Discovering Independence and Acceptance

I've always felt like it was fate that brought me to Shell Port Dickson. When I got that phone call, I just knew I had to take the offer despite having doubts about the office-based work (which seniors kept complaining was less adventurous than working hands-on in a plant, which later turns out to be a huge advantage for me).

Something was telling me, go for it. 

I've always been a big believer in Allah's rezeki for us and His plans. When I got SRCPD, I listened to my heart. And it beating peacefully was a good sign, I felt. It was different than when I different offers, my heart was racing and I was so scared, of something I don't think I will ever know. 

I was cautious the first day I came here. I doubted myself, I didn't know if I could live up to the previous trainee's performance, or even make the staffs remember me after I'm gone (which I don't think I will ever find out either). But one thing I did plan to do: try my best and prove that I am capable of whatever they throw my way. 

I've learnt something as I grew up into my 20's, the job is as exciting as you perceive it to be. If you think a job is mindless or a hassle, then that's what it will be. If you see the hikmah behind a job Allah has granted to you, then you believe that you're meant to learn at least something from it. 

I've been here for 5 weeks and a half, and I realise slowly I am discovering 2 things in Shell PD:

1. Independent working 

You're on your own. But that doesn't mean you can't ask around for tips and hints to help you. People here are more than willing to point the way, but they won't go with you. That strength to go into uncharted areas (like Operations & Finance Department) must be discovered deep within, extracted, and manifested into courage. 

2. Gaining acceptance

I honestly feel so overwhelmed and flattered by this. I came here as a trainee, no more no less. I know people will ask me to do mindless (again it's all about how you perceive it) jobs and I'm just here to learn and gain knowledge. I didn't expect to be respected, given projects with complete full trust , nor even feel like a part of the family.

But that's exactly what I got. 

And I am truly humbled and grateful by the experience. People keep believing in me to complete a task, no one smirks if I find difficulty finishing it and almost everyone here is friendly. 

No one tells me being a workaholic is bad, no one tells me I shouldn't do my work early and ahead of schedule and no one tells me to stop being such a nerd. 

I realize that all these years in college organizing my work, group-based lab reports, assignments, & projects and dutifully attending lectures & tutorials were 'training' prior to entering the working world. And work requires a lot of perseverance, effort and independence. 

College wasn't where I gained sleepless nights of experience partying or celebrating (though a couple of nights a year, I allow myself to celebrate close friends' birthdays). Heck, college wasn't even where I found that many friends, but just enough to find true ones. Instead college was where I got the discipline to prepare for work life. There, I learnt independence. Those endless years alone studying and the traumatic lack of social interaction were God's plans for something bigger in store. And not in any way I've ever expected. It rewarded me with a work life that appreciates my talents and capabilities, and most of all: accept me for who I truly am.

And I'll keep on working hard to continue adding value to whatever work I'm entrusted on, no matter how small. Reaching the top is no small feat. But each small step counts. 

Allah truly has laid out His plans so beautifully for us. But I know this is only the beginning to an amazing chapter. I know I shouldn't expect the same thing after I graduated. And I know that there will be more challenges to overcome in the future. 

And with that, I leave you with a beautiful prayer I read online:

"Oh God, I do not ask for you to ease my burden, but I ask you to grant me strength to face and overcome any burden come my way...."

LRCC at night, when I did my Operations Shift last week. 

An Introvert's Life in Port Dickson

Ah, it's the weekends again. Another 5 days of work has passed and boy has it been eventful. Life in PD has certainly been amazing. Loads of work, but the feeling of satisfaction of getting them done is great. I'm slowly interacting with people, and even making funny conversations! More than I've ever accomplished in UTP. I'm really grateful PD has been kind to be so far :) 

1. PD is food heaven. I swear there are so many food stalls here!

Here's my recent favourite nasi lemak corner (literally, it's perched under this huge tree) behind Jabatan Kastam PD. It helps when your department just loves to explore food. They bring you to the greatest places.

Such a small hut! But the sambal sotong is divine. I forgot to take a picture of the longtong I was eating. I was too hungry, my apologies.

2. Food aside, my SV sent me here for a safety training in OSHA 94 & FMA 67. If you're a UTPian this would be your 'beloved' Health, Safety & Environment subjects back in second year. OSHA stands for Occupational & Safety & Health Act and FMA is Factory & Machines Act. The whole training was aimed to teach us the requirements for any refineries to comply with safety regulations set by the government. 

Each training no doubt costs hundreds of Ringgit per person, so I'm very grateful to have been sent here free of charge.

Especially when the view is facing the ocean:

They even had swing sets! It was so peaceful and idyllic just swinging around waiting for the other dudes (I was the only girl there) to arrive.

Back to work. It was a pretty insightful session. Sure it was only about policies and rules, but it beats learning in lecture halls. Plus the 3 free meals were delicious.

 I also got to know the staffs from Shift A Team, and I will be joining them next week when I enter Operations for a week. They're really nice (everyone in PD is).

3. After work, i found a pretty interesting way to capture OOTDs:

4. And a fellow trainee and I have been obsessed with puns lately. They're so punny! 

 Happy Weekend everybody! 

Reflection with the Boss

A couple of days ago, my head of department gave me some really great advice about working life:

Life is all about UNDERSTANDING people. That's the key formula Shahirah, you understand people and you can manage your working life. All those engineering subjects you learn  in college are just accessories...

It's a good advice. I believe that when you understand others, you figure out the reasons behind their actions. And why they act the way they do. You empathize and you encourage them to optimize their potentials.You help in their weaknesses. In understanding people, you need to be in touch with your own inner self. You have to understand yourself. Know what's your own weaknesses and most importantly, strengths.

For me, I know my strengths lie in presentations. I like to package my work and present them in a way that I hope to impress the viewers. This helps in my explaining to them the concepts behind the designs I've prepared. And to do this, I always have to understand my views and potential audiences' views towards the presentation. 

Will they be able to understand? What aspects of the design might make them confused? Can I simplify things to the basis of things to ensure people don't get a headache when viewing it?

Previous materials I had to prepare for a VIP Visit

It helps to ask these type of questions because your aim is simple by the end of the day: how do I add VALUE to the job I'm doing?

And you have to think of that one unique way to achieve that.

But, just like the rest of the human population, I do have my own weaknesses: I am not much of a talker. I'm a thinker, a do-er. But put me in a room where everyone's leisurely talking and mingling around, and you get one very, very, very awkward girl. I swear I dislike social gatherings especially in a room full of new faces, and I am expected to talk.

I am working on that. Being in Shell requires me to be more proactive socially, and I take it positively to make up for the lack of social interaction in the past 22 years. I've grown more eloquent and a little bit more comfortable meeting new people (though currently it's still restricted to ladies meh).

Another advice my boss gave me was,

To improve yourself, to constantly evolve, you have to throw yourself into the ocean. And deal with challenges. They might seem like a burden, but they are OPPORTUNITIES that someone is willing to give to you, to prove yourself and to learn.

I am so grateful to have found myself in a position where so many people are willing to trust me and throw me into the 'ocean' (with a life-buoy nearby) and allow me to learn to swim back to the shore.

So, here's to grabbing these challenges that very few people are willing to give, and turning them into opportunities to be the best that we can be. 

A Day At The Beach

Took my camera out for a stroll on the beach, which is where I'm living next to for the next 7 months! 

I like beaches, but I won't swim in the ocean. Haha...But I do love how peaceful it is living by the ocean. Less traffic and stress, good food (not to mention cheap) and great weather every day!

Here's to a wonderful internship experience and more beautiful sunsets by the beach.

The Beauty of Misfits

Oh WOW it's February already....

Clocked in 8 days at Shell so far and things are starting to get hectic. I am currently learning how to talk more at the office considering how talkative everyone is. It doesn't help I've always been a quiet little girl (little introvert that I am), and shy of people I am not yet close to. But they're nice people and I really want to feel at home there, so I better start making notes on how to be more interactive!

It helps to observe how extroverts carry themselves, and in a way try to copy their actions hehe...

On another note, I finished this book by Malcolm Gladwell today. 

I don't think I can summarize all of the contents but what I did get from this book is that, things are never what we perceive them to be. There will always be things that we think are best for us, or will give the best opportunity for us. But sometimes, we fail to realize the compatibility of the opportunity with our own capability in experiencing it.

Also, we fail to realize that there will always be a limitation to our needs and even in the power we think we possess. 

It also explains that how being a misfit and socially awkward can be an advantage to a person in succeeding in life. So, being a misfit or even an underdog sometimes does work out in our favor. 

Being a Muslim, I can relate some of the chapters in this book to Islam quite easily. To put it simply, when we have faith in Allah, we know that everything happens with a hikmah, and that every trial and test will only make us stronger. 

Another interesting point that caught my attention is that Gladwell mentions the difference between a 'near miss' & a 'remote miss'. A near miss is when something devastating happens and leaves us in ruins, while a remote miss allows us to experience a devastation, but the psychological effects leaves us for the better & stronger. Also, remote misses are what makes us believe in invulnerability and in the belief that we withstand something for a higher purpose. 

 Some of my favourite chapters in the book:

Where he explains how people with dyslexia succeed better than non-dyslexics.

And how not conforming to social expectations is a blessing...

It's interesting, really. You should check it out should you have the time ;) 

Btw, if you're interested in the books I read or want me to review anything head on over to my goodreads

Books I've read in January 2014, I'm on a 40-books mission!

Let's hope for a read-productive month for February! 

Have a great weekend :)