thankful

Alrightey, I'm a bitter person no more. T'was a phase. Or at least I think so.

Someone kindly reminded me that:

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination:) how can you know the joy of being on the summit, unless you have first visited the lowest valleys. Remember your thoughts are living bundles of energy ^-^ keep smiling Alia, you are one of the most optimistic people people I know:D"

So, having to live up to those expectations of being one of the most optimistic people known, I shall keep and stay energized, enthusiastic and upbeat throughout even being in the lowest valleys. Thank you:)

Nucleotide Metabolism topic this week opened my eyes and mind to lessons beyond the classroom.

Say hello to Biochem 101:) In order to make the DNA, we must first make nucleotides. And if one enzyme is missing within that process of making nucleotides, it can have absolutely lethal outcome. For example, the deficiency of Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase (HGPRT), an enzyme.

The outcome of not having this enzyme would be: Lesch Nyhan sydrome. The effects are severe gout (accumulation of toxic uric acid in your body), hyperuricemia, aggressive behaviour and many more. But most horrifyingly is that it causes self-mutilation.

Mutilate: to destroy or injure severely. Oneself. So the people would be biting their lips, their nose, their arms until they bleed and flesh is seen. The thing is, they would start gnawing at their knuckles if you don't place protection like boxing gloves on their hands. Faz opened a video of self-mutilation and it showed a case in Phillipines where this boy was just nonstop trying to bite himself. The doctor was explaining during the documentary (but of course we couldn't understand Tagalog) and snippets of the vid showed the mother crying her heart out. It was heart breaking...

I learnt:

1. To be sincerely thankful that God made my body as a whole. That my one enzyme HGPRT is not missing so that PRPP does not accumulate and IMP nor GMP is deficient in my body. I'm grateful that I can think, eat, stand all pretty much independently without having to worry my parents on whether I'd be ripping out my fingers.

2. That being a doctor in the future, there are so many (scary) diseases and illnesses you'd be facing. You need stable hands, a sincere heart and strong head (ie mind).

3. That one small building block deficient can result to terrifyingly huge consequences.

Most of all, I learnt not to be bitter. Because there are just too many other things to be thankful for.

Grand master plan: 1 more week.

bitter

I feel like I'm turning into a bitter person filled with repressed hurt, regret, and anger:(

Someone save me, please.

I need endorphin boosters. I need a way out.

Absolutely Magical!

Hello Genting Highlands!:)

Toastmasters held its KL Semi-Annual Convention in Genting from 23rd to 25th October. Due to my duties elsewhere and since I was mostly only looking forward to watching the final Humorous and Evaluation Speech Contest, my dad picked me up from Cyberjaya and drove me all the way to Genting Highlands.

It was worth it. As truly in line with the theme, it was "Absolutely Magical!"

And here we are, finally!

I attended the Gala Dinner which was on the final night. Managed to meet a few people but of course, me being only a 10-month old member, was not recognized by many. Just wait til the next speech competition, I shalt be known!:D During the Gala night however, I met Pei Leng (Intelligent Speakers Club) and Choi San (MIM KL and Division P3 Gov) and sat with them for dinner. I had to be separated from Ahmad and my dad. But Pei Leng and Choi San were such dears, explaining things I didn't know and keeping me company throughout:)

Choi San and I:)

This morning's competition was the grand finale of the month long Humorous and Evaluation Speech marathon. This was the magical event I was looking forward to the most because district level's speakers has one of the highest qualities of speeches. Needless to say, I was mesmerized!

My KPI: Marianna Pascal, Champion of Humorous Speech Contest

The Champion for Humorous Speech Contest: Marianna Pascal from a Toastmasters' Club in Johor. Her humorous speech entitled "Local English or Standard English?" revealed Malaysia's colourful rojak language and how foreigners found them extremely hard to understand. Like how her foreign friend was going to work at a restaurant, her manager asked her to make fruit juice with the blender and fruits and instructed her, "Put in the fruits after switch on." (you have to intonate it clearly to see the punch line). But her perplexed friend understood it as "Put in the fruits after you switch on the blender". Of course, a mishap occurred:P the real meaning was the "Put in the fruits after that switch it on." Lol. You had to be there:)

The Humorous and Evaluation Speech contest certainly fueled my spirit to enter the International Speech Contest next year! In fact, my dad has already booked the tickets to Miri for the next convention in May. Of course, it may take a few failures to get to the top but I'm all ready for that.

Toastmasters' ISC 2010, say hello to Alia Nadhirah!:)

Self Reassurance

Dr Hatta, the Dean of MBBS at our university, came by during our case study and gave a short speech. He told us that at this moment in time, some of us might feel that we're unsure that we are in the right course (ie Medicine). He continued: "What must you do? Kene pujuk hati."

So here's my self assurance.

Dear Alia,

Sometimes you might feel that the workload is overwhelming and the marks are not that encouraging. The classes are sometimes incomprehensible and at times even after reading the same paragraph 3 times, you might still not be able to understand. You might not be able to easily remember after only reading once. You may be targeted to answer a question but you won't know. You might be asked something beyond your knowledge and be criticized at your incompetency. You might have to take the plunge and look like an idiot not knowing what to do because you can't recall the examples of ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids. You might be torn in two and have to choose between duty and responsibility.

But it's okay.

Remember why you wanted to take medicine in the first place. Your great dreams- you are now steps closer to changing the world one smile at a time. You are going to fall, you are going to fail, you are going to be frazzled, frustrated and fearful. It's normal. In the end, life is about making a difference. Enjoy the journey and make a change along the way by taking each day at a time and focusing on the present.

There are so many people willing to take your hand to hold you up and just as many to catch you when you experience myocardium infarction and fall to the ground. They are going to be there when you cry and feel like giving in. They are going to lend a shoulder when you feel like the world's weight is on your back.

Don't forget prayer is very important. You've been forgetting that your greatest strength comes from the do'a and Allah's will.

Never give up. When a person truly desires something, the world will conspire to help realize her dreams.Remember, if the going is easy, take care: you may be headed downhill.

19th to 24th

This week's achievements:

1. Learnt some more cooking recipes, courtesy of my mom's enthusiastic shopping spree and Faz's culinary skills. I am steps closer to becoming a better "cooker" and surpassing the person who THINKS they're a KPI just because they can cook butter chicken and salmon.
   
   
2. Attended Sunathon (Sunat Marathon: Mass Circumcision) Training. Practiced on how to do Clean and Drape, apply Local Anesthesia and suture on skin and tube. I didn't realized applying anesthesia was that complicated. Suturing was fun though! We were practicing on a tubing (a 'model' in replacement for the male genitalia) and using real suturing equipments. Njh Faz and Fifi who were sitting next to us were gossiping about how me and Cah were looking so serious on doing the suturing like we were doing a heart transplant. They, on the other hand, were profusely apologizing ("Sorry adik, sorry adik)" to the tubing.
   
   
3. Just now we had yet another Medical training- Basic Life Support. We learnt the steps of DR ABC - Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation. It was honestly really interesting and Prof Ikram was undeniably adorable in demonstrating BLS to a baby:) Tomorrow we'll be having Medical Checkup training. For the first time I'll be using my very own stethoscope!:D
   
   
4. My grand master plan is still on its way... I have managed to do more research and enhanced the details of my plan. I'm really pleased because I came across great resources; exactly what I needed! My housemates are really perplexed at what I'm planning. Don't worry lahh, I'll let it out to the whole world once it's more or less organized:)
   
   
5. Biochemistry this week was fun though as always my marks are unsatisfactory:( Due to the many long processes that we needed to memorize, some of us had come up with methods which some I found were extremely interesting. Syafiqah 'Agag' Shuhel taught me a really awesome way to memorize the Krebs Cycle. Thanks to you, I've memorized all components! Thank you darling:D So here goes the Kreb's Cycle:
   
   Cipan Idaman Akak Succi Suke Family Mak Orang
   Take the first letter of the word and voila!...
   Citrate, Isocitrate, Alpha Ketoglutarate, Succinyl CoA, Succinate, Fumarate, Malate and Oxaloacetate.
   
   Omg you're awesome, Agag!:D

I'd say it has been a very productive week... More goals I'm looking forward to achieve next week!

Motivated!

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling quite inadequate and unaccomplished. For this week, I've set out goals, found inspiration and ultimately feel extremely motivated at the end of 5 days!

1. I suddenly had the drive to cook this week. Yes, I did not actually know how to cook "filling" meals. I've learnt how to cook Nasi Goreng Cina, Kampung, Pataya within these 5 days, under the supervision of Faz, Sara and Cah. My culinary spirit has finally realized that it's been dormant for far too long and has now surfaced (I knew I had it in me... somewhere). 1 Exp level UP!

2. My sudden cooking spree has enabled me to save more! Unprecedentedly, I had to pay the RM38 bill for the month. Seeing that I only hold rm50 per week, I was only left with rm12 on Monday itself. I can't believe it but I really did survive with rm12 for 5 days with rm3 saved. It's amazing what you can do when you realize how much you want to save. Although I didn't reach the rm20 that I was targeting per week, I'm really proud of myself:)

3. Dr Hirji Adenwalla's story had such an astronomical impact on me that I am now inspired to embark on a personal mission. The secret I will indulge only after the execution of my action plan. Rest assured, whether it is a success or a failure, I will blog about it. I am honestly excited about it and have been thinking about it nonstop since the revelation on this awesome project!

4. Biochemistry, so far my dreaded subject because of the "chemistry", has really sucked the soul out of me and left me wriggling like a fish gasping for air (this has taken all logic out; but this is what biochem does to you). Even then, Alhamdulillah, I managed to scrape an A- for the week assessment. Most surprising because this is my first A out of tests of Anatomy and Physiology.

I think it's because I've been so motivated with my savings, Dr Hirji and my cuisine-creating development. Plus, I found out about your story and I found out that you're still alive; that inspired me as well. You know who you are:)

"Find your motivation and thou shalt find thyself" -me

Selfless: Dr Hirji Adenwalla

He has got to be one of the most amazing man I've ever heard of. I want to be just like this. Surgeries free of charge and getting money from giving speeches!

Smile Train Partner Spotlight

A Man On A Mission: Decades Of Helping Children Who Have No Place Else To Turn.

The Webster's Dictionary definition of "selfless" — "without regard for one's own interests" — is certainly clear and concise. Should the dictionary ever desire an alternate definition, however, it might want to consider three words: "Doctor Hirji Adenwalla."

To know Dr. Adenwalla is to understand that no one, anywhere, is more emblematic of the word "selfless." What better way to describe a unique man who, as head of the Charles Pinto Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate in Kerala, India for the more than 40 years, has devoted his considerable skills to improving — some might say "salvaging" — the lives of more than 7,000 underprivileged children by giving them the life-transforming ability to smile. Equally remarkable, Dr. Adenwalla has performed every one of these surgeries himself, free of charge, on a budget historically so modest that much of it has resulted from speaking fees. He typically spends his annual vacation making speeches to social service organizations in order to raise funds for the Centre.

Since 2001, the first year that The Smile Train was privileged to provide the Charles Pinto Centre with funding, Dr. Adenwalla has performed cleft lip and palate repair on more than 2,000 children who would otherwise have never received it.

"With the help of The Smile Train, we're able to reach out to many more children and change many more lives." says Dr Adenwalla. "I am very excited about what the future holds for this partnership."

A longtime professional associate described the Charles Pinto Centre's work as "truly remarkable,"and Dr. Adenwalla as "a legendary surgeon who has touched thousands of lives with his heart, his head and his hands. A very rare combination of huge talent and tiny ego."

Dr. Adenwalla himself, of course, dismisses such praise and deflects all compliments. But he reveals at least a part of what motivates him in a speech he made recently at a Smile Train Celebration of 100,000 Smiles, "The lessons that we learn from human misery are to love�To never forget and to never, never look away."