UTAR Alumni

JANUARY 2013

Memoirs of a UTAR Protégé

Cheong Yuen Kiat

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (HONS) ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
Batch of June 2012

'Okay! Time's up! Stop writing everyone!' said the examiner whose assertive tone resonated across the sizeable hall. As I laid down my pen, I was overwhelmed by a huge sense of relief. At that point, I recollected the numerous times my course mates and I had sat in the same exam hall and handled the same exam questions individually. Buoyed by a wave of nostalgia, I came to a stark realisation that that would be the last time we were experiencing exam blues together. The big question subsequently arose, 'What to do next now that my degree studies have officially come to a fruitful end?'

The riddle had permeated me with sleepless nights and migraines as I grappled with this life-altering juncture. Fortunately, I was not the only UTAR protégé plagued with this dilemma and our lecturers were willing to aid us in making the right decision. This post-degree conundrum revolved around two differing schools of thoughts which were to continue studies at a higher level or to penetrate the employment market. This sticky issue has become an object of intense scrutiny and unceasing debates. There are proposals that graduates gain work experience so to climb the career ladder faster than their peers. On the other end, criticisms abound that having only a first degree doesn't bode well in today's vibrant, innovation-driven economy. A Masters or PhD will offer one's curriculum vitae a flattering boost that increases his or her chances at promotion and accelerates career progression path. Despite the sound and legitimate reasoning of both sides, my heart is dead set on pursing my Masters in Electronic Engineering.

A large percentage of my peers would veer away from pursuing further studies after completing their Bachelor's Degree. They vehemently chastised when I intended to revive their waning penchant for intellectual pursuits. One of them rebuked, 'Going through four years of gruelling and mind-boggling studies have corroded our fortitude. I am baffled at your doggedness to re-embrace the gravel path.' True, I would profess that earning my degree was no mean feat in which I had to overcome plentiful hurdles. I would attribute my resounding success to abundant of motivational factors; lecturers, parents and friends who are instrumental in charting my glorious journey to achieving this significant milestone. They have stood by me through the ups and downs, notably my parents to whom I will be forever grateful for investing in my education. It will be the most treasured possession that they have bequeathed to safeguard my future.

I hope that my modest tale will inspire current and prospective UTAR students to gallantly pursue their dreams and ambitions. Best wishes for your undertakings and I would like to share this famous quote from renowned American technology inventor and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs:

'Your time is limited. Don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drowned your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.'