*WARNING - this is a very lengthy blog post making up for all the posts I never get to publish and everything in 2012 hehe*
On Dec 25th 2011, I remember planning my goals for 2012 on the way leaving Sydney to Melbourne. I told myself, 3 years home away from home is finally here. Lets plan whats ahead of me and the adventures to come....time flew by fast and today I'm writing this on the 28th of Dec 2012!! The last Friday of the year. A great day to reminisce and unfold the great journey I've had thus far.
My personal goals for 2012 are simple things to start off my year back in KL, I wanted to first and foremost, graduate my degree, do a short course at Beijing Uni for 3 months, go perform Umrah after graduations ceremony, Apply for Masters at my dream uni Hult London International Business school, do sky diving or something extreme, and travel to somewhere I've never been to, get a new hobby, and most importantly get a job that I love doing!
So here's what happened in 2012, I will start with Alhamdulillah, Praise to God for all the good things and rezeki this year. Today, I am a University of New South Wales, Bachelor of Arts ( International Relations and International Business) graduate! It was a bitter sweet success as I went through a few obstacles. If it wasn't because of my very supportive family and friends, especially my parents for helping me throughout the degree and proof reading my essays. I would not have graduated. They pulled me through, reminded me of how lucky I am to be studying in a prestigious university and one of the most beautiful city in the world, Sydney! I remember writing, researching for world news, issues and laws regarding international events, such as the middle east conflict, U.S foreign policies, and the international human rights, and on the other hand researching for a business paper, business cases and going through BBC news both in current affairs, and business segments. I had to use both parts of my brains to graduate with both majors.
The left for the logical, analytical and objective for business, and the right for the thoughtful and subjective for the international law essays. In between juggling between Club UMNO and the United Nations society traveling activities. Alhamdulillah I did, with the support from my parents, and ever so patient friends reading through my lengthy essays. I wouldn't have done it without them! You guys know who you are. :)
Next, I promised myself...if I ever graduate this degree. I wanted to perform my Umrah with my parents. Alhamdulillah I performed my first Umrah with my mum, and my grandparents, tok and tok wan. I am ever so grateful for the blessings and my parents to support my degree and the last 22 years of life. This time, mum wanted to bring her parents. One day, inshaAllah i would want the opportunity to bring both my parents. It was a rewarding journey altogether to be closest to God Almighty. It was the most peace I had in my life, and Subahana Allah the moment of all else on pause when I first saw the Kaabah. Not anywhere else I wanted to be on July 15th 2012. I came back after 2 weeks, with a new breathe of life. I wanted to do more, and see the beauty of what God has created for us.
For the year went by really fast, I came back and started working immediately. My dad happen to launch a new IPTV, 1MalaysiaTV. I was there, just when everything was about to be put together in a month before the launching. I wanted to be part of it. It started off with the launching, then came up with putting together content for the channel. I realize that I always had these ideas in my head, so came up with a few concepts and ideas with some old and new friends on board. Some of which became my good friends today. It led to me calling up my others friends to write the script and content of what we call - Youth Kopi Talk discussing ideas and perspectives of youths today on current issues, i.e.. the baby dumping, teen pregnancy issues, as well as the social media vs print media. These shows were shown on the MyTV channel on 1MalaysiaTV.
If you're interested to watch it its archived on my youtube channel - msorangelisa5. The channel has some of my work that I have produced. It's nothing fancy, and I am not a pro. I did it all out of on the job training as I wanted to produce, I had to learn the basics of script writing, running orders, story boards, offline editing on final cut pro. I wanted to learn, i wanted to know the process and I was able to explore a part of me I never did before. Which was broadcasting! I produced programs, videos as such uploaded on my youtube channel. To name a few, 'Malaysia di Hatiku', 'Kami Kisah'. I also had the opportunity to organize events, and which I used to love doing so much in my Club Umno years in Sydney.
I picked up new skills, learned how to organize a press conference, an on ground promotions for a film, worked with media people for publicity, hosting and emceeing a dinner with a minister, going on TV to promote the event co-organised with KPT for Siswa Merdeka, co-organised a Sabah Adventure with Kamal Adli & Indra bekti with 15 pax entourage from KL - Jakarta to the state I was raised in for 12 years. This all led to me realizing my true passion, what I truly enjoyed doing most. I truly am grateful for the opportunity my dad has given me to grow in his company for the year I had!
This then led to me meeting driven, thinkers, achievers who I call today my good friends! I surrounded myself with positive and like minded friends. Thank you to the ones always supporting me, and advising me that I could do this despite my background and being inexperienced. I learned from others, picked up whats necessary. I used it all to good use for all I've accomplished this year.
From the support and personal achievements I achieved this year, there was one dream I almost fulfilled. I wanted to go to Beijing for another international experience and to learn a new language. I have always wanted to master Mandarin as my third language, I had private tutoring in the past, and continued my basics at UNSW language school. Thus, I figured going to the mainland would help boost my confidence and pick it up faster. I wasn't able to fulfill this dream this year, as I had other prior commitments. Nonetheless, I continued the learning experience here in International Cultural language centre just in Damansara uptown for 12 weeks in intermediate level. I've advanced to intermediate level 2 now. Hooray!
Now, the something extreme and sky diving. I went back Sydney for graduations ceremony in May, it was always my dream to sky dive in Wollongong. I didn't get to do it this year as my parents were very cautious of this crazy goal I had. hehe but guess what, something extreme can still be in my list for 2012! Im going to Singapore tomorrow for a weekend New Years, there's GMax reverse bungy jump. If I'm already there, I might as well hey! One more tick off my list for the year? :)
What about the Masters? I applied! Went through 3 interviews, 2 on the phone and 1 at InterContinental Hotel for the final interview plus 2 recommendations, a personal essay statement and an essay to fulfill the requirements on top of the 1 year working experience. As I realize marketing was what I really love doing, I applied for Masters in International Marketing. As my family and friends already know, I love traveling and exploring. This is the main reason its my dream uni! Hult London was on my mind the first time I heard in 2009 of its Global rotation campus, to any 3 of its San Francisco, Dubai, Shanghai, Boston and London. Alhamdulillah I finally received the offer and placing at my dream uni with partial scholarship for Fall September 2013. Insha Allah with blessings, support and if it's my rezeki to go, I shall not miss this opportunity!
Hobby is not gonna be a miss - I came about a new hobby, Postcrossing - which is swapping and sending postcards to other parts of the world. My cousin Kak Naziah started doing this first and she shared with me her joy of receiving postcards from random people and seeing how fun it is. Being its handwritten, personal and get to see what other countries has to offer, from culture, main cities and language. I immediately registered on postcrossing.com and started to get a hang of it! Anyone else loves to explore other cultures, language and has a dream to see the world. This is the easiest and fun way to do it! I've been sharing the postcards I have received on instagram. Every postcard I have received has never failed to put a smile on my face. :)
On the note of hobbies, my not new found baking passion was explored during my university years, every time I am bored, hungry and especially stressed. Baking is my source of happiness! For the joy of seeing the happy faces my friends and family had every time they see what I've baked and for them to eat! hihi What I did last 2 weeks was to join a bazaar organized by a friend the Labels bazaar at Ecoba Damansara Perdana. Then my dream to have my own baking name - The Orange Oven was created! Made 100 pieces of quiches although only sold enough to cover the cost, I am happy I tried. For it will be my 2013 goal, to bake more, sell and may one day have my own cafe bakery (another year not 2013 inshaAllah) hehe.
Last but not least, travel to somewhere I have never been to - HO CHI MINH! I never thought I would ever go to Vietnam! Let alone its just all girls trip. Explored a new culture, an adventure worth exploring for 4 days! Went to Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong Delta River and shopping like theres no tomorrow at Ben Thanh Market! haha not forgetting, Vietnamese coffee! I like Vietnamese people, halal food was easy to find, it was surprisingly very safe for 3 girls to travel to ( but extra careful of course). Tried Vietnamese food, the beef Pho and I would love to go there again!
So lets check, what are the goals I have achieved thus far...
1) Graduate my degree - CHECKED! GRADUATED!
2) Do a short course at Beijing Uni for 3 months - almost did. made up with Language class in Damansara Uptown, close to home and get to be home! hehe
3) Go perform Umrah after graduations ceremony- Alhamdulillah. CHECKED!
4) Apply for Masters at my dream uni Hult London International Business school - got the offer! CHECKED!
5) Do sky diving or something extreme- ALMOST! SOON I hope.
6) Travel to somewhere I've never been to - yeah! and travelled more this year, for seminars, conferences, Hong Kong , Jakarta, and best of all I get to go my hometown almost every 2 months!
7) Get a new hobby - YEAH! POSTCROSSING. CHECKED!
8) Get a job that I love doing! - definitely did! CHECKED!
9) one advanced earlier - create a name/label for my bakings - THE ORANGE OVEN!
Therefore, I would conclude that 2012 has been such a great year, ALHAMDULILLAH. All Praise to the Almighty for the rezeki, for the experience. Life is lifelong learning process. I have learned that whenever you put your mind to something, you want it, you'll get it! Just like the saying, hendak seribu daya...tak hendak seribu dalih! :)
It's time to think ahead..make new goals & aspirations...and create a new path for 2013. I have my 5 goals to achieve for the year to come. but I will write that in another post.
Leaving for Singapore tomorrow, here's to the last Friday in Kuala lumpur tanah airku.
Au revoir ! Till next year! Assalamualaikum.
Signing off,
the one and only Msorangelisa
