Mid-Semester Reflection

          For the past few weeks, I believed that I have learnt a lot of knowledge from this course. One of Dr Hadi’s class that leave a remarkable impact to me was when he showed a video regarding job interview to us. Believe it or not, the competition in getting a job in any career is very fierce nowadays. From the video, I could conclude that understanding in doing certain task is important for any workers, especially among fresh graduates. However, I also wanted to express my devastated feeling about the world’s reality. One of my classmates, Ain stated that, “Academic achievement does not really secure the graduates any job. “. Hearing that, I thought for a while and had a battle of fight in my mind regarding her statement. Although it is difficult for me to accept the statement, it is a good point and the truth. Nowadays, students strived hard in studying all the knowledge from every level of education in Malaysia. The struggle to achieve a good academic achievement is not a joke yet it is a dream for every student. However, we cannot deny the fact that academic achievement of student cannot secure you any position in the work field if you do not possess other important skills, such as communication and thinking skills.

Dr Hadi also emphasized about top 5 reasons why fresh graduates did not get hired. The detailed explanations given by him had help me to fully realize and understand the current reality regarding job opportunity. For instance, one of the reasons why fresh graduates did not get hired is they are being choosy about the job or company. I am partially agreed to this statement. Fresh graduates supposed to consider the factor of fierce competition in getting a job in the industry. Knowing that the opportunity in the work field is already competitive enough, fresh graduates who already managed to secure the job should just try to adapt themselves with the company working style. No matter how hard it is, success will always follow us if we are able to face this challenge despite having various company to work with. Most importantly, graduates who have work with various company must always appreciate the experiences they got with each employee as they can use it as an advantage and specialty in grabbing a better position in the work field in the future.

          Furthermore, I also want to reflect the lesson Dr Hadi gave us past three weeks. After giving lecture about communication issue, Dr Hadi had assigned us to group. I got the chance to create new friendship with both local and international students thanks to Dr Hadi’s method in creating the group. I realized that one thing I got each time after Graduate Success Attributes class is that I manage to create new friendships with new people. Each group were given different topic to discuss among members. We decide to choose the topic about how to be a good daughter and son as it is relatable for us and other classmates. Through this activity, I got to hear so many stories from different backgrounds. Each of the groups has different experience to tell the class regarding each other’s topic. Each topic presented by different group had widen my mind as I can never expect what the others have gone through. The experiences I got from them can be useful to me as I can use it as a guidance when I face difficulties in the future.

          I also learnt a lot from Dr Hadi’s class past two weeks. We were informed through e-learning that the students were required to give a prompt talk in front of the class today. I was quite nervous for this activity as my speaking skills was not so good, but I also wanted to do it as soon as possible because I did not want to have any fears for the next class. Before the prompt talk activity started, we had to form a group for the next assignment followed by a short lecture given by Dr Hadi, which was about communication skills. Next, after the short lecture finished, Dr Hadi gave us about 1 minute to think about an issue or topic for the prompt talk. We can talk about anything we want, whether it related to our life, current news, or even facts. There were some students who talked about money and happiness. Most of them agreed that money cannot buy happiness. However, I have some different opinion to share. From my point of view, money does matter in achieving happiness in human’s life. It is all depend on how humans spend their money that can determine one’s happiness in life. A lot of things that bring happiness to one’s life and even others can be done if we have a stable financial. Most importantly, we can achieve happiness in life if we always do kindness, be humble and remember where we come from when we have a huge amount of money in the future.

In addition, my friend, Desmond also managed to give me a lesson from his prompt talk. He said that he did not do very well in English. Both speaking and listening. He admitted that he was having difficulties to understand most of lecturers’ class as English is being used as the medium to communicate with students. This is due to when he was in Sarawak, he only spoke and listened in Chinese language. From this incident, I learnt that not all Chinese can speak and understand English fluently. Most of Malaysians, including me expect that speaking and listening to English language is not a big deal to Chinese. However, after hearing Desmond’s honest confessions today, I realized that Chinese were also like other races. The ones who get education and live in an urban place will find that speaking and listening to English is not that hard. Malaysians need to change this stereotype so same level of education can be exposed to everyone.

          Hence, from all the lessons I have learnt from Graduate Success Attributes course, I believed that my learning will be more advance for the next part of the semester. First and foremost, I will become braver and have more confidence in doing any tasks, assignments or activity. In fact, I realized that I am a great follower, not a leader. Hence, in the next group assignment, I hope that I can contribute so much efforts to my group and hence become a great supporter to my leader’s command. Furthermore, I will also try to be an open-minded person in order to ensure that any assignment or task given by lecturer to me and my friends will be done without having any difficulties. If any of my groupmates face problems and difficulties to cooperate with my group’s plan, an alternative strategy will be given to him to ensure that no one will become a passenger in the group and at least will contribute something to the group.

          Moreover, I will also try to change my learning style to a better one. As I already created new friends with both local and international friends, it is easy for me to ask any of them about certain course if I do not understand about it. All this time, I prefer to study alone and have no one to ask if I face difficulties in studying. Thus, for the next semester, I already have new friends to interact with if I face any problems regarding studies. Although I am not fond with the idea of study group as I prefer on doing self-study, it does not mean I cannot ask them the questions I do not understand. I can even join any group discussion to do and answer the assignments given by the lecturers. In that way, our answer will be more precise and the probability to get it correct will be higher as it is reviewed and done by a few people, not only one.

          In addition, my learning also will be advanced as I am not scared to ask questions that I do not understand in classes. I know that there is supposedly no time to be shy to ask questions to the lecturers as it is important for me as a student to understand the content of the learning during classes. As a result, as I manage to understand what the lecturers are teaching, it is easier for me to review back what I have learnt and hence do extra practices to enhance my knowledge about specific course. I also can share what I understand about certain information better with my friends as I will implement the tips of how to have a good communication skill. My friends thus will be able to understand each of my words easily without having any difficulties to relate it with the studies. Clear and smooth explanation will then be able to occur between me and my other friends. In result, not only I manage to practice my speaking and listening skills, I can also enhance my understanding about certain knowledge as I will keep repeating and teaching the same information to my friends all over again.

            In order to achieve success, it is normal to face hardships and challenges, especially as a student. I think the greatest challenge that I have ever face and currently face in my life is regarding socializing with people. I must admit that I am an introvert person. It is hard for me to create new friendship with people I do not know. Other possible reason of why I choose socializing as my hardest hardship is because at certain time, I enjoy being alone. However, I realize that I need to become more talkative to enhance my socializing skill as it relates to other important skill, which is communication skill. By socializing with others, it can also develop my thinking skills. I get to hear so many opinions and thoughts about certain issue. Thus, I will solve my socializing problem by making more new friends and talk to them often. The confidence I have built up from Dr Hadi’s class will help me a lot in talking and communicating with new people. I also will try to leave a good impression to my new friends so that they can be comfortable when talking to me.

            Next, I also must admit that I am the type of person who is hard to accept new changes in life. I can say that my childhood was not the same as most other students experienced. I always moved to a new house and school in different state as my father’s job has always changed. At first, I do not understand why we must move to a new house and school. I think due to this incident in my life, it made me become who I am today. The one who prefer to be alone, not a great talker, and once became a timid and quiet girl. However, as I grow up, I realize that all my parents did are just for their children’s happiness in the future. They do not go through all the troubles just to get rich, but they want to have a stable financial so that all of their five children will have a bright future, for instance get the chance to further their studies in any course they like. Thus, from this hardship, I learn that developing an open mind is essential for every student and I also will always try to think positive whenever I in pressure in the future. Although at certain time life can be mean to me, I must always know and remind myself that after facing hardships in life, ease will come to me.

            Furthermore, I must admit that I am easy to get homesick. Since my father lived separately from my mother and I, I am closer to my mother. She is the one who grow me up with care and love and managed in shaping me in becoming a great person.  She is always there for me when I face difficulties and hardships. Although I am not the type of person who will share my problems with my parents, her presence to me is already enough to give me strength in facing this world. Thus, when I have to separate with my parents, it is hard for me as I will always remember them in whatever I do. The thought of them being alone at home has always made me worry and sad. Hence, as a solution, I will try to socialize more with my close friends and at the same time, implement all the knowledge I got from Dr Hadi’s class regarding communication. Not only that, I will also strengthen my bond with my creator as He is the one who will help me in overcoming my homesickness. As I make myself busy with activity that will bring benefits to me, I will then soon adapt to the surrounding and reduce my homesickness.

            Finally, I also have faced problem in academic matter. As a normal student, it is a norm to always worry about academic achievement. However, the stress and pressure of getting good academic achievement is sometimes overwhelmed. Each lecturer has different expectations and style of grading. Thus, I will need to adapt myself with each of their style of teaching and grading. The level of doing writing and reading assessment will of course be higher than before. Thus, by implementing the knowledge I get from Graduate Success Attributes, I hope that I can be more relax in studying my courses. I do not want myself to have an extreme concern and worry about things in the future so that I can truly enjoy what I experience at current moment.

            To sum up, Graduates Success Attributes course has indeed help me a lot in becoming a better student and human. I have received a lot of lesson from this course that will help me to advance my student’s life to a better and higher level. Moreover, the knowledge I got from this course will also help me in finding and choosing the best solution for me in solving any difficulties and hardships in my life.