Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Graduation - Undergraduate Life

Hi guys!

I know it's been awhile since I last updated. The last few months have been making me caught up with work, and planning for the next phase.

When we were younger and wished to grow up quickly, I'd take that back now... I guess. Reminiscing my last three years on campus, I know that this is one of the phases that will remain most memorable and meaningful moments in my life. 

It all seems so fast; these 3 years that have passed. May 2011: I persuaded my reluctant parents to let me attend the audition in UM. Stepping into UM for the very first time, meeting all the rest of the people to be auditioned, the nervousness I had during the audition til I landed up at the wrong piano (brown upright piano)! I mean, come on, I was supposed to be in the performing arts... I should have known better that the grand piano would be the correct instrument for an audition. I remembered how all the lecturers laughed so hard, that awkwardness and embarrassment I felt. I remember the day I checked UPU and was excited when I found out of my entrance into UM, and the times when others would despise me for the course I took. I remember the tears my parents shed for me when I left home for the very first time.

I told my friends, that if there's one thing I'll never forget, it was the orientation in university. I'd remember the cheers we had, the torture we went through as freshman, and the amount of walk up and down the hill in KK3. Til today, I'll always remember how ridiculous it was for me and my friends to send our laundry to 4th college, and carry 5 litres of water every three days from 7th college. Well, we had very good reasons for this insane routine: there was no water filter that functioned during my first year in 3rd college. I'm glad though, in my second year I didn't have that problem since I moved to 11th. 

Throughout these three years, I have experienced bitter, sweet moments. In my first year, I recalled how I cried each day, trying so hard to memorize pieces. And the worse part was, I have never played Bach, or Chopin pieces until entering UM. The preparation for my first recital was the worst; my recital was due 5th week in Semester 1, I had only three weeks to prepare. My piano teacher ensured that I would continue playing these pieces even though it was difficult. Thus, the first time breaking down in front of my coursemates, struggling to hit every note right. 

First year got worse for me as I experienced communication breakdown. I remember how banana I was. When I tried socializing, in the end, all would end the same way, whereby most people shun away once they realize I'm English-speaking. Well, the good part is, I have learnt a little bit of Chinese. Though I had to learn via listening to constant mandarin conversations between my friends (I think I had poker face on throughout these moments). 

Senior Junior night - 1st year (Theme - School uniform)

FeSeni KK3 Choir

3rd College CC Night


In second year, I challenged myself to break out of my comfort zone, trying out new activities such as Pesta Tanglung. This one thing, I'll never regret. I met friends who shared similar passion, such as dancing. They were awesome cause they knew nothing of hate, but of warm friendship. 

Second year had its ups and downs, the sweetest and most bitter moments in my university life. There were people who would judge me based on the outward. I know one day I'll laugh over these things. I'll also remember the insane person I was when I went head and heels over a guy, eventually, crying so hard when things ended. I was however, truly blessed during that time with friends who stood beside me to pull me up again during these times. I remembered how these friends became people who I could confide in, become my crying shoulder, took me for shopping, food hunting, and forced me to practice the piano during my lowest point. During this point, I remember how my parents encouraged me, reminding me of my end goal.

I remember how I loved the lecturers in my second year, who opened my eyes to many things I was previously ignorant of. We learned about performance theories, the spiritual realm, a lot of theatrical stuff, the way music affects our soul. I remember developing a taste for post-modern music (which is kind of sad for me, cause I started disliking pop songs after). For that, I'm grateful to my lecturers, Prof Anis, Mr. Eddin Khoo and Prof Mike. 

Short and sweet dance 2012 - Butoh

SJ Night 2nd year

Pesta Tanglung 2012

PT dancers 2012

Da Yao Zombie dance 


Third year can be considered the best year for me, where things were more smooth sailing as the academic syllabuses favoured me more. Back to writing, less piano, and a lot of dancing. 
I did have my challenge as well... My final thesis. Being in week 8, semester 2, I was supposed to be almost prepared for my VIVA in week 9. I recalled how nothing was done yet, and anxiety filled me so much so that I cried, a lot. It was then my mum told me to trust God, and leave everything to Him. In that week of desperation, I met up with my technician, called several van services, and managed to get everything done by the end of week 8. To my amazement, all the lecturers compliment my work. For that, I would really thanks God for His favour and Prof Mike for his constant guidance. 

UM was the place that drove me crazy, whereby the system almost caused me my graduation a couple of times. It was the place I experienced my worst nightmares, such as stage fright, not having good night rest, bad toilets, and heartbreak. It was the time I met Obama, and almost got into trouble for being politically involved. Well, a few of us had to answer to the HEP; good thing I'm still graduating.

SJ Night 3rd year

Final year

PRK Campus election 2013

Dance Technique I class 

No TPPA during Obama talk 

The birth of my FYP (Thesis)

Oh yea, it was also the place I got drenched under the rain cause I forgot to bring umbrellas, or how I would chase the bus to class (like literally chasing the bus which ignored me on the hilly slope). Yet, it was the place I witnessed the most miracles throughout this short period of time. Then again, these are the reasons for making my university life a unique experience. I'm glad for all the wonderful and supportive friends I had. 

So, I guess this is my post for graduation. A summary of my very short three years in UM.

Before I close this chapter of my undergraduate life, I would like to thank all who have been there for me throughout these three years of my studies. And.... HAPPY GRADUATION!

Thick and thin for 3 years, you guys hold a special place in my heart


With love,
Fi

Monday, July 7, 2014

Limiting our Academic Freedom?

I'm not sure if you guys followed up know about the news regarding the retirement of Prof Redzuan from UM over a UMcedel survey which predicted that Pakatan Rakyat would win the popular vote in the 13th general election?

Tan Sri Professor Dr Ghauth Jasmon who previously served as a Vice Chancellor in UM recently revealed the constant harass by Putrajaya over the findings by the university's research centre, being reminded that they were not allowed to speak freely (an excerpt from Dr. Ghauth Jasmon's speech with the Malaysian Insider).

Another recent event during the YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leaders Conference) this year in April 2014, a few of us stood up to raise awareness of why TPPA should be renounced. Despite the silent and peaceful protest during the conference, we were recently called for questioning by the University as to justify the reason for our protest. The issue was that the YSEALI program was hosted by the University of Malaya, not being organised by them. After receiving the email, our team member wrote to the US Embassy which was directed to the White House. In a reply, they even encouraged us to continue speaking up freely, as long as no one would experience any physical injury or so on.


In the recent meeting with the university management, they mentioned that students should not bring campus issues out to the media. They also mentioned that if we disobeyed the AUKU law, they had every single right to suspend us from the institution itself.

I did not write this post today to give you any negative impression regarding the government or local institutions. In fact, all I would like to do is to question as to why academic freedom has now been robbed from the students? And if I may repeat, even now tutors are ripped from their right to teach the truth to students!

Education is meant to teach, and impart knowledge on which a student may later decide how to utilise their knowledge, may it be the right or wrong way. But as a teacher, how can you be restricted to only imparting one side of the story? In the end, the truth which is hidden will destroy the society later on.

Take for example, drugs and medication. If one is only educated the benefits of drugs and medicine, but never told about the effect of excessive dosage, wouldn't it lead to death as well?

As you can already see, in our previous high school education, our education system has been biased all these years. When we enter tertiary education and start reading up on world history, or other external journals online, we know that our education has been limited. For what?

As a future generation, students should be given the exposure to know the truth, to obtain a balanced view from both sides. When higher institutions start barring the truths all because of political links, it is the society who is at lost. It is the students that become shallow, and unexposed to the things happening around them. I do not mean to tie the media in, but I'm sure you guys pretty much can see the difference in news reported by both local newspapers and the non-local newspapers. The information received by the general public will then become biased due to the source.

Is that really how we want our country to be? As a fresh graduate, I believe in the power of education. I believe that in all stages of education, especially in tertiary institutions, students SHOULD NOT be denied access to a balanced education. Lecturers or teachers shouldn't be restricted to delivering these facts and knowledges to students.

After all, it wouldn't be a good reputation for our country if our future generation grows up away from the light of truth. This would only make them all seem like innocent liars, unknowingly, when they come face to face to the learned ones.



Sunday, June 29, 2014

Women, Sexuality and Society - Yesterday vs Today

A girl walks down the street in bikini, some men eye her as if she is their prey.

Female models are more than often, almost nude in marketing photography or in music video (which is awesome).





When a girl experiences rape, the worst thing the society could do, is to put a blame on the way she dresses. When the truth is, rapist do not actually remember what the victim wears at the time of rape (based on reports). 

In the early years of development, it is true that the role of both men and women were previously distinguished. Men were the breadwinners, while women tended household issues.‘Gender’ is the cultural meaning and form that the body acquires, the variable modes of the body’s acculturation. Based on Geddes and Thompson, behavioral and psychological differences between men and women are caused by biological causes. In other words, previously, division of work developed as a result of difference in biological factors between both males and females. 

However, over the years, in certain countries, a patriarchal system began to develop. In patriarchal societies, men were made the head, becoming more superior over women. Since then, the concept of male gaze developed. 

Male gaze refers to the way women are used in the media, entertainments, arts or performance.Their bodies are used as marketing strategies, whereby they pose nude or almost nude in both advertisements and music videos, Based on this, women are viewed and treated as objects for satisfying men’s desires. This is also referred to as a rape culture. Rape culture is a concept that links rape and sexual violence to the culture of a society, and in which prevalent attitudes and practices normalize, excuse, tolerate, and even condone to rape.

In a famous music video entitled Blurred Lines, women were almost not dressed except for a piece of cloth covering their lower private part in the official video. The expressions in the video portrayed an idea to the public that women enjoy the idea of being teased sexually. When videos such as these are welcomed in our societies, the younger generation who are ignorant may think of this as normality in the society.






Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke

In society today, women have attained a certain 'liberty' in society. We have come far, whereby women have attained a certain statute in gender equality. In today's world, women wear pants, have equal job opportunities that they did not previously have. 

However, some issues are constantly battled, are the ways female bodies are used as a sexual tools in marketing. If not, some of these photography in marketing contain photos that give the impression of men being the individual with power, while women love the idea of sex. In other words, the rape culture still strongly prevails in our society despite how much 'liberty' women have gained over the years. 

I wrote this blog today in hope that my friends will develop a sense of realization towards these issues. Womens' bodies should not be exploited in order to please the 'male gaze'. 

Women should not be judged beautiful based on the number of body curves they have, the largeness in their breast size or how thin they are. They should be respected as each of them are beautiful in their own unique ways. If we have come this far in development, women too should realize that they are no longer succumbed to the power of men and should attain the respect they deserve.