Life away from home
Bismillahirahmanirahim~
Assalamu'alaikum wbt and hey again, peeps!
I've been doing a lot--I mean A LOT--of thinking lately. Maybe it was due to stress or even problems that don't even exist yet. (This is the major problem with overthinkers. Yup, that's it. Overthinking.) For the past 4 and a half years that I've been away from my family (for quite a long time, disregarding the holiday periods) and studying in this IPG, I've noticed a lot of things. In me, and in my other friends as well.
First, you would learn to value your family. Like a lot. Maybe for those who have been staying in hostels or dorms had had experienced this kind of things, but when it comes to staying at the hostels and dorms and being thousands of miles away from home (element: hyperbole), you'll learn to appreciate the presence and existence of a group of people called 'family'. Honestly writing ('cause I'm practically writing, and not speaking), I value my friends back then when I was in both primary and secondary schools. I almost nearly neglected my family (and when you read my previous post about family, you'll know what I'm talking about). I fought with my siblings just because of my friends. But then again, there's this quote: Blood is thicker than water. Whatever happens between family members, in the end, you'll return to them. Why? 'Cause they're your family! So remember this when you're home for the breaks, value them. Enjoy and spend your time with them, even though they'll sometimes--most of the times--get on your nerves. Okay? Okay.
Second, this one is related with the first one, which is you'll learn to value those who are near to you at the current moment. By this I mean your friends, classmates, batch mates, IPG mates, even the lecturers and staff members. (Well not everyone at the same time though.) Why, you may ask? Well, once you are far far away from your blood-related home, you'll need someone to comfort you, to be your ears and eyes and shoulders, to spend time with you, and even to help you in difficult times. Yes. I mostly mean our friends. There'll be times when you need your friends the most, and you must know how to choose them wisely. Especially when the surrounding is way different from your hometown. By the time I reached Terengganu, the ambiance is already different from my Bintangor, Sarawak. First is the community. At my place there are lots of Chinese and the majority there are Chinese. Here, almost all of the population are Malays. Second, my classmates are all from different parts of Malaysia, and this is the first for me. So I thought, 'How would I get close to them and make friends?' But then, as time passes, they'll get close to you, if you know what to do and how to do it. Until now, I'm glad that they're my classmates and we've already been together for more than four years. Not only them. Seniors, juniors, roommates, block mates, they are all around you. You just need to know who to be close to, who to learn from, and who to not become. Okay? Okay.
Third, you'll learn that from all the things you thought from middle or high school about college life are way different from reality and all of the wisdom you got from back then will eventually change through time. I thought about college life will have more freedom and fun (well it is if you know how to search for it), but in reality, it doesn't. You'll have more responsibility and more workload and more stress. You would wish you could turn back time and stay in middle school forever. Yes? No. Instead, think of it in a different way. You'll learn how to be more responsible, more hardworking and more wise in handling everything, including stress and work. You'll know how to juggle both work and personal life easily. You'll mature. You will not get it in the first year, or the second year. Some people take a short while to notice it, some need more time. For me, I've learnt most of my lessons during middle school, and I adapt some of them whilst studying here. Some of my friends, I witnessed took more time than I did. Other than that, some principles that you'd imprinted in you do not work here in college. For instance, my life principle was 'Be good to people, and in return, they'll be good to you'. Honestly writing, when I came here, I learnt (the hardest way) that that principle doesn't work on some people. Some may take advantage of you. Some may just forget you when you're in difficult times. Some just ignore you. But then, I adapted that principle and make it more realistic. 'Fix your nawaitu when doing deeds. In return, He'll repay you the same. If not now, soon. If not soon, later. Just believe in Him, and it will come'. And just like that, I learnt that be honest in whatever you do. Never expect anything in return. If it helps other people and makes them happy, just do it. Okay? Okay.
Lastly, you'll learn to discover more about yourself. Humans are not robotic mechanism which doesn't have feelings and opinions. Humans are unique. Humans are different from other humans. (I also learn this the hard way.) I learnt that not all humans are like us. I always thought that humans will always be what I want them to be. Wrong. They have their own thoughts, their own opinions, their own lives. We cannot define other people by using our own dictionary. You yourself, too. You'll notice that you change from one period to another. I changed. Back then during my foundation years, I was an introvert and seniors would label me as 'snobbish, stuck-up junior who doesn't say 'hi' to seniors' type of junior. I ignored them. At least until they graduated. Then I realised, 'I am better than what they say. I can do more. I can be someone. I can change. I am me'. And so I did. I become more extroverted and mingle with other people, especially the lecturers and staff members. I befriend with juniors and seniors. And unconsciously, I become well-known in this institute, even other campuses (not being braggy or anything, just stating what's real). And I like myself better now. When I reminisced my foundation self, I laughed and shook my head at my own stupidity and ignorance. But then, if I were to notice sooner and if I were to not discover this myself, I might be different from what I am now. I might not be as strong, nice, cheerful as I am now. And I am thankful for my old self and also the people around me. For helping me notice myself. Thank you!
I think that is all what I want to talk about this morning. Some of you might relate this with yourself, some of you might not. Or some might make this as a guidance when entering tertiary level a.k.a. college life. Just one thing before I end this:
Assalamu'alaikum wbt and hey again, peeps!
I've been doing a lot--I mean A LOT--of thinking lately. Maybe it was due to stress or even problems that don't even exist yet. (This is the major problem with overthinkers. Yup, that's it. Overthinking.) For the past 4 and a half years that I've been away from my family (for quite a long time, disregarding the holiday periods) and studying in this IPG, I've noticed a lot of things. In me, and in my other friends as well.
First, you would learn to value your family. Like a lot. Maybe for those who have been staying in hostels or dorms had had experienced this kind of things, but when it comes to staying at the hostels and dorms and being thousands of miles away from home (element: hyperbole), you'll learn to appreciate the presence and existence of a group of people called 'family'. Honestly writing ('cause I'm practically writing, and not speaking), I value my friends back then when I was in both primary and secondary schools. I almost nearly neglected my family (and when you read my previous post about family, you'll know what I'm talking about). I fought with my siblings just because of my friends. But then again, there's this quote: Blood is thicker than water. Whatever happens between family members, in the end, you'll return to them. Why? 'Cause they're your family! So remember this when you're home for the breaks, value them. Enjoy and spend your time with them, even though they'll sometimes--most of the times--get on your nerves. Okay? Okay.
Second, this one is related with the first one, which is you'll learn to value those who are near to you at the current moment. By this I mean your friends, classmates, batch mates, IPG mates, even the lecturers and staff members. (Well not everyone at the same time though.) Why, you may ask? Well, once you are far far away from your blood-related home, you'll need someone to comfort you, to be your ears and eyes and shoulders, to spend time with you, and even to help you in difficult times. Yes. I mostly mean our friends. There'll be times when you need your friends the most, and you must know how to choose them wisely. Especially when the surrounding is way different from your hometown. By the time I reached Terengganu, the ambiance is already different from my Bintangor, Sarawak. First is the community. At my place there are lots of Chinese and the majority there are Chinese. Here, almost all of the population are Malays. Second, my classmates are all from different parts of Malaysia, and this is the first for me. So I thought, 'How would I get close to them and make friends?' But then, as time passes, they'll get close to you, if you know what to do and how to do it. Until now, I'm glad that they're my classmates and we've already been together for more than four years. Not only them. Seniors, juniors, roommates, block mates, they are all around you. You just need to know who to be close to, who to learn from, and who to not become. Okay? Okay.
Third, you'll learn that from all the things you thought from middle or high school about college life are way different from reality and all of the wisdom you got from back then will eventually change through time. I thought about college life will have more freedom and fun (well it is if you know how to search for it), but in reality, it doesn't. You'll have more responsibility and more workload and more stress. You would wish you could turn back time and stay in middle school forever. Yes? No. Instead, think of it in a different way. You'll learn how to be more responsible, more hardworking and more wise in handling everything, including stress and work. You'll know how to juggle both work and personal life easily. You'll mature. You will not get it in the first year, or the second year. Some people take a short while to notice it, some need more time. For me, I've learnt most of my lessons during middle school, and I adapt some of them whilst studying here. Some of my friends, I witnessed took more time than I did. Other than that, some principles that you'd imprinted in you do not work here in college. For instance, my life principle was 'Be good to people, and in return, they'll be good to you'. Honestly writing, when I came here, I learnt (the hardest way) that that principle doesn't work on some people. Some may take advantage of you. Some may just forget you when you're in difficult times. Some just ignore you. But then, I adapted that principle and make it more realistic. 'Fix your nawaitu when doing deeds. In return, He'll repay you the same. If not now, soon. If not soon, later. Just believe in Him, and it will come'. And just like that, I learnt that be honest in whatever you do. Never expect anything in return. If it helps other people and makes them happy, just do it. Okay? Okay.
Lastly, you'll learn to discover more about yourself. Humans are not robotic mechanism which doesn't have feelings and opinions. Humans are unique. Humans are different from other humans. (I also learn this the hard way.) I learnt that not all humans are like us. I always thought that humans will always be what I want them to be. Wrong. They have their own thoughts, their own opinions, their own lives. We cannot define other people by using our own dictionary. You yourself, too. You'll notice that you change from one period to another. I changed. Back then during my foundation years, I was an introvert and seniors would label me as 'snobbish, stuck-up junior who doesn't say 'hi' to seniors' type of junior. I ignored them. At least until they graduated. Then I realised, 'I am better than what they say. I can do more. I can be someone. I can change. I am me'. And so I did. I become more extroverted and mingle with other people, especially the lecturers and staff members. I befriend with juniors and seniors. And unconsciously, I become well-known in this institute, even other campuses (not being braggy or anything, just stating what's real). And I like myself better now. When I reminisced my foundation self, I laughed and shook my head at my own stupidity and ignorance. But then, if I were to notice sooner and if I were to not discover this myself, I might be different from what I am now. I might not be as strong, nice, cheerful as I am now. And I am thankful for my old self and also the people around me. For helping me notice myself. Thank you!
I think that is all what I want to talk about this morning. Some of you might relate this with yourself, some of you might not. Or some might make this as a guidance when entering tertiary level a.k.a. college life. Just one thing before I end this:
"Don't let others change you. Don't change for the worse. Change for the better. Change for yourself."That is all! Thank you for reading! Peace out!
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