Breathing new air

After the second week of being employed, I have had a coooolllll 2 weeks of my life already. The newcomers including me, went through an induction on the first day and soon after that, we were brought to our desks! You've no idea how exhilarating it was for me to see a desk with my name on it. The feeling of finally having a job and a project to handle... we were dedicated a big and meaningful project to do. Everybody in the office is doing the same project, just by different roles and obligations. In the one space of office, we are one big family, and we are a team.


The moment I stepped into the office, the situation in the office was as lively as night market, with voices coming from every angle of the room. But sometimes at one moment, suddenly the office turns as quiet as exam hall hahaha. Most of them are men in the room. It's no surprise to me as I know which industry I'm in right now. The existence of me and my friends added around 5% of female in the room? Hahaha.



For this project, we'll all be placed on site. I know the impression that I'm gonna get as one of the five female in the room. Being a junior QS, with my sometimes-soft-and-feminine look, one of the few malays (and muslims), am I good enough to contribute for this project? Hahaha.

(picture courtesy from Google)

Maybe I'm wrong, but MAYBE (just maybe) some of the people would underestimate me, because I look small, young and inexperienced. But hell yeah, I am so going to prove them wrong. What makes them think only men (or older and more experienced people) could do well in this industry? In their eyes, I might look soft and naive, but think before you realize what actually my brain, hands (and heart) can do. *grins* Hmmm just motivating myself right here haha.

  (picture courtesy from Google)

Guys, if you're millennials and currently reading this,  as soon as you get your job, you'd have to always be positive in whatever position you're in, and however much salary you're being paid. But of course, you ALWAYS have to understand and aware of your rights as employees and as humans. Don't be too calculative of your time and effort, but always be brave and strong that don't let the superiors bully you and let you down.


In our 20s, it's time for us to learn, to sacrifice, and essentially, to GROW as much as you can, be it mentally or physically, build your networks and nurture relationships that bring out the best in you.


Definitely I'm so excited for my career and can't further wait to contribute to the industry. For now, I have my own goals for the path I chose. But ultimately, I want to learn a lot, and soooo thrilled to finally be able to give back to my country! Alhamdulillah.

Graduating!

At the age of 21 (my 22nd birthday is this coming October, so not yet 22! Haha).... I am finally graduating BSc. (Hons) Quantity Surveying! I...... got a degree! It is everyone's dream to make themselves and their parents proud for each of their achievement. I am ultimately thankful, blessed, HAPPY, satisfied with this achievement. Only Allah knows the struggle each of us had to go through, so only from Him the reward would be. To have received my final result in this holy month of Ramadhan, it is nothing but a blessing, rizq (gift) that Allah has decided is the best for me. I could feel that wonderful things await in my future and I definitely can't wait for more learning processes, improvement, adventures and so much more. The #fightsong continues.

Especially... when my job is starting tomorrowwwww! I forced myself to blog today, for me to write about finishing degree, because 5th of June 2017 will be historical in my life. First day of official job! And I'm definitely so excited! Pray for meeeeeee!

Finally, Salam Ramadhan Al-Mubarak and I hope it's not too late for me to again apologise for my mistakes, remind me on any unsettled debt and you may private message me if there is anything unresolved between us. May Allah accepts our deeds throughout this holy month of Ramadhan and forever inshaaAllah.

Oh, my convocation will be on 16th of July 2017! Will update an entry for that soon!

Thanks for reading, xo!

The whole lot of Semester

Before it's one month after a blogpost, I'll better update a new one because... lots of things had happened and I better not delay any blogposts. Procrastinating has been my hobby these days, I abandoned almost everything just for myself to be able to lie on bed and.. sleep (uni days are happiest days). Now, playtime's over and here I am!


Guess what, my second year in uni just over! Except the part that exam is coming... uhm, never mind. I'm feeling a bit of emotional knowing the fact that my university days coming to an end already... Next September will be the start of my final year (InshaaAllah if I passed all the subjects hehe). One year is just as short as a month. Like now, in a blink of an eye, my 21st birthday is coming... University (and single) days are the happiest aren't they? I get to spend tonnessss of time just for myself and my truly loved ones. Until your long distance friends keep calling you for skype and you're always unavailable then you start to realize... that you're not living in your own world, go socialize pleaseee. Haha.


However, this semester has been TOTALLY  CHALLENGING, YET WONDERFUL AND AMAZING. It has been a journey with ups and downs and that's always been the most wonderful part of it. Through tweets & instagram, I did update my daily things quite frequently. But I will do it specially for blog too, 'cos one day I know I will reread it and promise not to laugh at myself.

So, chronologically in reverse... 

SPYTL Scholars Dinner

Here I got to meet some of the staff, Ex-scholars and Scholars of YTL. Was so excited to be able to meet new friends from a University of my favourite state, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, to also mingle with the staff of YTL who are very very nice and cute in person! I thought they all are serious and formal like that but nahhh, they are cuter than me! I got also to learn more about YTL Foundation and what they have done, that I find that their objectives really suit my soul and goal, which is to inspire people to be better and have a better life. I wish I could utilise the platform here to be just what I want, to inspire people all over the world :). Now, I get more excited to join them as an intern this coming summer. Weeeee. 

International Construction Week 2016

Here, I learnt a lot on construction industry and fell in love even more and more. The feeling when I once googled and researched about this one thing for assignment and still clueless until I went to this convention. The concept this year is ecobuild which is really MY THING. Ecobuild such as sustainability, green building, IBS all those things are definitely my field of interest. Develop the nation, profitable project but at the same time protecting the environment, who doesn't want that?? I'd definitely go for this topic for my final year thesis. Hehe.  For those who didn't get to go this year, you might want to join next year. I might go again next year thoughhh.

My friends and I all had to wear smart casual that day. But I think everyone looked formal instead. They all looked pretty and smart! Can't wait for the day everyone will dress in business attire which is really adorable in my eyes.

And... Next!

The RISM (Royal Insititute of Surveyors Malaysia) QS Race 2016

It was a veryyyy fun game! I enjoyed every bit of it very much. We struggled though to complete given tasks. The picture above was when we were completing cost estimate (which we have NEVER done before). Basically the game was that we were required to go to every station using public transportation as given in the instruction. At each station, we got to do tasks regarding QS Job of course like cost estimate, bill of quantities, payment certificates, form of contract etc. There are bonus tasks where we'd be given bonus for extra 15 minutes time which will be counted together when we reached the finishing line. And... 15 minutes penalty also given if we couldn't finish task within 30 minutes. Plus, no phones allowed during this race! Only our accompanying lecturer's phone of course. Our phones were taken first before the game started.

 One of the tasks we needed to do was to take a creative picture with the most number of likes to promote Uda Legasi...

 We reached the finishing line first! So exhausted yet happy faces... with our accompanying lecturer (not from the same Uni) who was so nice to us throughout our journey to and fro.

Project Presentation

We've finally done with presentation and now we already submitted the whole project report! It was a group work and I really enjoyed going through ups and downs with them together, staying until so late at campus, brainstorm like crazy and worked our best of course. Like the Malays always say, memerah keringat. Gitewh. Hope we'd be in the same group againnnnn.

Site Visit & TRIP to Penang!!!

This was the highlight of the semester. Bunch of thanks to Miss Zahirah for organising a very enjoyable yet knowledgeable site visit for us. We visited a residential project at Jitra, Kedah where the Project Manager is a very good architect and he managed the project very wisely. One unit was to be completed in 1 month if they are to be built one by one. Imagine say there are 270 units, then the construction will only complete in 270 units x 30 days = 8100 days = 22 years. Very long, right?? Until the Architect gets grandchild also the project still haven't completed. The targetted completion of all the units is about 18 months if I'm not mistaken. So the Architect concurrently progress the construction process for instance after the foundation has done at a few units, he progressed with walls, and progressed another foundation at another units which he has systematically arranged. A lot of the units have completed already now! Construction projects are actually like magic, smart people are there to make sure they achieve their target. And.. nothing is impossible.

 And of course, as we reached northern part of Malaysia which is verryyyy far until our butt pain, we better visit Penang and eat!!! Bunch thanks to my penang people friend, Jolene for taking us a tour in Penang which has been definitely wonderful. I finally made it to Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) which is suchhhh a beautiful place.

 I still can't move on from this Asam Laksa.  I won't explain more, just look at those chillies. The aunty so nice, I told her, "Spicy, please." And she gave me A SPOON OF CHILLIES oh mai god. I was just...... #speechless #heaven.

High School Friends

Despite the hectic schedule, as long as possible, I will always try my best to make time for my old friends of course. I met Eisya, Aiman, Wafa, Nadia, Arif in both March and April. These people are amazing. We laughed, talked a lot and all those things that took me back to my SAMURA time. Oh dear, high school.

Hot air balloon date with my sayang, Eisya. The person I always look forward to meet again! Omg this girl, I didn't expect that 6 hours was actually not enough for our date! T__T

When can I kidnap you again?? Hehe. 

I also met Wafa, Nadia and Arif... Omg sometimes I thought a few years passed would change people, but I was definitely wrong. They are still the same, especially WAFA! Omg her rants and laugh out loud ahaha definitely made our day.

And... Aimanani! Remember I wanted to take a picture with her after our matchy matchy blooming peonies?? Hehe. Nahhhh here it goes....

The struggle... So that her peonies can be seen... haha! 

Like, finally.... our blooming Peonies. <3 Heee.

Despite laughters and chats and thousands of pictures, may all our friendships with those we loved are in Allah SWT's blessings. Always.

After a whole lot of things happened during the semester, that I also don't get to update here on blog, I am utterly grateful for all the challenges as well as happiness that Allah granted us all. So....I ended my semester with a good cafe latte at dal.komm. What a blessing! Alhamdulillah. 

Of the KL dUCk and Tun Dr Mahathir

On the remarkable  21^st of November 2015, I attended a dinner celebrating SAMURA’s 3^rd decade. SAMURA is actually an acronym for Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar (Muar Science High School). I was a student there and was one of the 29^th batch students (batch Penebus Maruah).

                                  

Batch 29 SAMURA. Attendance : 13/313. (Shasha wasn't in the picture cause she was our emcee of the night)

But here's a picture with my lovely Shasha. You did great for the emcee baby :*

The best thing about this dinner is that Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was our VVIP for the night. One of the ultimate reason I went for the dinner because I actually wanted to see him right with my own eyes. But not only that I saw him with my eyes, he even stood beside me!!! (A second beside him was stupefying enough for me, it’s Tun M!)  *can’t wait to jump to the climax of my entry here*

For this memorable night, I wished to wear something special for the moment I’d be seeing my idol. It’s really significant for me because this man has given impact not only to my ownself, but to the whole nation, to the Malay people, to our Islamic religion, to our beloved Malaysia and definitely, to the whole world.

  

Therefore, I decided to wear the KL dUCk. dUCk is actually a brand of scarves. dUCk’s printed releases are always the prettiest ever. Basically, the KL dUCk is one of their special printed releases, most importantly is that because it is illustrated with the  beauty of the KL skyline and… of course there is the Petronas Twin Towers!

The KL dUCk box. Picture was taken when I was entering a competition for FashionValet Merdeka Flatlay!

Can hardly see the Petronas Twin Towers T__T only one tower. But nevermind, present to you the KL dUCk (Rear view).

(Front view)

It’s reaaaaaally meaningful for me because the twin towers was inspired by our Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad. It was a very successful project lead by him. Let me tell you the parts that I love the most about the construction of the twin towers.

Firstly,  the floor layout plan of the towers were originated by Tun himself. Tun wanted a skyscraper for Malaysia because Malaysia was the least famous countries among the five Southeast Asean countries that time (Year 1992/3). He wanted a skyscraper that looks ‘Malaysia’, but how do you actually design a skyscraper that looks ‘Malaysia’? So he drew an image of interlocking squares that represents order and harmony in Islamic culture. After that, the design was further developed by the architect, César Pelli, where he added in semicircular scallops located at every corner of the original floor plan by Tun M. And there it is, a brilliant fundamental design that results in such fascinating twin towers!

Design development of the Petronas Twin Towers' floor layout plan. The first one was by Tun M (Photo credit to : http://shu1229.blogspot.my/2010_11_01_archive.html)

Second, two project managers were involved in the building of each tower. They were actually competing for who’s gonna finish their tower first. It was a very brilliant idea that this competition encourages the project managers to not take time for granted. They work hard 7 days, 24 hours a week with heavy workloads everyday.

Third, this project managed to finish on time! All the stakeholders’ hardworks really paid off! (which is one of the most important element for a success of construction project)

And now, Malaysia still holds the record of being a country with the highest twin towers in the world. It’d not had happened if it wasn’t for the brain and spirit of our beloved Tun M. He’s such a ineffable Malay man.

As a girl dipping in the construction world seeking for passion, I have been very inspired with the construction of skyscrapers and rail sectors especially. In my opinion, these two sectors include one of many reasons that benefit one’s country as they result to a more well-known and economically well-developed country. Skyscrapers are non other than that it represents  a country’s status in the world as it goes higher, reaching the skyline of one’s city. Whilst rail sectors make people more productive! I went to Japan and I’ve always most impressed with their public transportations especially the bullet train! If we have bullet train in Malaysia, we could be more productive because it moves fastttt that we can reach our destination quicker and we can also do our computer work while on our way to a particular meeting because it’s so convenience and comfortable inside! Getting to save time, money and energy to-and-fro for a long journey meeting location would be very economical right?

Don’t worry, as a future Quantity Surveyor, I’ll make sure that dreams don’t just remain dreams. “Pelopor kepada kemajuan pembangunan.” As the lyric goes in my SAMURA school song :) #feelingmotivated

 

Back to the dinner thing, I was in awe the whole time he gave us his speech about ‘Knowledge’. Like a facepalm, I never thought that an amazing man like him once felt what I have also felt throughout my learning days. The most unforgettable part of his speech was when he said, “When I was in the Medicine College, I got only 3As over 8 subjects in exam. I was the worst among my friends who most of them obtained 6,7,8As over 8 subjects. All my friends teased me for getting bad result. I know I need to do something to reach higher, so I work harder. I put more effort. I read the Pathology book for 10-15 times. I kept on reading and reading and reading, non-stop. Eventually when I was in the next exam, I got to remember which page of the book was that answer, and also the images in the book vividly appeared in my memory. As a result, I obtained the same result with those who got 6,7,8As.” 

I almost teared in happiness listening to his speech, was so touched and happy as well. Like a father-to-daughter advice, he gave me a bundle of joy and spirit without him realizing it. I always feel down in this kind of issue, where I’m not as smart as my friends are, so I know I need to work hard. But sometimes, I feel so stupid. I always ask myself, “Am I the stupidest? Why don’t they work hard also like me? Am I the only one who thinks that this subject is hard? Why do they take it easy? Do they understand this already? Why can’t I understand this if I don’t study?” I acknowledged that everyone has their talents and limitations. It’s just frequently I feel down and low-spirited. But as I remind myself to this part of Tun M’s speech, if you know you need to work hard, just work hard. “Belajar rajin-rajin,” kata Tun M. Thank you Tun for giving me motivations back. I need it so much T__T You are forever an inspiration.

So, I managed to get a selfie with him! Like always, at first I almost gave up in doing things. Even in taking picture with celebrities. I was once disappointed because I couldn’t get to take picture with Dato’ CT during the simplicity meet ‘n’ greet session because the security guards were annoying. But yesterday it’s unexpected that Allah gave me a chance to have a picture with Tun M instead, an idol to Dato’ CT herself! Hahaha. He almost got into his car, but my friend, Jiha said, “Go Rah, just go.” The crowd became lesser, I walked towards him slowly without pushing anyone, I said, “Tun, boleh tunggu kejap tak…” 


I think only my voice was heard because it was suddenly quite sileeent that time, or maybe it’s Allah who made everyone quiet hehe. And Tun M just smiled at me!! He looked at me like ‘Oh kesian budak ni, takpa saya berdiri je dekat sini.’ Senyuman macam senyuman atok kepada cucunya. Awwwhh. Then I stood right beside him and we took a duofie! My best achievement of the year! I had a duofie with a person who gave the best for Malaysia and I wishhhh I could be one of the young generations who will give the best to Malaysia and the world too! I wisshhh I could do lots of amazing things for our nation, religion and country just like how you did, Tun M!  :’)

  It was a great night indeed. Thank you Allah (swt) <3