UTAR Alumni

APRIL 2017

Graduation: Before, After and Beyond

Loo Xiang Thing

Master of Arts Chinese Studies (Structure A)

Batch of August 2016

Immediately following the completion of my Bachelor of Chinese Studies at UTAR, I started working as a teacher without considering furthering my studies. But upon entering society, my previous enthusiasm was quickly squashed by the many difficulties that I faced. Many a time when I pondered about where I had gone wrong, I would seek advice from my teachers. There was once when I sat crying by Dr. Lim Chooi Kwa?s desk where he was my wise and understanding listener. On another occasion, I was grumbling to Dr. Khor Boon Eng about the challenges I was facing at work. He suggested suddenly that I should consider furthering my studies and I immediately decided to do so.

During the first two years of my journey to my Master degree, I became Dr. Khor Boon Eng?s research assistant and learnt a lot from him. He led me into the world of academics and mentored my research. Doing field work and interviewing authors rapidly broadened my perspective and improved my social skills. My first experience of flying was when I went to pay a visit to the poet, Du Yunxie?s family in Beijing who I was writing a thesis about at that time. Dr. Khor who was with me at the time later on left to attend a conference for a few days. Before I began my journey travelling alone, Dr Khor gave me some pocket money and reminded me to ?eat well?. With that small blessing, it seems that my stomach was not the only thing that was filled. Once, I went to the NUS library with Dr Khor to do some research. It took me a few hours to compile the information and after that I went to the Microform screening room where I found him still flipping through the past newspaper archives, searching for research information under a dimly glowing light. In that pivotal moment, I realized that he was not only the epitome of an assiduous researcher, but also a kind, dedicated and modest man.

There was also Dr. Liau Peng Leng, my co-supervisor, who also accompanied and taught me throughout my degree and postgraduate journey. She was always gentle and polite during her lectures and was always cheerful and friendly when she was not teaching. Whether it was in my studies or daily life, she was always willing to lend me a listening ear. In my humble opinion, she was much more than a teacher of academics but also a mentor in life and matters of the heart.

?Teachers affect all eternity, you never know when their influence stops.? I believe that UTAR?s Institute of Chinese Studies? biggest treasure is the team of teachers who have devoted their whole lives not only to imparting knowledge but also to teaching students how to live. The once familiar PH block in PJ, whose true identity was only known to the students in the institute of Chinese Studies, has now become a part of history. But in place of the building, was Dr. Lim Chooi Kwa?s wise and understanding gaze that imprinted on my heart and continues to be an everlasting significance to my life, beyond the walls of the concrete structure.

In the blink of an eye, I have already spent four years teaching in a Chinese private high school. Unlike before I do not face as many troubles as I used to, which has led me to think about how this journey has molded me. It has enriched my thoughts, trained me to have an impartial and rational view when dealing with various situations, and instilled independent organizing skills and self confidence in me. The examples set by my teachers greatly impacted me in my own teaching journey and their existence accompanied me through thick and thin.

Life is very different now. Living in a buzzing city filled with vibrant energy and busy people, makes me reminisce the times when I was in Kampar alone, without any course mates. Back then my closest companions were the otters and monitor lizards living in the lake that gleamed under the rays of the setting sun. I am truly grateful for Kampar?s beauty, my family?s support and the care and advice given by my seniors Ms. Ee Cheik, Lih Lih and Say Chung with whom I shared many warm steaming cups of coffee during rainy nights at McDonalds. Finally, I?d like to wish all the graduates a happy graduation. It matters not how long it takes to reach your goal. What matters is that this is the product of your hard work and dedication which also signifies the end of another stage in learning, and that is something worth being proud of.