation on the lip or the palate or both. This condition is a major problem in developing countries where millions of children suffer from unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. They aren't allowed to attend school or hold a job and face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. For a glimpse about The Smile Train, you can click here.

My involvement:

When I read that there is a way to change the world- and through increasing the number of smiles- I felt that this is the best way possible to make that change where I can do something.

I have decided to run a donation drive to encourage all Malaysians to contribute to this cause. I'm currently working on a banner where Malaysians who donate to this cause can put their signatures down on it. I've arranged for a trip to the Charles Pinto Centre on June 2010 and will personally hand the banner to the centre during my visit.

To reach more Malaysians, I'd be giving speeches in public and private organisations.

Updates: for previous updates, please refer to the sidebar

• Received permission from Dr Hirji Adenwalla of Charles Pinto Centre in India to visit the Cleft Lip Department in June.
  
  
• Wrote to The Star newspaper to ask for aid in promoting the cause by running the story in their publication.
• Wrote a letter to my college CUCMS asking for support- now the Student Service Committee is aware of it.

To do:

1. 16th January: Practice speech at MIM KL Toastmasters Club
2. Design and print Banner for donors to sign
3. ...

==========Smile Train Project ongoing===========

the unachievable

Student BMJ Interviewer: Is there anything you'd like to achieve?

Dr Hirji Adenwalla (head of department of plastic surgery, burns and the Charles Pinto centre for cleft lip, palate and craniofacial anomalies) : Yes, the unachievable, which is perfection in cleft craft. You never achieve perfection in art because art has no boundaries. Because you never achieve perfection, this love affair is never consummated and therefore never dies.

Wow. Medicine and Art combined. How cool is that?:)

our might-have-beens

I was searching for books to devour when I stumbled upon As I was passing by Adibah Amin. Mind you, I was at home (not that I'm home now) and (even more sadly) not in a bookstore. But sometimes I realize that there are books at home which, regardless of the times you read it, still makes you turn every page with excitement- they are evergreen:) So I know at times even when I'm searching for pages to peer through, I can find them all at home, among the piles of paperbacks and horde of hardcovers.

So the other day I came upon As I was passing by Adibah Amin on my dusty bookshelf. I first heard of Adibah Amin from my mom- she used to read Adibah's column in the NST back when my mama was a teen. Her writings were all compiled into a book As I was passing and there's even a second series:) Come to think of it, it's funny that something written as long as 30 years ago can still be an awesome read now. Imagine how fantastic of a writer she is! What an achievement: to mesmerize the minds of teenagers now and then.

The thing I love most about her writing is that they are short but sweet. You can open up any page and it's a whole story- beginning, body and end within 3 pages. They're easy to relate to and she makes readers (or at least me) smile in recognition and smirk of the topics she talks about.

This afternoon when I decided to take a break from Microbiology mind-boggling matters, I wanted to take a nap but then I saw the book which was lying so irresistibly inviting next to my pillow.

It so happened that this was the first short story I opened to. So here's a treat -an excerpt from one of her writings- by one of my most favourite authors (my first would be Jamilah Samian):

OUR MIGHT-HAVE-BEENS

As I was passing

Adibah Amin

Looking back at the 'crossroads' in your life, do you like to imagine where you would be today if you had taken a road other than the one you took?

I must confess this is one of my favourite pastimes. A futile exercise, the more sensible of my friends say: for the fact remains that you took the road you took and here you are and there is nothing you can do about it. Alas, this is only too true. Yet for each realistic person I know, there are a dozen dreamers who share my weakness for the game of might-have-beens.

Suppose you had signed up for sciences as your family wanted instead of for arts, where would you be this moment? Sitting in your own posh clinic, perhaps, prescribing pills and potions to the pscychosomatic rich; or driving your Mercedes-Benz to a construction site to proffer expert advice; or just as likely, slogging soullessly at your seventh temporary job along fellow failures and dropouts.

And suppose you had chosen that nice boy you could not fall for because he was too nice instead of the impossible character you did choose; how would your life have turned out? Nice and neat, probably. By not the two of you would have your own home with potted ferns and lace curtains; one big car and one small car; one strapping son and one cute daughter.

You cannot be certain, however, that the nice boy would have remained nice. People change. After all, the impossible character you married has become somewhat less impossible over the years. There is no way of telling whether you did in fact make the right choice.

Not even if you bump into that nice boy again and find he has matured into just as nice a man. Before you begin to envy his wife her good fortune, you might as yourself to what extent he owes his continued niceness to her. Who knows but that marriage to you might have made a moster out of him, human chemistry being the crazy thing it is.

Still, when the impossible one is at his most impossible, it does help to be able to say to your regular confidante over a cup of coffee, "I should have chosen A." Just as, when your job in the civil service or teaching or journalism or whatever gets you really down, you can put back quite a bit of bounce in your spirits if you say airily, "You know, of course, I had a chance to do marine biology."

......

It is a harmless game if you know when and how to stop. The danger point is when you start sighing, "If only I could live my life over again..."

The thing is to say brutally to yourself: I cannot live my life over again. And even if I could, me being me at that time, I would have made the same decisions. So there.

Ah, she writes so deliciously. I want to write just like her:)

such a silly thing

It is simply so amazing. One moment I was feeling upset about something I have been wasting my energy on and when I chanced upon this article and read the last line, I smiled to myself.

They are two extremely amazing people.

I can't wait to get the plan into action.

Two girls raise funds for smiles

Updated: Sun Dec. 20 2009 12:27:37 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

Kiki Cooper and Victoria Kalisky are on a mission to get kids in developing nations to smile.

The 11-year-olds from Hampstead and Cote St. Luc have raised over $4,500 so far for Smile Train, a charity that funds cleft palate surgeries in 75 of the world's poorest nations.

The two Akiva School students sell bracelets door-to-door and speak in classrooms about cleft palates, spreading awareness about the birth defect that creates an opening between a child's upper lip and nose.

"We're encouraging them to smile so they'll learn that even something - just smiling is a special, extraordinary thing," said Victoria, as she and Kiki spoke to a kindergarten class about the defect.

After reading about the organization in a magazine article, the girls knew they wanted to contribute. Of the 111,000 cleft palate surgeries Smile Train has funded this year, the girls have contributed enough money for 18.

"It's just so heartwarming and so nice to see two young children take such initiative," said Debbie Pollack, Victoria's mother.

The fundraising efforts have taught the girls, above all else, perspective.

"I keep posters of Smile Train all over my room so when I'm upset about something, I just go and I turn (and realize) I can't feel upset about this, it's such a silly thing," said Kiki.

mandarin

Basic Mandarin Final Exam Semester 1: Over.

Time: 2 hours.

Pages: 4.

Time it took me: 15 minutes.

If I compare Mandarin to Arabic, I'd say... Mandarin is harder. Or maybe I'm being biased because I've only learned Mandarin for 4 months. Still, perhaps thats why it's so hard. Because we've got to learn the intonation and spelling and memorize new words all within those 4 months. Only at the last minute did I memorize the intonation or the strokes used for numbers (1378 uses stroke 1, 10 uses stroke 2, 59 uses stroke 3 and 246 uses stroke 4). Didn't really help when Najah kept repeating Wo xihuan yi dali mian (I like spaghetti). There was no question asking what we liked to eat. There were questions about mama and papa but I didn't understand that so I just bantai.

I think I take learning Arabic for granted just because I'm so used to the letters since I was young. If I were to learn Arabic now, it WOULD be very frustrating having to keep in mind the Arabic letters and how they're formed. But I guess that's nothing compared to Mandarin; with the strokes and lines and this and that. Honestly, I get very confused:(

For the finals, there were questions on translating into mandarin. Of course, even if you know it doesn't mean that you'd get it right unless you get the strokes right too. The last word to translate was "Your welcome". I couldn't remember the translation so I just left it. When I came out of the exam hall and asked Min, she said: You know what? I couldn't remember it either. So I was actually planning to put a smiley; because yknow when someone says thank you, you smile back at them." :)

I laughed at that. A universal "Your welcome" I guess.

I thought Mandarin would be over. But then I realized: Here comes Semester 2. Pray I get through better this time.

Ni xi huan hanyu pinyin?

conflict

I'm under approach-approach conflict.

Or maybe it's avoidance-avoidance conflict. Or maybe it's neither. I need to be at both places. And it's at the same time.

Both are extremely important.

How... why...

Only one way: Solat Istikharah.

saje.

:)

of chicks and goslings

Stone pavement leading to the pen for the chicks and goslings:)

Meadow to the left and bamboo bench to the right.

Being back at Janda Baik for less than 24 hours has done nothing but made me fall impossibly in love. I could just watch them for hours and hours, staring at how their tiny feet carries them from the feed, to the water bowl and to each other, huddled up to gain as much heat as possible. And occasionally chasing each other when my brothers throw in an insect; then this calls for a fight between the chicks and goslings in what we can compare to a gladiator arena (insect to a gladiator as the chicks and goslings to the lions). As syarif says: Once we've got our hands on the mantis, its fate is sealed.

But apart from that, having the little chickiyanos curling in your hands is really a totally different kind of delight. At first their legs are unstable balancing on your hands; but after a while they calm down and even get all pampered when you start stroking them. Even if you're not doing anything but sitting in the pen watching them chirp here and there, sooner or later they'd come close to you and start pecking at your feet which brings nothing more than an attempt of tickling feat from their part.

One of the chicks. I can never tell them apart; only my brothers can call them by name.

Overall, there are 5 chicks and 2 goslings. Without my presence, they were all given guy-ish names. Not things like fluffy wings or cutie pie. But names like Houdini (because it keeps 'mysteriously' escaping the pen), White Wings (self-explanatory), "something" Beak (I can't recall this one), Sleepyhead (another self explanatory; it's the first to fall asleep and even dozes off to dreamland after you hold it only for a few seconds) and Super Chick aka Benedict (let's not indulge into the reason behind this one shall we. Even I don't know). The goslings are called.... Gosling 1 and Gosling 2. Or they DO have a name but I forgot (Note to self: Consult Safi on this).

The most adorable thing about them would be when they fall asleep. Not that I was able to watch them fall asleep- that one night I was in Janda Baik, I fell asleep super early! But since the temperature outside was freezing cold, we brought them in just for the night. Before they slept, they were all huddling together and pushing each other to get as comfy as possible. The goslings were already curled up and falling asleep but the extremely energetic baby chickens were jostling against one another and even walking over the goslings. Eventually, the chirpings mellowed down into the night... and the next morning, they're all up and about, chirping at the top of their lungs, ready to carry out their normal routine of eating, drinking, chasing and sleeping.

Ahh I just can't wait to see them again!:)

Note: My upcoming posts may come up a bit slower because I will be entering Microbiology block. I'm really not so sure why I'm announcing this but for some reason, there have been requests of updates (which is quite a surprise- people want to know what's going on in MY life?) so there's my explanation:)

Insya Allah

Insya Allah-Maher Zain

Everytime you feel like you cannot go on

You feel so lost

And that you're so alone

All you see is night

And darkness all around

You feel so helpless

You can`t see which way to go

Don`t despair and never lose hope

'Cause Allah is always by your side

Insya Allah3x

Insya Allah you`ll find your way

Everytime you commit one more mistake

You feel you can`t repent

And that it's way too late

You're so confused, wrong decisions you have made

Haunt your mind and your heart is full of shame

Don`t despair and never lose hope

'Cause Allah is always by your side

Insya Allah3x

Insya Allah you`ll find your way

Insya Allah3x

Insya Allah you`ll find your way

Turn to Allah

He`s never far away

Put your trust in Him

Raise your hands and pray

OOO Ya Allah

Guide my steps don`t let me go astray

You`re the only One who can show me the way,

Show me the way 2x

Insya Allah3x

Insya Allah we`ll find the way

10 things

I received an email from a fellow Toastmaster the other day. It read:

My Dearest Toastmasters!

Every year on 31/12, I'll list down 10 things I achieved in 2009, and 10 things I want to achieve in 2010.

Every year I would be so amazed, didn't know I have achieved so many wonderful things in my life, if I just rush through a new year. God is indeed Great & Wonderful.

Simply taking 10mins of your time reflecting and writing down what you have achieved on 2009 (be it big/ small, "spent a 3 full days together with my family" is an achievent for me) and 10mins to think and write down what you want to achieve in 2010 (Not what other want you to achieve, but what are important to YOU and you sincerely want to achieve, personal & career).

It will have a magical effects on written Goals.

Do it, you'll amazed yourself with what you have achieved. And you will not regret when you review on 31/12/2010.

Goals written down has 60% higher chance to achieve!

And there are only 3% of the people has written goals, 13% had goals, not written down, 84% no specific goals at all.

BE THE TOP 3%!

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY & PURPOSEFUL YEAR AHEAD.

Joescher Chee

So here I implore you readers to do the same. And although it's past 31st December, it wouldn't hurt just writing it a few days later:) So here goes (not in a specific order):

10 things I achieved in 2009

1. Won my first award for a speech contest- Area C1 Toastmasters Evaluation Speech Contest (2nd place). After only having given an evaluation twice, I was more than surprised to have won such an award.
2. Raised $50 for the Smile Train- the amount needed for one cleft lip repair medication. Solely saved from my savings; but also with contributions from Alina and Zahid.
3. Learnt to cook! I do know how to cook before this but not like being able to cook to keep myself from starving for a day. With the availability of kitchen utensils, time and a "teacher" (aka Faz), I managed to pull off some surprisingly edible cuisines:)
4. Passed through Foundation and entered First Year MBBS. Alhamdulillah, even managed to get a High Achiever's Award from Foundy:)
5. Passed the Basic Life Support Exam and was offered to go to LTDJ '09 where I spent an amazing time with kampung folk.
6. Gave a talk on how to do an SCTL during Orientation for our juniors. Never expected I could do it. Alhamdulillah, proud of myself. Thank you Alina for being my bench-marker:)
7. Did not mess up huge artworks - Carwash promo poster and LTDJ Token of Appreciation.
8. Learnt a new sport:)
9. Learnt how to use Flash MX, Photoshop, and my awesome Graphics Tablet all starting this year- an advancement in my drawing capabilities:)
10. Organized two (TWO!) Toastmasters Demo in CUCMS-not exactly with the success that I was hoping for but with a lot more favorable outcomes that I had imagined and knowing that I had inspired people when I gave my speech.

10 things I want to achieve in 2010 (my final year as a teenager)

1. Raise money for a cleft lip repair. Go to Kerala, meet Dr Hirji, and have the most awesome trip to a cleft lip repair surgery in India.
2. Participate in Toastmasters International Speech Contest 2010. Earliest club contest is in February! District contest at Miri in May! I've been meaning to get prepared since mid last year. Time has gone by so fast...
3. MMU TMC to be recognized as at least Distinguished Club! As Vice President Education, I'm going to make a difference for my term.
4. Get my Competent Communicator Award before April. This means another 4 more speeches to be done...
5. Join The Star Public Speaking Competition (held ever year, probably midyear)
6. Get into 2nd year MBBS.
7. ...
8. ...
9. ...
10. ...

Still thinking. I do know I've a lot I want to achieve but I just cannot seem to recall at this moment in time...

*post still under construction*