Happy mail.

Guess what I got in my mail today from Monash University!!!! :D :D :D


An invitation from the Department of Business Law and Taxation for me (and two guests) to Hilton in Melbourne for the annual Student Awards Evening-- I am to receive the 2007 academic year award, and quoting the letter, the event is to "recognize and reward our highest achieving students in our units and courses"!

:D :D :D :D :D


This was a fabulous surprise, especially after receiving another "Top-scorer" award for one of my IT subjects recently. :)))


Please just let me revel in my pride for a moment!!! :P
This award is exceptionally meaningful for me, because for the unit 'Workplace Law', I actually went through a lot of shit. I was the only international student in the class, and I didn't exactly got favorable treatment for that.

I remember, for one discussion, we were split into groups to dissect some case studies and come up with arguments. Now, Australian-born students (I use this term, because Australian-born Asians are the same) are generally impressive in university, because compared to us international students, they are more vocal, and they speak eloquently. However, if you just listen to what they are actually saying, it's just all a bunch of smooth, nicely-strung words-- all fluff, no substance. Even in classes, usually you will see all the Aussies raising their hands to just propose questions or express their opinions-- however, what come out of their mouth are usually... kind of unnecessary, if not irrelevant. They speak just for the sake of speaking. -_- Which is kind of nonsensical to me, because I only speak when I have something intelligent to say, or at least something to contribute. Of course, I am speaking of the Australians I have encountered in my course in my uni, the situation might differ in other places? =/

Anyway, back to the topic, during the group discussion, I was grouped with a bunch of Australians, and alas, they were totally missing the point for the case study, and just holding a death grasp on some irrelevant minor aspects. So I tried to offer them my opinion, but they just brushed me away, indicating that I do not know what I was doing. -_-

Even my lecturer gave me pitiful stares, probably 'cause I was the only Asian in the class (and 'cause most of the time I just have a blank gaze in the class-- 'cause too bored and too busy daydreaming, HAHA). So take that, you people who looked down on me during the class!! Asian pride yo! :P


In fact, 'cause the class was set during Friday evenings for THREE HOURS, I usually skip the class (Friday city-shopping trips and clubbing are more important, hee). I think in total, I have not attended more than 5 classes. o_O Haih, why am I so smart wtf.


Besides that, as unimportant as grades are now that I am stepping into the working world, I am glad that I have proven myself once more. :) During my university life, I have always felt that I was short-changing myself, because I didn't feel that I have achieved much, academically, that is. All through my school life, I have been a straight-As student, have been the top student of my class/school... But come university phase, I was just a happy-go-lucky teenager. =/ Don't get me wrong, I still worked hard (probably not as hard as I should have to achieved for bigger things), and I still got better grades than most people; but I didn't really achieve anything, if it makes sense. I felt like I was just floating by.

In fact, sometimes I surf blogs of younger students, and I see them talking about applications to universities in the US, Ivy League universities.... Universities that I used to aspire to get into. The young hui wen told herself that she wanted to get into Harvard. Haha, young hui wen or not, I highly doubt that I am brilliant enough for Harvard, but sometimes I look at people who are studying in the US or UK with envy. Now now, I am thankful that my dad paid for an overseas education for me (in Australia), but I think that an American education would have been more.. well-rounded. And if I have studied in the UK, there would be all this fantastic travelling to places that I could only dream of going to now.

Back then, my dad was trying to coerce me into Medicine; and I was just so busy trying to get out of that rut, that I really wasn't picky about the university or the country that I would be going to. Yep, you got that right. My dad had been trying to brainwash me into taking Medicine for almost my entire life. He was convinced that I am suitable for Medicine ('cause to him, I am hardworking and determined -_-), and he wanted someone to follow his footsteps, I guess. My whole life was planned in a route that I would eventually step into Medicine. I thought so, myself. I took pure Science in high school; when I reached pre-university, I took all Science subjects, I went for medicine university interviews... Even when I submitted my university applications, it was always "Medicine" in the first choice column. But when it came to crunch time, I just knew that being a doctor (or more specifically, a psychiatrist; yes, I even had my specialization picked out already-- I wanted something that was as far from being a doctor as it could be) wasn't my true calling. I was probably like thousands of young teenagers out there, confused, not sure what they wanted in life, or knew what they wanted as a destination but not sure how to get there... But yet, I didn't know what I want, but I knew what I didn't want. And Medicine wasn't where I wanted to be.

So here I am now, a few years down the road, and I am a holder of a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)/Bachelor of Business Systems double degree. I can't say it is what I wanted to do; I still believe that I would have done well in a more creative/social field. (When I told my dad that I wanted to going into Advertising, he told me "I'll disown you"!!) But at least this field of study warrants me more flexibility and freedom in pursuing some of my dreams and goals. And if anything, I think I'll look good in tight fitting pinstriped skirts, HAHA.

And that, is the whole morbid tale of how I got into my course; I haven't really divulge the details to people, I think the only people who are aware of the full story are my sisters, the boyfriend, and a handful of my closest friends. Yeah, not even my dad or mom knows. My dad still thinks that I gave up venturing into a medicine school because I am a coward-- he thinks that I just chickened out of it. It has put a little bit of strain on our relationship during the early years-- he giving me subtle digs on how easily I gave up or how I am just destined to be a banker; and me being angry at him for restricting my options for my future, for not encouraging and supporting me to do the things I love.


But all that is in the past now. :) Life has a funny way of making things work out for the best, that's what I believe in. But young people reading my blog, be sure that you think carefully and cautiously about the education/career path that you want to take k!





Anyway, picture relief 'cause that's a hefty amount of words there wtf:



Happiest moment ever-- frivolous magazine, iced mocha and cupcake! :)))



Contented face.
Although I have wheezing problems now 'cause I drank iced mocha although I was sick. T__T


We were at Wondermilk (Cuppacakes) again! For Jing to have a bite and study, but it's actually all a great big facade for us to dress up and go out.



Jing studying.
I found this picture damn amusing, haha- yellow dress, yellow passionfruit soda, yellow highlighter!
All that's missing is if she has jaundice as well WTF.




Teeny and her lovebird.





We found this bird figurine on our table, and upon further inspection, we realised it's a coinbox! So we wanted to pose while inserting coins into the bird, but we were damn cheapskate...

"Eh how ar if we pose with the coin, then we accidentally prop the coin in!!"

"Eh eh nevermind, I got 1 cent here, obsolete already, even if it falls in, it's alright!"


HAHHAHAH seriously we are so kiamsap, but HAIH see I told you I am so broke. :(



And a very normal occurence when it comes to me and food:


T______T Icing smeared over my face!
And it's not even as if I was halfway eating and someone pushed my head into the cupcake... T___T I am just naturally.. child-like wtf.




HOHOHO, one cupcake is never enough! Round 2 waiting patiently at the corner. :P






Series of pictures of my wrinkled nose. -_-





This is my school girl look!! Complete with peter pan/school girl uniform collar, heehee.



And no, I am not going to Melbourne for the Awards Evening (set on 29th May)). It's so so sad, 'cause it really is a grand evening, complete with cocktail reception and canapes and everything. And in Hilton! I haven't even been to Hilton in Melbourne. It would have been such a fun experience. :(

It pained me so much to send out my email just now informing the department that I wouldn't be attending the event. :'(