A Challenge

Hello Swiftly14,

It seems like as we get older, the busier we get, huh?

Yeah, this semester I am starting my final year project. I have on and off moments about it. My passion seems to be going up and down. Constantly questioning myself which is followed back by people questioning me in return. Why did I choose this track if I knew it was going to be more difficult than the other tracks? 

I complained to my friends on how hard my FYP is and then they ask back, why didn’t you change the topic, why do it then? I was very conflicted as I received the topic. But, I didn’t really want to reject the idea straightaway.

And truthfully, I wanted to try doing something out of the box. What’s the use of playing it safe? Right now, it is probably the time where I have the privilege of trying something risky without as many unfavourable outcomes.

Of course, there are some days, I feel excited and nervous at the challenge. While other days, I am just mentally hitting myself in the head, regretting my choice and cursing at myself.

Am I doing the right thing?

Anyway, @swiftly14.  Best of luck to both of us. I am so proud of you. 🙂

Too Many Assignments!

Hi @swiftly14

Next week is the last week of the semester. And every project and assignment is due next week. I feel overwhelmed. I am getting anxiety just thinking about it so, I want to chill for a second and just write it down.

I feel kinda like a failure. There is the one thing I have to do, and I messed up. It is probably fixable but I feel like a loser. Like, everyone is probably disappointed in me. (I mean the lecturers, my friends are maybe more understanding) Of course, I may look back at this and think what a drama queen like I always do in the end…

Anyway, there are too many assignments that are nearing its due date. All of them are actually group work. Which may be easier or harder than individual work. The problem with group work is that you have to make sure everyone is doing their part or you end up lifting up their weight.

I’m getting anxious, it just feels too much. I have three presentations next week. And for that one particular presentation, I am nervous, cause I tend to do badly for it, as it requires me to convince them which I am horrible at. The others just require an explanation of a topic.

Also, 3 report needs to be done by next week. Of course, again, this is a group project so technically I don’t have to feel so stressed out by this as I am going to get help. I can’t explain why I feel this way.

Okay, that’s all for now. I should be continuing my work and try not to have a meltdown.

Interactive Multimedia Club

Hi! Izfine here.

Today I want to promote my club that is under my faculty. In my faculty, we call the clubs, Special Interest Groups (SIG). I was confused about what it meant at first but afterwards just realized it basically is just a club.

Students under Faculty of Information Science and Technology, UKM need to join a SIG. During my time which was just last year, they had booths for the club which enabled everyone to get to know more about each club.

Apparently last year, they had no booths, just a list and students had to pick and figure out themselves what each club does. Maybe the seniors explained generally about the clubs, I am not entirely sure.

You could get a general view about each SIG by going this link.  Click Here

Usually, each SIG has their own Facebook page. So to know what activities they have done before just google.

Back to my SIG, Interactive Multimedia Club (IMEC)

As the name of our SIG pretty much shows that we are a club that focuses on Multimedia.

But even if you don’t take a Multimedia course it is fine. In my opinion, if you don’t take a multimedia course, it is more fun to learn cause otherwise you won’t have the chance to. But if you do take the course, this will an extra bonus.

Here, I want to just summarize what activities have we done throughout MY time in the SIG.

We tend to have a workshop for animation and graphic design. So far I have learnt how to use Unity, Plotagon, Photoshop and Illustrator.

Every semester I think…we have a bonding activity. We have gone to Bagan Lalang, Melati Hill, and KingFisher Resort.

Annually, each SIG will have a workshop done for school students during the school holidays, called School@FTSM. IMEC members then would teach what we learnt during our workshop to the school students.

I think IMEC is really fun. Every SIG has its perks. Overall, we are a very supporting club. So no worries.

So to future FTSM students. Join US! Check out our Facebook Page. 

*I was not told to promote the club…this is a random desire on my part.*

 

 

 

 

Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 3)

Arduino

During the exchange program in Indonesia, I joined the IoT class. Before I joined we were told we will learn how to use the Arduino. But not only I have learnt how to use the Arduino, I was able to learn much more.

I was really troubled the first day, cause I was asked by many people on how much I knew about Arduino, and my answers were constant, “Nothing”. I had no prior knowledge of the subject. Even my programming was mediocre at best. With all the questions, I was worried if they actually expected someone more experienced.

Fortunately, everything ran smoothly especially with the help of the facilitators of the class. We did start with the basics and I wasn’t the only one with no experience with Arduino. There was also just three students and four facilitators, two of them are the mentors. So, it was easy for me to ask any questions and easy for them to catch my confused expression anytime I did not understand.

For each class, we are provided with a module. And they were kind enough to provide me with an English version of the module.

Our class starts at 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

We started with learning a few physics basics like electronic symbols. Then we proceded with coding in Arduino, how to make the LEDs blink. I learnt how to use the potentiometer, LCD and a push button.

Things escalated from there. We also learnt how to use ESP8266, which can connect the devices with the WiFi! I learnt how to use the database and localhost. For the database we used Xampp. It was so fun.

What I was not expecting to learn was mobile programming. But we were taught some basic mobile programming. I was thrilled because I was always interested in mobile programming.

We learnt how to design the app and even connect it to the database.

At the end of the exchange program, there is an expo and so we have to prepare a project.

There are only two teams for the IoT class. My project is a Smart Home while the other team project is a Smart Aquarium.

The Smart Aquarium got 3rd place!

The Multimedia course got the 2nd place, who did Augmented Reality (AR)  on classic stories and the project is called Once Upon a Time.

The Mobile Programming got 1st place! The 1st place team did an exercise app.

Overall, I learnt many things, from the basics of Arduino to planning a project and then presenting it. I don’t think I would get this experience often and I am glad I took the chance to learn.

I got many questions from the facilitators at Indonesia on to why I chose IoT. The previous students from UKM that took IoT had a little bit of experience as they were from the Robotics club (ARVIS) while I was actually in a Multimedia Club (iMec).

Although many aimed for the course that they could transfer credit to, the course that is actually on our syllabus at UKM (Web Programming), making them not have to take it during that semester…I chose something that wasn’t on our syllabus. Of course, I could still transfer the credits as CITRA.

Which I questioned myself a few times if I should. But I think back, if not now then when. What are the chances I would get in learning Arduino seeing as it is not on my syllabus and my club has nothing to do with it?

The answer is NOW!

Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 2)

The Exchange Program

I haven’t really explained much about the program itself. Anyway, this is a summer exchange program between UKM and UIN.

We will be learning in each others university for one month.

Here they offered four courses.

• Multimedia-Gaming
• Internet of Things
• Web Programming
• Mobile Programming

They will teach from the basics so no worries about keeping up or not having prior knowledge of the subject.

The class itself is taught by the senior students of the university. Some of them are even younger than me but they are well versed in the subject.

The student in the classes is not many so it is a comfortable environment to learn and you can easily grasp what they are teaching with the students to teacher ratio being almost 1:1. (Ehem2 maybe even 3:1, 3 being the mentors.)

At least that how it is in my class, IoT. There are only two other students besides me.

Before I went to Indonesia, I was confident I would understand what they were saying cause’ we do have many words that are similar and there are many Indonesian dramas being shown on Malaysian tv.

But I realized I had a hard time catching what they were saying cause compared to other members of the exchange program from UKM, I was never a fan of any Indonesian drama or any drama in general truthfully. So, when they talked I realized how different our languages are especially to someone like me who has never been exposed to it. My friends didn’t have much of a problem though.

Although we had a language barrier, they were really understanding and patient.

After learning, at the end of the month, we have to present a project that has to do with what we learnt. The teachers will assist us the whole way as we are beginners. So no worries.

We are staying in a guest house nearby the university so we would walk there together every day.

Every weekend, they would bring us to many places to explore. We would only have to pay the entrance fee and they would provide the transport.

Overall, the program itself is not entirely formal and pretty laid-back. We are able to learn as well as have fun.

Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 1)

The Feels

Hello! IzFine here.

My second semester as a computer science student is finally over. But it is not entirely over for me. I applied for an exchange program. I am terribly terrified. Fortunately, I am going with a group. But I barely know anyone in the group and that troubles me especially going to a foreign place.

There are many reasons I decided to join the program. And the main one is that I just wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and try to gain a new experience. I never did something like this before. I always have been quite reserved and never took a risk so this is a huge leap for me.

And not only is the place I am going is far, (although the country is actually quite nearby, it is still considered overseas) and I never been on a plane without my parents, I am also taking a subject I am quite unfamiliar with, Internet of Things -Arduino, which I guess is the point of learning.

I am just afraid the subject is harder than I anticipated and maybe I should have picked an easier one…

These are the type of thoughts going through my head.

There are so many doubts in my heart. So many worries and a bit of regret. But I also feel a sense of excitement and calmness. Which maybe makes no sense…

I am just worried I will fail. But another part of me, can’t wait for the adventure and the challenges I shall face. I am tired of being sheltered and not taking risks. When will I ever grow? I always felt as if I am quite spoilt and immature compared to my friends.

So although I may fail or have some tumbles and falls…And let’s admit it, I DEFINITELY would knowing the clumsy me. I would also learn so many things. And learning is fun although at times it is hard to remember that…

So, here is to the future me that is a nervous-wreck…Let’s grow and take a step at a time. It’s okay to not be okay. You are not alone. 🙂

Anyway, these are my feelings two weeks before I leave. I shall update on my journey over there after it ends.

Anyone who ever joined an exchange program or ever learnt Arduino have any advice for me? Comment down below!

Hard Work

Hey! IzFine here.

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. -Napolean Hill

I really love this quote. Basically, you can’t get anywhere without hard work. I am constantly baffled by people who wing it through everything. I need a whole lot of preparation although mentally for the things I am about to do.

I am antagonized by people who get free rides from people who work hard. Maybe cause I was surrounded by friends who never let me copy their homework but instead taught me how to solve them. They constantly remind me they are doing that cause they love me because truthfully they did share their homework with other people but not me… (which pissed me off at the time)

I had a sense of accomplishment of doing my own work and it benefits you when you are doing your tests as you actually understand.

I also developed a sense of shame from not trying to do it myself. Especially after realizing how hard my friend tried to solve it and here I am just coming along, ctrl+c and ctrl+ v everything.

I can now relate to my friend. Something I always tell myself when I about to do my assignments or homework is to try to do it yourself first. After trying your best to solve it only then you can go ask someone to help you out.

You can’t go blank sheet and look at the questions then instantly turn to the person beside you for answers. Go flip a few pages or try googling or ask a lecturer/teacher.

You have no idea the amount of hesitation and embarrassment I get when I want to ask for the answers to a certain question. Then here, this person beside me just comes along and ask for not only one answer to a certain question but all the questions. Barely looked the questions.

The strength of the effort is the measure of the result. -James Allen

Do not justify what you do by saying I would try harder next time or I am going to try and understand it after getting the answers. No, you would feel overwhelmed when you are alone during the test and have no memory of you trying to solve it on your own.

Asking for guidance is a whole different matter and more advised option.

I remember one of my friends (though from her looks didn’t know she was a serious person) sitting beside me while I do my work and she did hers. Asking me now and then how to solve it. I really admire it and I was able to understand it more by explaining it to her cause then I ended questioning it myself.

It also made me realize how much I did not question myself after getting the answers.

My whole conclusion is, be more passionate and work hard to get what you want. You may get away with a few free rides but it won’t last. And no one would respect you or would want to work with you.

Do your best then ask for help if you need it. You don’t have to suffer just don’t undermine other peoples hard work as you ask for help.

No Maths?

Hey there!

Recap I am taking computer science at UKM.

It’s my second semester. And guess what? No math!

I was excited and almost suspicious by the fact we had no maths this semester. My whole life since little up until last semester, maths is a subject I couldn’t avoid.

I was never good at maths but I kinda liked maths. I liked it better than biology, which swiftly14 (another author of this blog) takes.

The reason I had applied for computer science (as my first choice, btw!) was that I hated memorization and wanted something more practical. Something we could see the output as soon as we put in the input.

Physics was actually my second choice. I loved the maths of physics and how it relates to our everyday life.

I had a harder time picturing for chemistry and biology.

Though I admit biology is a fun subject, there were too many terms, processes and names you had to remember. Simply put, I had an awful memory and had a hard time focusing.

To me, maths was something that didn’t exactly require a lot of memorization. You just had to remember a few formulas -maybe- then you could apply it to any question.

Its funny and my past self would be hella confused by how I am basically writing a whole post about my love for maths. Though, I rarely got high scores for it.

This semester there are more lab sessions. All my subjects have lab sessions. So it isn’t that bad. I still am able to see the output and understand better.

I just love testing things out and learning.

You can’t do that with history or biology. I mean biology you can test things out. But some things are just facts.

Hahahaha…I wonder how swiftly14 would react to me basically insulting the course she is taking. 😛

It was so stressful during my SPM years and Matriculation years in biology. That’s just how much I was bad it. Truthfully, (not sure if this assumption is true or not) I don’t think you can get an A in biology unless you have a fondness for it.

I mean based on my experience, the people who got good scores on it was in love with the subject. They liked knowing small facts about our body for a long time and the processes the happen within our own body intrigues them.

Unless you have good memorization skills and work hard, of course- you could still ace bio but I doubt you would continue to take bio by choice. You could get many things if you work hard despite your hate for it. But it wouldn’t be the same. A bitter struggle. Not the same passion as the others.

Anyway, my conclusion is math is fun! You need maths in your life, it helps you think out of the box and get better problem-solving skills. And bio sucks! Muahahahaha…okay no. Just joking.

Computer Science Rules! Yeah!

I am taking database, data structure (basically just programming) and computer network technology this semester. No math.

This post was meaningless and was just my way of procrastinating. Sorry to those who read it till the end.

I don’t even like maths that much….

Resolutions?

It feels too late to be talking about a new year and this is not even my first post for this year. I just love to write a letter of motivation and hope to myself every starting of the year.

Just a little reminder when the times get tough during the year, on why I do what I do. I forget sometimes, most of the times, it is inevitable. I would start the year strong, hopeful, confident~ yet, as times go on, I would feel useless and everything I do is futile.

Maybe I have mentioned it before, but making goals is something I dislike doing. Cause’ it would probably be the same each year, for many years especially as a student, it would be getting good grades and stuff like that.

It is getting repetitive and boring and sometimes disappointing.

I recently watched good videos on stuff like how to be a better person as cliche and dull as that sounds~ it was mind opening.

Maybe you all know this, and I am just late.

Instead of making goals, make a system. Instead of paying attention to the output, focus on your input.

So alternatively, I focus on how to be a good student.

Something my friend has said to me made me aware of what we always should do.

Anyway, it is the first day so lecturer is explaining the subject we are about to learn and how to pass this particular subject.

So for example he said, there were three reports and we had to score all of them high. Even if one of them was low despite the other reports being 100%  we would fail.

My friend turned to me looking surprised after he explained and sighed “Well, it is going to be tough this year”. Which I disagree.

It is tough every year, regardless of the conditions or what grade it takes to pass, you have to work hard.

So I was anxious but not for the same reason she was. I was anxious and always would be because I have high expectations for myself.

And truly, no matter what task you do or work, no matter how easy it is you have to give it your all.

I am not saying this as a lecture or nagging you… I am merely reminding myself cause’ I admit I tend to stray especially when it not always easy to always do your best.

Sometimes despite your best effort, you can’t satisfy yourself.

Sometimes despite your best effort, everyone is doing better.

Another thing I tend to do and need to remind myself to do is never compare your own with anyone else’s effort or accomplishment.

I would always lie or motivate myself anytime I start feeling lazy or want to get the easy way out is by telling myself, like~ Hey! You are only in chapter 1 but everyone else is in chapter 3.

I try to never assume that I am ahead of anyone or I can slack off a little cause everyone else probably is doing it too. Let it be. Let me be the only one who did the homework, I would lie by saying to myself everyone already did it and you are the only one who didn’t…

Anyway, those are the things that I try to do every year, since matriculation. I think all naturally good students probably would have known to do this since school days.

But now to think of a new addition to the system. Cause’ that is not enough.

I shall start with these that I learnt from the video I watched.

1) Read a lot. Read widely.
2) Don’t jump to conclusions
3) Create systems, not goals
4) Argue with yourself
5) Be willing to change your opinion
6) Write
7) Seek adversity
From Freedom in Thought- 7 Habits of Highly Effective Thinker

Orientation Week

Minggu Jalinan Mesra~ that’s what our spectacular orientation week is called.

Opinions will vary when you asked how it was during orientation week. I think I am in the minority so I may sound bitter to those who like it.

I just remember being exhausted. But of course, when you think of orientation week you think of endless activities and being forced to wake up early and sleep late.

I had low expectations or maybe high depends on how you see it.. but I imagined being more relaxed than during matriculations. But it was way more stressful~

They were strict on (in my opinion) unnecessary things. For example, we all had to wear a white scarf (hijab) and it must be totally white it can’t be slighty peach or almost grey…they were absolutely specific on the shade of white. Even our baju kurung had to be red. If your baju kurung was red but was overwhelmed with patterns of another colour, go back to your room and change. And damn there were so many stairs along the way.

They were so unforgiving.

In my matriculation, we had to wear black, but it didn’t matter if there were patterns or it was more grey than black…they weren’t as forceful.

I heard it was just our kolej kediaman (Hostel) cause other kolej was fine. Which made it really infuriating. (Not sure how true this is~)

Now focusing on the good side (which won’t last with a bitter person like me),  the seniors did overfeed us. Literally gave us no time to be hungry. They would give us a snack and a drink (juice not just plain water man!) even if there was a short moment where we feel slightly hungry. It is amazing how they could tell.

And they would always be so energetic despite it being so damn early. Which I had no capability of doing so I was impressed.

Some activities were really fun. The most fun I had was going to see the Artistic group of UKM (Sorry have no idea what they are officially known as) there was singing, dancing and a explore race that was fun.

We had an explore race in my faculty (not during orientation week) where we used social media such as Instagram, Facebook and etc to pass the checking point. (Hey, I am in Faculty of Information Science and Technology) That was fun!

Besides that, we also got to know the type of sport there were in UKM and also participate. I got to play frisbee, which I did not even know was a sport. It has proper rules and everything. I only joined cause I thought it would be easy.

Now to get to the part I dreaded and I still mumble curses under my breath at the thought of it alone in the corner as everyone as loved it. No one joined in my bitter parade.

PERANG DECTAR~ Not sure who idea was to do this but obviously not someone sane. I actually heard every uni has a version of this but ours might be more extreme. Here were the rules, we had to go against other kolejs. We had to cheer (our kolej’s cheer, which was quite many, and some cheers was specifically targetting a specific kolej)  as loud as we can against the others.

While we cheer the other kolej will cheer too, maybe at the same time, maybe not. Its too muddled to tell cause at the same time you cheer people around you (maybe even right next to you ear 😡 ) will hoot horns, play the drums and use siren noises.

While all of this is happening, slowly one by one the lights will go out, so will the air conditioner, so it will be HOT and LOUD and DARK and you have to SCREAM and WAVE your arms in the air and do the damn cheer.

And the only way to win was being the last one to last. There was no point of winning really, there was no prize and if you ended being last you will have to clean up. Cause’ it was a mess. (Tho, my kolej aim was to at least get rid of a particular kolej then leave)

I felt so suffocated, so annoyed and literally stumbled and pushed aside some people and went to the seniors and claimed I was sick. I was teary-eyed from stress and I did puke a lil’.

So I was whisked away.

I realized also, how much of a perfectionist UKM is. The last day before Perang Dectar, the performance was great. They had a gave us a huge welcome! Overall, I could see how much thought was put into our orientation week. They tried to made sure we had fun and got to know UKM.

I kinda want to rant some more but I must end this on a happy note~ I hope you guys don’t conclude it was awful…It was fun. But for someone who never really socialize this took a big hit on me.

 

The Stage, Last day!

Kolej Ibrahim Yaakub! Yeah!

Look at our horns. Only our kolej was subjected to this.

Us doing the cheer. Provoking the the other kolej by ignoring them~

Stage up close.

That was my last day.

Here a link to know how chaotic it was during Perang Dectar~