Agora

So after submitting those performance reports I felt at ease, and yesterday I went into work with a rejuvenated sense of purpose; knowing that I've done everything I could and that I would have no regrets working as a fundraiser. Following the workday, assessments were held and my report was perhaps the strongest @ the workplace. I only have God to thank for. I do not believe that my will to carry on stemmed from my natural capacities. I honestly think that there was a 'prime mover' that edged me on ever so gently and resolutely.

So work begins in 2 minutes and here I am blogging through my phone. I am to submit my report consisting of my fundraising activities and efforts for the past month. I am quite nervous since the last one I submitted was comparatively sub-par. My colleagues are stellar employees and somehow I feel that I am on a lower level. They seem a lot more motivated, much more energized and all the credit goes to them. Now I can go on and make excuses about my unsatisfactory performance but I take all the blame because at times I felt like giving up. I am not going to lie because the job is hard and I felt like I was not cut out for front-line cold-calling. I was not prepared for humble pie most of the work week. I was/am arrogant and I have to fix it. Therefore, as I enter today's work and submit my report I will treat this as a fresh start, even though my time with this company is limited and coming to a close. I will prove to myself that I can be a good team player; that I can look ba...

So it has been a while since my last blog post, and I have since experienced a cacophony of highs and lows; ups and downs.  Allow me to rant about several things that have constituted my so-called summer vacation. Being an employee in a fundraising company has been one of the most challenging episodes in my life thus far. The nature of cold-calling, knocking on doors and arranging appointments to pitch a cause is quite remorseless in that very few people are eager to reciprocate whatever passion you may still have about the cause at hand. Normally, that passion would've been depleted one week into the job; because there is just so much a human being can give and bear. Don't get me wrong, I am remunerated for what I do, but these 6-7 hour workdays have drained a lot from me. I, like many others, often spend my long commutes home hoping that what I am doing would amount to something at the end of day. Add in the high-ankle sprain injury which robbed me of a conference trip to...

SO I turn 21. Several implications: 1. the law stipulates that I have made the shift from being a dependent minor to an independent actor, capable of making my own decisions reasonably and rationally. False. 2. that my turning 21 indicates that since I have inhabited this earth for 21 years, I have a slight inkling of 'know-how'. Also false. 3. that I must start to grow up. Truth. I guess this is more like a pledge to myself to reassess my goals and figure out my career path. So far, I am still confused in regards to commitment, plans and strategies to achieve success. On a more mundane level, I am still looking fervently for a job and still playing basketball.  The coming year is going to be a pivotal point in my life, I can sense it. Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes!

Hey folks, It has been a while since my blog post. Frankly, I have been enjoying a lot of time outdoors playing basketball and I must say that I have missed this sport dearly. A combination of good weather (gorgeous sunshine) and enthusiastic friends equals a lot of hoops and sore muscles. I've settled into a satisfactory sleeping cycle, attempting to offset any physiological damage incurred during the last three weeks of hell aka 3 hours of sleep is already a blessing aka I should have studied this long before aka cramming is horrible aka exam period. And boy, did I come out of those examination halls with a victorious feeling. A Time for Hoops Anyway, I plan to schedule my time properly over the next few weeks so I don't catch either boredom bug or lazy bug (yet again); for in idleness there is great potential to be vegetated and unmotivated. So, I attempt to channel my youthful vigours into basketball and related exercises to boost performance. Honestly, that's w...

Stay tuned for SE Asia trip wrap up part 3 where I will provide some suggestions for Malaysia's public policy. Exams are around the corner, and I am in the process of completing some essays, one overdue. Applied for close to 10 jobs yesterday, so fingers crossed I will be earning some much needed money this summer! In the mean time, allow me to divulge a little about recent developments - Trying to catch up with 2 weeks worth of school work isn't fun by any means; whats more, I found myself campaigning for UBC's International Student Association elections, hoping to be voted in as Vice President External. With an international background, I naturally felt drawn to this position and club because I have had many experiences with international students on exchange here, and I do understand a thing or two about transitioning and the severe sense of alienation that some of them feel. Being far from home is one thing, not accepted here because of ones accent or command of E...

Singapore's successful urban-planning policies ought to be emulated by Malaysia I'm attempting to make the most of my procrastination by producing a coherent and legible blog post - one that is long overdue as well. With two papers waiting to be completed, I would hardly try to make this post anything like an essay, but it normally turns out to be like one, so I've heard. So, hopefully I'll try to write in a relaxed manner without betraying the gravity of the content, namely, that the disparities between the Malaysian and Singaporean state are so great as to provoke sadness and sympathy within me. As a Malaysian citizen, the Singaporean developmental, economical and political model is to be emulated, if Malaysia wishes to meet its 2020 goal of being a high-income economy. In today's post, I will elaborate on the different developmental practices in both countries. Pedestrian Sky-bridges amidst lush, green growth in Singapore   Sustainable, efficient, dur...