UTAR Alumni

MAY 2014

Eve: I Was Never Alone in UTAR

Kee Shun Eve

Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Global Economics

Batch of March 2014

One thing is for sure. I made the right decision by pursuing undergraduate studies in UTAR. The awesome three-year campus life has been etched eternally in my mind. The wonderful memories will be constantly played before my eyes. It gives me unspeakable joy to reminisce over the lost but treasured times. It was unlike secondary school life where daily activities were mundane and monotonous in nature. The trimester-based studies enabled me to plan my time and to juggle studies with extra-curricular and leisure activities for overall holistic growth and development.

I faced completely new challenges during the first trimester of my first academic year. I had to adapt to a relatively new environment and like all UTARians, I had to prepare for assignments, mid-terms and tutorials before gearing up for final examinations. Long semesters were less taxing on me, unlike the short semester in October 2010 where my coursemates and I were required to complete tasks given by our lecturers in three to four weeks. I learned that time is of the greatest essence. Hence, I tried to complete my assignments whenever I had the time and opportunity to do so, be it in or out of the university compounds. I spent my time in library accessing the internet for vital information. I realised that time management and adaptation are two quintessential skills in varsity life.

Besides, I had also picked up a new skill: multitasking. This was extremely important in every class I attended. My eyes, ears and hand worked in precise coordination to listen, capture and scribble down notes during lectures and tutorials. The notes provided great reference when I had to prepare for final exams. I strived to finish all homework and assignments given as I have always believed in the cliché, 'Practice makes perfect'.

There are no shortcuts to excel academically but to pay attention in class and revise every lesson consistently. It is the conventional method to ensure that all essential points are tattooed in our mind. Two and a half to three hour exam is a race against time. I had to write quickly but my speed was bogged down after some time due to tiredness and numbness. I perceived those times as trimester-based hand exercises which I am starting to miss now. I felt satisfied flipping and checking through the answer sheets before handing them in when the invigilator announced 'Time's up'. I was overwhelmed with utter gratification when the results were circulated via student intranet, as they made me felt that all my hard work had paid off handsomely.

I am also extremely grateful towards my lecturers and tutors who have patiently guided me through the terrains of knowledge. They are, Ms Tiong Kui Ming, Ms Ngoo Yee Ting, Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu, Mr Har Wai Mun, Mr Tee Pek Ling, Ms Fitriya, Mr Sia Bik Kai, Ms Crystal Oii Bee Chan, Ms Pok Wei Fong and many others. I will never forget the knowledge and motivation they imparted in me. I would like to thank Ms Tiong for personally reminding me before the start of final exam that I must not repeat the same careless mistakes I made in mid-term. Her words are invaluable and will always resonate throughout my future undertakings. I would also like to express my appreciation to Prof Cheng for sharing his accumulation of experiences from past encounters with various universities around the globe. It sparked my enthusiasm and interest to further explore the world.

Next, I want to express my utmost gratitude to my Final Year Project (FYP) supervisor, Mr Steven Chong Shyue Chuan. Throughout the process to complete FYP, he was my pillar of strength that inundated me with precious advices and guidance. He made believed that I could pass my FYP with flying colours. UTAR is truly a home of great, dedicated and erudite lecturers who are not only passionate about disseminating knowledge, but are also concerned about the students? well-being and character building.

My varsity life would be lackluster without the feel-good company of friends and associates. Like every UTAR student, I do have my own clique who comprises mainly my coursemates, seniors and juniors from Global Economics and related courses. They are the rainbow in my life. I am glad to have two best buddies, Isabelle and Adeline, who stood by me through the ups and downs and also my wonderful housemates, who always filled me with laughter and amusement. The hostel we used to live in was always vibrant with activities that signified our camaraderie and merriment.

Apart from academics, I embarked on extra-curricular activities to hone my leadership and interpersonal skills. I was the auditor for Community Service Society (CSS) from 2012-2013. The reason I chose CSS was because I enjoyed contributing, socially and environmentally. The best part of CSS was that all members worked cohesively to ensure that every event we conducted transpired into miraculous successes. We had incalculable fun working together and we also gained unforgettable experiences through activities such as Rainbow over Life Forces (ROLF), visit to the Home for the Angels and Chinese New Year (CNY) Fund Raising Event.

Besides that, I also enrolled in soft skill courses organised by the Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) which have given me added advantage in terms of communication, creativity and critical thinking. Apart from imbibing knowledge, I remembered very well some funny moments from an event organised by the DSSC, which is table manner. Every student had to be well-behaved at the table, a manner that is seldom practised under normal circumstances. The fun reached its climax when we were told to use fork and knife to peel the banana and divide the flesh into few equal bites. Echoes of roar and laughter ensued and filled the entire room. Having graduated from programmes such as Interviewing Skill, Professional Grooming, Resume Writing and Understanding Intellectual Property, I am better-equipped and have the capacity to outperform my competitors during job application, selection and interviews. Therefore, I would like to thank DSSC officer-in-charge, Ms Fook Oi Yee, for organising the extensively beneficial USSDC programmes.

Here comes the end of my story, journey and accomplishments as an UTARian. My advice to all students who want to give up on their studies is to adhere to this famous quote by Thomas Edison: 'When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this ' you haven't.' I was burned out a couple of times but I have always believed in the power of positive thinking and soldiered on until to this day. I would soon reap the rewards of my hard work and made my parents proud by officially becoming a UTAR graduate.

My coursemates and I (second from left) after a presentation

My friend and I playing with a child at the Home for the Angels

Attempting to peel a banana with a fork and knife.

My friends and I (second row, third from right) volunteering in ROLF event