Last week I got an e-mail from www.whatsafterspm.blogspot.com and they told me that my story was selected to be published in a little book titled What’s After SPM. So what did I write about? Well below is the original version of what I’ve written to be published. They did a few altering with my version adding some bombastic words here n there but at the end, it still sounds like me which I truly appreciate them doing. I can only write a maximum of 800 words so enjoy!!
The Journey
I chose to study Mechanical Engineering and luckily for me, I was accepted into Universiti Malaya to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Out of the 8 choices I had put in my list of course selection I actually managed to get my first choice! But to tell you the truth I was happier that I got into UM rather than the course I was offered. UM being just 30minutes away from home and 15minutes to Mid Valley and One Utama Shopping mall made me smile even more gratifyingly. I thought to myself, “Wow, I’m gonna be a university student soon” and that’s that.
The day came and I step put into the lecture hall of Malaysia’s Top Public University (or so it claimed). The first thing that struck me was wow, all these people, the whole 91 of them taking this course are going to be my course mates for the next (fingers crossed) FOUR years.
As days gone by, I started to realize how different it was studying back in high school and the NOW that I live in. Back in those days, my friends are from various race and religion and they speak understandable English. But now, out of the 91 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS taking the same course as me, only about a handful speaks decent English. How can these people be here in the first place? To top it all off, there is a vile thing that’s happening in most public university and it is called polarization and no I’m not talking about those colourful polarization effects that we get from science experiments but rather I’m talking about RACIAL POLARIZATION.
In lecture halls you see people sitting in groups easily distinguishable by skin colour, language and the like. We live in a country so multicultural, so varied, many different races and religions living in peace and harmony. But is that all there is to it? Do we just merely live WITH other races or do we include other races into our daily lives. Do we accept them as one of our own or do we merely acknowledge their existence and carry out with our own daily things we do.
I hated the fact that our public institution cultivates minds like these. Great minds in a polarized society. I hate the fact that students are so engrossed in their studies while their social and soft skills are left untouched. I hated the fact that university students from a public institution can’t speak proper English! I searched high and low, trying to make a difference, making a mark, finding for loopholes in this polarized society and one day out of nowhere, I stumbled upon AIESEC.
It seems to me to be the only one society or organization in university which accepts you for who you are not because of what your race is or what not. I discovered a place I want to be in. AIESEC is an international youth organization, claiming to be the world’s largest youth organization, acknowledged by the United Nations for upholding what they envision which is Peace and Fulfillment of Humankind’s Potential. They achieve this by providing youths with these 3 main things.
1) International internship programs
2) Global Learning Environment
3) Leadership Opportunities
Through AIESEC, I felt a place where I belong throughout the 3 years of my university life. The longer I am in AIESEC, the more it opened my eyes to the outside world; a world where people are all the same but somewhat different and unique with one another. Now it’s my 3rd year in AIESEC and I’m currently leading a team of 5 great individuals (2 Chinese, 1 Malay, 1 Indian and 1 Eurasian) and together we are managing an AIESEC Local Chapter in Universiti Malaya with 32 people under us, changing people’s lives through our Exchange Program each day. Next semester, I’ll be in the National Committee. Working closely with 10 other individuals from various universities we will be the top leaders of an organization in Malaysia comprising of more than 500 members. Exposing me to skills even most adults find hard to comprehend. The skill of managing people; unpredictable individuals which we all are. It thought me how to be a leader.
I’ve come to love this organization for the simple fact that it does not discriminate. Whether you’re a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or whatever race, you CAN be an AIESECer. I’ve stayed so long because it has provided youths like you and me with a platform to speak their mind and do great things. I believe I’ve found my purpose in life through AIESEC. Found a place which accepted me, anyone for that matter. So long as learning is the reason you come to AIESEC. Then learning you shall get. I am an AIESECer.
Mohamad Alif
