5 Things You Can Do After Graduating College

Today marks the exact 3 months and a half that I've been spending at home ever since I graduated from college back in May. Not much have happened, just busy with preparations for my postgraduate studies in October insyallah. I've noticed a funny thing happening among my peers and I in this post-graduation life: We have no idea how to fill our time. And we complaint of not having anything to do while waiting for a job. And then, when we do get jobs, we complaint even more. 

Sounds productive? Hardly not. 

Anyways, if you're in a similar situation like me, either on college break or recently graduated and am wondering what to do with your time, here are some things I can suggest to you, and have seen my peers do to fill in their time until the next adventure comes. 

1. Get a Job (Temporary/Permanent)

Now, bear in mind getting a job requires a huge commitment. I've seen friends grab job opportunities purely for the sake of getting a paycheck without seriously considering if the job suits you and if you're able to give your best in it. Eventually you're gonna hate it and complaint on Twitter of your irritating work mates and how you have no weekends off.

If you have good planning and a good career-strategy and think this job will help you in the long run, then by all means go for it!

Remember: working automatically shifts you into the adult world and this transition can be difficult or easy depending on your mindset and expectations. Make sure you are well prepared for whatever's to come, because obviously the working life is no longer as free and luxurious as your college life.


2. Postgraduate Studies

Like me, I've decided to continue my study for a Master's Degree in the UK for a year. It isn't very long and there are reasons why I choose this instead of the more conventional "kick start an engineering career" move. My motives include getting the experience of living abroad and adapting in a situation beyond  my comfort zone and applying these skills for my career later, as well as learning more about engineering in an academic environment. I also would like to graduate from a reputable engineering institution and challenge myself to achieve something I never dared to dream of.

I do love working (my internship experience in a refinery was amazing!), but I want to study as a student for one more year. And then, I won't mind working the next 2 decades or so. So to me, it suits my personality and aspirations for my future.

This move can be hard when you're seeing your peers slowly getting employed and making their own money. But at the end of the day, it's your life and career choices, and my mantra has always been "Good for them, but not for me!" by Amy Poehler ;)

3. Travel/Gap Year

If you're not keen on starting work anytime soon and think you can live on your own for the next year or so backpacking/travelling and gaining global experiences, GO FOR IT! I have friends who are travelling all over the world in student-exchange programmes or joining global charity abroad campaigns/organizations, and I think it's so cool how they would leave everything behind and embark on that journey, sometimes all alone!

Do your research and figure out a route of plan and see if you have the necessary essentials to survive the trip. It's not easy to take some year off and it's unconventional, you'll probably be subjected to peer/family pressure to get a job and make a living. But honestly for me if it's a year off, it might be good for you and you owe it to yourself to do something for you without meeting the expectations of others.

4. Harnessing Your Talents/Hobbies/Passions

This could correlate back to point #3, but if it doesn't then take whatever free time you have after graduating and develop any skills you've been meaning to improve on (cooking, arts, music, designing, photography, gaming, etc). Think about it, this could be your last long-period of time that you will ever have until you retire or become a boss of your own company. So what passions would you pursue with all of these free time?

Like me, I have 4-5 months of leisure before continuing my studies in October, so I've spent all these months putting most of my energy into my reading passion. I've been updating my book-themed Instagram, chatting to book lovers alike on Twitter, and venturing into the Booktube world to meet more people like me and chat more about books! The great thing about harnessing your passion/skills is that you're directing your energy and time towards something you love. And you will never feel bored or regret doing all of these.

I'm just glad my passion isn't financially-exhausting, but if yours is in the 'spendy' region, I'm sure you can plan on how to maximise your time and assets to good use.

I hope you have fun with it too!

5. Family Time 

I think this remains one of the best ways to spend your free time. If you have working parents, then go and plan something fun for the whole family to do over the weekends. Seeing how I will be away from home in a few weeks, I have spent a LOT of my time with my parents and friends. Cherishing each moment you have with your loved ones will make you happier and appreciate them. 

Because this might also be the last time you have this much time left before you start committing to your work or future family. Make every moment count! :) 

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So yeah, those are just some of the things you can start planning to do, and I hope you make use of your time before embarking into another adventure in your life. 

Hope you have a good week ahead! :) 

JPA Program Mahasiswa Cemerlang 2015 Interview Tips

Update 22/8/2015: If you have been awarded the scholarship and have inquiries about the documents/contract head on over to a Facebook group created solely for PMC scholars. See you there!

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Update 15/8/2015: Results were out yesterday, to those who secured the scholarship congratulations on being a step closer to furthering your studies. To those who didn't, I wish you all the best and may Allah give the best for you none the less. 

As for me, my funding pursuits end here. Alhamdulillah for this opportunity. A winding and treacherous road still lies ahead. May Allah ease :)

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Update 11/8/2015: Results are coming out on the 14th of August 2015, 5PM. All the best guys! May Allah ease :)

Click on the photo to go to JPA's website

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In my efforts to pursue my postgraduate dreams in the UK, there comes the long question of finding financial funding to actually realise that dream. 

And alhamdulillah, being selected to undergo an interview for JPA's Program Mahasiswa Cemerlang (PMC) Scholarship is one such effort. It's a scholarship specific for postgraduate students furthering studies in local/abroad institutions. 

The interview was held on 25th June 2015, during Ramadhan season. I like doing interviews while fasting, I think it brings a higher sense of peace and you're not so easily distracted by your hunger haha. 

It was my first time attending JPA's interview for educational sponsorship. And this one is definitely a tough one. But knowing how tough the process already is, I guess I wasn't expecting much and I was calm throughout the whole ordeal and just picked up lessons from myself and the other candidates on how to perform better in interviews. So, here's a breakdown of what happened.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED: 

First, if you're selected, you're gonna need to prepare some documents: 

I found the plan of study a bit challenging to prepare, but if you have your institution's course book then you just write down what subjects you'll be taking that semester as well as the points aforementioned by JPA.

1st SESSION: GROUP INTERVIEW

So I had my interview on the last days of the session, which I don't think is that advantageous. There probably had been far more competent candidates on previous days. But you do your best with what you're given with, no? I was placed in a group of other postgrad candidates of 4 girls and 2 boys. 

We were all from local institutions, and only 2 of us are furthering our studies overseas while the others continued in local ones. We were brought into a room consisting of 2 interviewers, both males. We sat in a straight line and the session lasted for 90 minutes. 

What happened during the interview: 

1. Candidates were asked about CURRENT ISSUES happening in Malaysia and asked to elaborate or give relevant opinions. 
2. Candidates were given certain problems regarding Malaysian's current issue and propose solutions to address them 
3. You can answer in either BM/English but if the interviewer specifically requests for answers in English, you will have to abide to it

Helpful tips I picked up during the interview: 

1. Always read newspapers and be in the loop of our nation's development programmes. They want to see students who are not only academically qualified, but have a keen interest in national and international news.
2. Structure your sentences before answering them. You don't want to keep on repeating your point when it could have been concise and direct. No one likes a candidate who talks in repeat
3. Give answers that are relevant and address the issue.
4. Answer creatively as possible when given a problem. Try to focus more on global standards or national development instead of focusing on individual problems
5. Speak up and be confident of your ideas. The interviewer will challenge them, so make sure you've got a solid point and ain't BS-ing around
6. Stand out. Either through your appearance or speech or thoughts, find the one thing about yourself you can present well, and do it. 

2nd SESSION: GROUP PRESENTATION

Right after the first session, we were brought into a room with another 2 interviewers and split into 2 groups. Each group was given it's own topic to find solutions to and given 20 minutes to do research and prepare a presentation. The whole session took roughly about an hour. 

This was a tough one as they want to see your resourcefulness when working in groups. I found this the most difficult as it's very challenging working with people you've only just known a couple of hours before. This session was the part where I didn't do my best, I believe. 

But some lessons I learned along the way include: 

1. Use Pareto Law to solve problems. Focus on top 20% root causes that are causing 80% of the problem. I actually forgot to use this during the session, and mentally kicked myself afterwards. Sigh. 
2. Take control of your team if you think they're going a bit out of hand
3. Let everyone contribute ideas, but organize them before presenting
4. Be serious, I find it off-putting that some of them were giggling and joking around when time is surely not on our side
5. Never dominate the group. Bring out the best in everyone

GENERAL TIPS:

There are some additional things I found to be helpful in preparing for the interview:

1. Always plan ahead (documents, journey, outfit, etc). Havoc is not what you want right before an interview, at least not for me anyway
2. Dress appropriately, make a good first impression
3. Develop your communication skills from early on (includes improving your English)
4. Make friends with your groupmates. It helps to calm down those nerves. And who knows, you might meet someone really interesting that makes the waiting period fly by! 
5. Help one another out when possible. Cause watching others stammer or stuck for answers is really frightening

So yeah that's pretty much it. A very short interview session but a tough process. I hope it helps you in your journey to postgraduate studies. As for me, I'll keep on striving and finding ways for ends to meet. Also, thanks to the friends I've made along the way and all the best guys! :)

10 Lessons from Being a Final Year Student

And so I'm really this close to crossing one more thing on my life to-do list: 

Graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. 

My exams ended yesterday evening. I could have gone out of the hall earlier but I remained to bask in the moment of the my last (insyallah) paper in my undergraduate studies. It was surreal. 5 years in UTP and all the time I doubted if I could ever finish it. I joined the foundation programme in May 2010, a wide eyed young girl from Seremban with social anxieties and low self confidence. Alhamdulillah, I think it's safe to say I have matured a lot these past 5 years into a person I am very comfortable being. 

The past 5 years have been such an eye opener, as much as college experiences go. But it is true what they say, enjoy every moment of final year in college. There's nothing like it. Just like my previous reflection post for internship, I want to do the same for my final year experience. So, here goes! 

This is in no particular order by the way lol. 

1. It's never too late to get to know your batch mates 

Final year may be a hectic time, but I think if you make the time for it, you'd be surprise by how much you can get to know someone. I started hanging out more often with a group of friends I rarely go out with, and I was surprised by how well we got along. 

It's okay to go out your comfort zone sometimes, and discover something new. 

2. Time Management is the key to EVERYTHING

You will endless endless banter from seniors how final year is stressful and the pressure is too high to handle. My advice to deal with all of these is simple: plan your time well and always put aside some ME-TIME to avoid stressing out too much. 

3. Final Year is really based on your LUCK 

Despite #2, I found out final year really is a 'luck' kind of thing. Depending on who you have as your project supervisors and teammates, it really can make or break your final year experience. But always try to see the bright side of things, and always remember "This too shall pass..."

4. Being helpful takes you far

You'll face 8-months long (or any long term ones) project with your batch mates and I have seen it get the worse of them. Avoid fights, talk it out and always help each other. Cause everyone's going through a battle here.

5. Understanding people takes you even further

Knowing when and how to understand people helped me a lot in trying to create that tension-free atmosphere in my group and individual projects. It's tough but I think this is the most crucial part of interacting with people. Be empathetic or at least try to believe that everyone's doing the best to their capabilities. 

6. Never forget the people who made you who you are today

This includes your family and friends. They supported you and made you feel at home. And thank those that taught you a hard lesson about friendship (betrayal, distrust, hatred, etc). Because they made you a better person today. 

7. Call your parents everyday (or every other day)

Because never, ever forget folks at home. They pray for your success and are always waiting for your call to just update them about your life. Remember, the reason you made it this far is most probably because of your parents' prayers for you :) 

8. Reading books really help in de-stressing your life (for me anyway)

It's not a secret I love reading. I carry a book everywhere in case I find myself stranded having to wait for someone. If you don't read, find something that makes you relaxed at the end of the day! It could be sports, music, arts, design, DoTA, and anything really. 

9. Watching Big Bang Theory is a great way to bond with friends

Because it's not everyday you find a best friend in a Sheldon-lookalike. Sharing common interests really is a great way to seal a friendship. It's been an amazing journey to meet a lot of book readers and science geeks like myself. 

10. Always smile even when no one's watching...

Because at the end of the day, you're here and doing something with your life. Smiling just means you're grateful for at least one small thing. 

2015 1st Quarter Recap in Books

Final year final semester is always known for its hectic and stress. But I entered preparing for the worst with an armload of books as a shield. People are always surprised whenever they find me reading a book in the cafe or lounging around with a book in hand. They always ask me how do I find the time to read? It's simple really. 

"When you don't spend your time going out much, you have a LOT of free time"

LOL

Anyway, I've read some good books for this quarter year. Books will forever be my solace and place of hiding when reality gets a bit too much for me. The only way I've survived final year so far is through reading. Albeit, I have less time to read, but it is one of my de-stress routine before going to bed. 

Here are the books I've read so far in the last 3 months. I'll be reviewing some of my favourites, so if the book is in the picture but not reviewed...you know what it means. 

The Girl You Left Behind - I can honestly say Jojo Moyes is my go-to women fiction author. This book, like most of her other books had me hooked till the end. Moyes has a beautiful way of weaving history and the present that made readers time travel. And I swear that's the best kind of books. To show you how great I found this book, I finished this while I was SITTING FOR FINALS.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend - Matthew Green (Dicks) did such an amazing job in portraying difficult lives of autistic kids. And I loved how it was narrated from Max's imaginary friend, Budo. I've always enjoyed any kind of memoirs/novels surrounding autism. Similar books you might enjoy: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time & Reason I Jump.

Happiness of Pursuit - Now here's a book you might need if you're stuck in a dead-end job and want the courage to get out. I find this difficult to relate as the author was aiming for middle aged lads stuck in work offices. But I did gain great insight into how to create quests and customize them to my liking.

The Night Circus - THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZING. The perfect mix of magic and reality, which I love, that got me all wrapped up in the story and wishing I could visit a Victorian Circus this instant!

The Marriage Plot - Despite me giving this book only 3.5 stars on Goodreads, I actually enjoyed the literature point of view of Eugenides. His writings are very heart felt and I'm very looking forward to reading The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, which are so much better I heard. The Marriage Plot will have you nodding along and recounting your previous (or for me, ongoing) college experiences during that ambiguous moment in your life.

Yes Please - Amy Poehler is King. She is the epitome of the career woman I want to be. Funny, dramatic, ambivalent, sweet, a great mother to her kids, compassionate and driven. This is the perfect book to motivate yourself in loving what you do, and not giving a rat's ass of what people are saying about you.

Another month left before I can read anytime I want and not have my projects get in the way :D

So what books have you enjoyed so far?

Google Hangout Session 1: SPM Leavers 2014

I had the privilege to join this year's Projek Inpsirasi's initiative: GH Session 1 in helping post-SPM students select a course of study for university. It's an online live video conference where 9-10 panels answer questions asked by the audience. It's a pretty cool way to engage with the students on broader subjects in one sitting. Session 1 comprised of  Engineering, Biotechnology, Pure Science & Computer Science and I was invited to talk about chemical engineering and its prospects. 

Our GH coordinator: Syaza Azmi

The video can be seen here (as well as my awkward face -- this is my first time, don't judge!)

It's always nice to see the young generation getting more involved in carving their future. I know how tough it is for you guys to choose a course of study despite not knowing what exactly you want to study. 5 years ago, I was dead set of studying chemical engineering because I loved chemistry (urgh worst misconception about chemical engineering ever).  But Alhamdulillah 5 years later, I am almost done studying it and surprisingly I've enjoyed the course more than I expected. 

Anyway, I thought I would compile all the questions I answered last night and maybe answer some that we didn't have enough time to get to.

Hope this helps! 

Questions Answered: 

Answer: If your intention is becoming a Petroleum Engineer, then proceed directly to study Petroleum Engineering. But if you don't want to limit yourself, you can pretty much do whatever you want and learn EVERYTHING.

Answer: Generally? Yeah it takes a lot of critical thinking, understanding advanced physics, fluid mechanism, transport processes, operational and process conditions, and decision making. You should feel scared when taking it (this avoids any truancy on your part), but you should also believe in yourself. It's definitely challenging, and not for all people (I have seen some of my friends drop the course and switch to something else) but with proper strategies it's do-able.

Opinion: Personally, after enduring 4 years of studying engineering plus 8 months of industrial experience in Shell PD, I think this is true to a point. Specializing your degree limits your scope of work only after graduation (because you have zero work experience). But if you enter the right field and gain years of experience afterwards, the sky's the limit. 

The reason I like chemical engineering is more of a personal choice in having the versatility to enter whatever field I want (Oil & Gas, Food, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, etc). You know, in case I get bored in one field, I can join another one. Haha..

Unanswered Questions: 

Answer: Well if for local PETRONAS scholars, yes the min CGPA is 2.75 to mantain your sponsorship. From what I've been told PG studies natural resources in the ocean to discover new areas of oil exploration & extraction. Once they find these potential reservoirs, Petroleum Engineers are responsible in getting the oil out from it.  But that is in layman's terms. For more details, Google! 

Amy: You know the funding could go to the geology department.

Sheldon: Oh no! Not the dirt people.

LOL, OK enough Big Bang Theory references (in case you didn't know what that joke was)

Answer: None kid, none. I suggest you take Industrial Chemistry or any divisions of chemistry if you still love the subject and want to work in the industry. I heard UTM has some good chemical programmes, and they're not just exclusive of engineering. 

Answer: Chemical Engineering is an art.

Instead of paint, you have chemicals with unique personalities and traits that can be transformed into products suitable for consumerism. Instead of a canvas, you have block diagrams and process instrumentation diagrams. Instead of a brush, you have process optimization softwares (iCon, HYSYS, MathLab, Phast Risk, etc)

In a nutshell, if we were to convert crude oil into the fuel we fill our gas tanks with, chemical engineers are involved in the design, planning, construction and operation of the refinery. And instead of just producing car fuel, we produce other products that are marketable. We turn simple chemical reactions found in labs, into large scale plants looming over people's heads and making companies rich. The technicalities of it include many aspects of physics, maths and a whole lot of brain crushing.

Hope this is brief enough ;) 

Answer: Senang? Nothing's easy in this world kid. If it was everyone would be doing it haha. You can check UTP's website but last I heard the requirements were a minimum C grade in Physic, Chemistry and Maths. 

Answer: Honestly, I like it. I come from a suburb and I've never been fond of the rush of the city. So UTP's alright for me. I'm not an aspiring hipster so I'm not a frequent at hipster cafes. But if you like 'em, I heard Ipoh has tons. 

UTP's basically in the middle of nowhere (Google: Tronoh, Perak) but lately it has been developed because of UTP and UiTM Sri Iskandar. So yeah, we have Billion, McD and Dominoes now, which is a huge improvement than when I came here 5 years ago (which only had KFC D:).

It's a great place to study because we're surrounded by forestry and the occasional visits from monkeys. 

Answer: There was one dude in the GH who studies Chem Eng in University of Manchester, UK. You can ask him for more info, but yeah generally Chemical Engineering programmes overseas are more detailed and comprehensive than in Malaysia. Here are top Chemical Engineering schools in the world. But coming from a local institution, I'm proud of the quality of education I was given. So, bear in mind, never underestimate local institutions, we have some great universities offering chemical engineering: UTP, UTM, USM, UniKL MICET, etc.

In the end, you're the one who's in charge of how the final product (read: you) is despite your location of study :) 

It's not hard if you like all of those subjects. You will find the course even more enjoyable too! And in terms of demand, think of it this way: as long as people need food, transportation fuel, and medicine, insyAllah there will be demands for the profession. Don't be choosy and always chase for experience regardless of area of specialization. The money will follow afterwards. 

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Anyway hope this helps! You can leave comments below if you have any more questions, I'd be more than happy to help you to learn more of this course. You can refer to the list of panels of last night's session here if you have more questions related to their fields of study. 

To SPM leavers, I wish you guys all the best in this new endeavor of your life. It is going to be challenging and difficult, at times you will feel like giving up. But always cleanse your intention (for muslims, your niat), to study for the sake of knowledge and passion. Science and technology can be a lucrative industry, but always remember the people who raised you and never forget your roots :)

You are the future generation, and we definitely need more engineers to direct our nation to a prosperous direction. So, research properly and choose wisely :D 

Oh before I forget, my one-liner advice from last night's session was: 

Your only competition is yourself...

:)

Malaysian Readers in a Pinhole

You know the first thing how someone would describe me? A reader.

And I'm proud of that. Not many Malaysians read consistently enough for them to be labelled as one. I once heard that the average Malaysian read 2 books as of 2005, and in 2014 the stats increased to 14 books. Here's the thing: 85% of Malaysians do read and our nation does have high literacy rates. Yet, did you know only 3% of that 85% read books? While the rest actually reads magazines, comics or newspapers. Albeit a reading material is still reading material, but I feel sad that books or novels don't get the attention they deserve.

There are many reasons why kids don't read books:

• Parent's influence
• Reading material
• The Reading-is-for-Scoring-Exams perception
• Expensive books (in which I once wrote tips on how to buy cheaper books here)
• Social media distraction

I'm always an advocate for youth reading, and when I started my Instagram-based book account (@BookLoves_) initially it wasn't for that purpose hahaha. I just wanted a medium to practise my photography skills and be a place where I can do book reviews or showcase some pretty book-related items. I was tired of having to answer my friends' "What books do you recommend?" questions individually, and wanted a collective medium to do just that. Some people have gave feedback saying they really enjoyed my reviews and it made them want to read it/ I didn't expect my account to have an impact on anyone to pick up a book. But I do hope my posts make you guys WANT to read and feel the exhilaration every time I finish a book. 

I read mostly because of the 'feels'. Each book makes you feel different things: remorse, disappointed, exuberant, smart well-informed, etc. So I hope you read because you feel about books the way I do, along with some of your own reasons :) 

As a way to interact with my friends and colleagues, I asked on FB what book(s) people have as their favourites. I've always loved it when people tell me about books they've read because they this gleam in their eyes that usually appears in readers with a favourite book. 

I was very excited when people started sharing their favourite books! Plus I got to know more about books I haven't heard of too. Surprisingly I've read some of these books too. Read anything familiar? 

`

Around 22 people responded. We're not a big bunch. But from Instagram I do know of thousands of readers who are actively reading. If I can increase that number even by one, I think I've done my part in encouraging reading. 

Even if we comprise less than the 3% of Malaysian readers who read books, I'm glad I know many friends who are avid readers such as I. It's hard to continue the habit and I hope you never lose that momentum to pick up  a book and read. 

And here's a video about book lovers that we probably can relate to :D 

So, what's YOUR favourite books? 

IELTS Steps & Preparation Tips

So I've been preparing a few documents for postgraduate submissions and I've noticed some of them do require an English Proficiency Test Result such as IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. IELTS stands for International English Language Test System and the method of testing is recognized and approved in all institutions.
You're lucky if the university you're applying to can waive IETLS and use your SPM 1119 results, or known as GCE-O Levels. The universities I was interested in did not waive IELTS and I decided to sit for my IELTS exam and get it done with.  Despite UTP conducting lectures in English as the main language, I couldn't waive it. But after experiencing the IELTS process, it is fairly easy and a high band is possible with the right strategies :D 

STEP 1: Booking a test date

There are 2 types of IELTS exams: General and Academic. If you're pursuing studies abroad, Academic is what you'll be sitting for. Otherwise, General's the way to go.

You can always check for dates of the tests in the British Council page and choose that suits you. You can also select locations that you are nearest to. Now, my case is a bit different as I didn't register through BC. I took it at International Yayasan College Melaka (ICYM) as it is one of the locations in South Peninsular that BC holds its exams at. I registered directly with them. You have to register manually and they don't accept online application. But if you're applying through BC, I believe online applications are acceptable.

Usually the exams are split into 2 days. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day while Speaking is on a different day. So just check the dates properly and plan your journey well ;) 

STEP 2: Payment and Login Code

Now that you're registered with BC, you'll get your own online tutorial code to login online and begin your "training". 

Here is practically where the fun begins. 

I highly recommend you to do ALL of the tutorials and watch ALL of the video tips. They are seriously, seriously helpful and you can even track your progress and compare with the average candidate. I found this to be really great in identifying areas I'm weak in. And they are pretty accurate too. 

STEP 3: Sitting for the Exams

Once you're prepped and loaded with IELTS lessons in your head, you're good to go! The exam consists of 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. I've outlined some general tips on how to score for each section: 

Listening: 

This part has 4 sections you'll have to answer while listening to a pre-recorded conversation. Time: 40 minutes. Bear in mind the voices on the recording will have European accents (British, Scottish, French) or plain ol' American. So make sure you familiarize yourself with these kinds of slang and different word usage. 

The most fun way to get used to it? WATCH MOVIES AND SERIES! It's time to get out your How I Met Your Mother or Agents of Shield or even 1995's Pride and Prejudice series and familiarize yourself with how those Westerners talk. 

Reading:

This part also has 4 sections and you get 1 hour to read all 4 longgggg passages and complete the questions. A good tip I adapted for this exam was reading the first and last paragraph first. And then you read the first sentence (topic sentence) of each paragraph. Don't take too long to read everything. Most of the information are just an elaboration of the main point which is what the questions target. 

I particularly loved this part because I'm such an avid reader ;) 

Writing: 

This section requires you to write 2 types of essays: a short analysis of any trends/graphs they give and a longer essay of your opinions towards a topic given. Write cohesive sentences and never forget topic sentences. Read up on great ways to write formal reports and brush up on general information. It's a pretty straightforward test and never forget to give a wide variety of vocabulary. 

Speaking:

This section only takes 15 minutes and you'll be talking about general topics. This part is a little tricky in my opinion if you're not used to conversing in English, because you definitely can't practise in 2 weeks on how to improve your speaking skills. This section is just a snapshot of how well you currently speak in English. 

So if you're still young (at heart), begin practising like right now! Every moment counts in improving your English and always always get feedback from people you're talking to. Be open on their feedback and practise some more. The more you read and listen to English, the more your brain picks up proper grammar and you'll slowly adapt to it.

Step 4: Results

So after the grueling sessions you just went through, all you have to do now is WAIT. Results are usually out after 2 weeks. You can check online here and wait for the test form a few days after. Usually you go back to your test centre and collect the test form or have it couriered to you. Test forms are the only forms universities accept, not the online results. 

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So I hope these tips help you in some way. All the best and have faith in yourself! And may your dreams in learning/living abroad come true :) 

Note: I didn't take any extra classes and just used the RoadsToIelts tutorials and managed to get a band 8. So those REALLY helped. That and also reading and regularly conversing in English haha. These methods are free so make use of it! Otherwise BC would charge you around RM990 for its classes. Imagine the amount of books you can buy *swoons* 

Thinking for the Future

Ahhh midnight thoughts have brought me here. I needed to write about how I've been thinking about my future for the past 6 months or so.

Graduating is some scary business. There are so many opportunities out there: 

• Get a job
• Take professional classes (safety, chemical, etc)
• Further studies
• Get married (yeah, not really, not yet more like. LOL)

Anyway, I've been seriously considering Option #3, furthering my studies. It's always been this hidden intention to continue my studies in the UK. And well, last semester I started gathering information on prospective institutions that would accept little ol' me and what opportunities lay ahead. 

It wasn't easy at first, deciding to take the first step in researching about Master's degrees in engineering. But I think what hooked me was the feeling I felt when I opened up the programme's webpage. Reading the modules and courses offered made my blood rush and I felt excited. Scared of course, but so so excited. Sure the fees kind of pulled me hard off Cloud 9, but nonetheless I made up my mind as I browsed through the entry requirements. And I found myself thinking:

"I'm actually eligible for all of these programmes, what's the harm in trying to go on this adventure?"

 And I started researching more and more, seeking blogs of students in the UK or having recently graduated from there. I met with my lecturers and they gave me valuable feedback and support on my potential. I've never thought myself to be smart enough for postgraduate studies, but I realised that if I don't try to even plan for this journey, I'll ALWAYS keep looking back and wonder what COULD HAVE happened if I did take those difficult first steps. 

I realised soon enough that it's not gonna be easy going on this journey alone when your other friends are preparing for working life. But I want to challenge myself. I no longer just want to go overseas to get the experience, I need that experience because there are opportunities there for me to improve my technical skills and understand the complex human beings around me. I intend to apply for good jobs in the future insyAllah, but in order for me to present myself well, I know attempting this quest will make me a better person and a better candidate in anyone's organization. 

So here's to this scary quest in challenging myself to go where I'll be all by myself and far away from m family *trembles*. Here's to many more adventures where I end up in places I've never thought little ol' me could go to. 

Hello 2015

I remember last writing a post in August 2014, just finishing an incredible internship experience and making a memorable stamp in my experience growing up. And here I'm sitting attempting to write another decent post 6 months later, two thirds done with my final year. I'm hoping I'll be able to graduate in May 2015, insyAllah and move on to bigger and larger dreams in gaining knowledge. 

I know what with the oil crisis the nation is facing, my peers and I are having doubts and uncertainties in our future. I for one believe that rezeki comes when time is the most suitable for it. It's been a hectic 6 months and I'm enjoying each step closer to closing this undergraduate chapter. I remember starting out college 5 years ago, wondering if I'll ever make it to the finishing line. And now I am merely less than 3 months away. 

I had the pleasure of joining a chemical engineering bootcamp a few weeks ago which aimed to prepare first year undergraduates in tackling the challenging engineering course. And I really had a good time interacting with juniors and sharing my experience. I never had a mentor growing up, and I had to do a lot of figuring out by myself. I've had many a senior who was more than willing to give me advice in passing, and I wanted to contribute more towards the youngsters. The bootcamp allowed me to see how we always have that hope mixed in with fear when starting something new.

And nearing the end, I have that same hope and fear feelings, of what's to come. 

I hope the future is challenging but endurable. 

I hope it is challenging and a humble experience.

I hope it is filled with beautiful and kind souls.

I hope I am smart enough to recognize such souls and not let them pass me by. 

I believe the choices we face after graduation is endless. Learning never shouldn't stop after a scroll has been obtained. Jobs shouldn't be applied just because. And money should never be the main priority in satisfying our desires. 

Here's to wishing the next 16 weeks will fly by and I have the strength to go through whatever God puts in my way. :)