Self reflection ( Adaptability)
The word adaptability really has a broad meaning and dimension. Every individual have their own way to describe adaptability. It differ in every situation you are in. The definition of adaptability is the quality of being able to adjust or make change to deal with a new condition .In my own word adaptability is the way you cope with certain situation even in a situation that you have been through. From the definition alone, we can say that adaptability is the most important aspect of life that everyone need to possess. In adaptability skill , there is two-part process which is flexibility and versatility. In this context, flexibility is our willingness to adapt meanwhile versatility is our ability to adapt. Some people has a really good skill in being adaptable but there are still other people that does not have a good adaptability skill. Our adaptability skill differ in every individual because there are things that are unavoidable that block someone from being adaptable. For example, fear, decision bias or their own habit. These traits that weaken our adaptability skill are different in every individual and. These are the things that are hard to change in a short time. By being adaptable we can achieve so many things such as we be a better leader than can lead all the subordinates efficiently and we can face any challenge without any dread and we will become relevant throughout our life. To make it simple, adaptability is a key to all the doors that lead you to a better life whenever and wherever we are.
In my situation, I learn that being adaptable is crucial especially when you are facing a new situation, environment or problem. Adaptability is one of the UTM graduate attributes that are needed in every students. In the beginning of my life in UTM, it really test my ability to cope with all the things that happen around me because I admit that it is a tough and challenging journey. It is my first time to live far away from my family and I am here alone. I really hate to do all the things alone like eating or go to class. I know that being alone is not good and I need to make a new friends which I did and this is how I adapt to this situation. I realize that the more friends you have, the better your life in the university. Before entering UTM, I studied in Pusat Asasi Sains University Malaya and the academic system here when I take my degree is totally different when I was in foundation. Everything is new to me including the way the lecturer teach, the environment and the life here. I know that I need to get hold of everything as soon as possible because if I cannot get used to this situation, it will affect my academic performance and my mental health. At first my ability to successfully adapt to this situation is being blocked by the thought that I hate this place. This is not what I want and I want to go back to my previous institution. I become discontent with my situation but eventually I get to accept it and I begin to love this place. It is all because I learn how to adapt in this new environment. Discontent is feeling of dissatisfaction or unhappy with certain situation and it undermine our ability to be adaptable. I can say that it is a fundamental to start understanding that our behavior that we learned and belief including our mental script can influence what we choose to do and causes us to become inflexible and not adaptable (Prince,E.S. 2013). As time goes on I start to put aside all the discontentment and open up to all changes that come.
From my own experience I can say that flexibility and versatility in adaptability is two important component that need to stand side by side so that someone can successfully adapt to a new situation. There are many ways someone can be adaptable but in my condition, socialize with new people , occupy myself with beneficial things or programme and never let negative thought surround myself is the best way to adapt to new situation. Socialize with new people and having a good bond with them can help me develop a sense of belonging and it also develop my interpersonal dimension of adaptability. I know that by having a good friend can guide me to be a better person and can reduce my worries. Next, by occupying myself with beneficial things I can shift my attention towards something that is more important than my feelings towards all the negative thought. I joined quite a lot programme but the most significant programme is when I am one of the committee member in UTM 63rd convocation ceremony under Kelab Fotokreatif. I learned a lot form this programme and it helps to cope with my current situation where I was feeling so sad because my roommate decided to quit her studies and I am left alone with no roommate. Since I joined many programme I realize that I can be independent and I can learned many things about life in university. By joining all these programme I killed two birds with one stone as it increase my soft skill and it helps me develop a good adaptability skill. My adaptive performance now is better than when I first entered UTM. Last but not least I never let negative thought or behaviour indulge myself . I always make sure that everyday I woke up with positive attitudes towards everything so that through out the whole day I can embrace and face any problem or challenge with an open heart. By doing this, I become more adaptable and it reduce my stress level. It shows that all these experiences develop my adaptability skill.
In conclusion adaptability is the most important skill in our life. It is said that the basic advantage for men is simply his adaptability( Schneidau, H. N.1976). we can successfully thrive for success wherever we are if our adaptability skill is high. It takes time to be comfortable with a new situation but slowly everyone can do it and overcome the situation. Believe in yourself and never underestimate our own capability and ability to accomplish our purpose in life. If we have the will to change, success will waiting for us in the end of the road. There is a saying from a book that really touch my heart which is “ the courage to adapt is a gift, the ability to adapt is a skill, the willingness to adapt is a choice” (Roberts, J. 2019). This saying really describe how adaptability works. It all started from us either we want to live comfortable in our own shell or try to go out and explore all the things that the world give us.
References
Prince, E.S.(2013). skills for the future.
Roberts, J. (2019). Fountain of life: Looking for wisdom and truth.
Schneidau, H. N. (1976). Sacred discontent: The Bible and Western tradition. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.