Chicago Travels

Finally the video is done after a week Spring Break Ended. Although it's a bit late, but yeah here you go. Our trip to Chicago!!

So next in the list? New York City!! XD

The Best Decision Maker

I had a dream once,

To live in the Windy City of Chicago, where most Sci-fi and blockbuster action movies took place in*most notably the Transformers movie line. Where I believe I could live my life to its fullest.

So when the opportunity came by, I voiced out. I told IIE, the organization which MARA asked to settle our placements, that I want a university somewhere in Illinois, where the City of Chicago is located. 

After several months of endless waiting. Then one night, IIE took us by storm*literally semua kecoh gila hha*. Each and every one of us got a list of our own, a list of universities in the US which has accepted our applications. There was a mix of emotions that night, some felt relief after months of waiting, some felt excited, some felt sad to the prospect of leaving Malaysia.

My list rolled out like this

1. University of Iowa
2. Ohio State University
3. Michigan State University
4. University of Illinois-Chicago, YES! Chicago here I come!

At least that was first that came to my mind after looking at the list. Turns out the university was literally located in Chicago which will kinda fulfill my dream back then hha.

Then came the first knock,

Ayah said that Chicago holds the highest crime rate in the US.

The second knock,

 Only me and Imran got a place here, not that it would be a gigantic life affecting problem though.

The final knock,

Ultimately, MARA decided to only send us to Ohio State or Michigan State after making several assessment themselves. 

Fast forward to today, here I am as a student of the Ohio State University pre-majoring for Mechanical Engineering. I'm sure He has decided which was best and helped me avoid bad things that I don't know that could have happened to me in Chicago.

I'm sure there's a reason for me to be enrolled here. For whatever reason He holds, thank you. 

Though He did allowed me to visit the place recently hehe.

University of Illinois-Chicago xD

And I'll probably miss the really cheap halal food restaurant right infront of the campus, but yeah.

Be more grateful will you Adlan?

Mind Opening

Given the chance to be involved in a talk program intended to share ideas and thoughts, I felt really privileged to be able to hear those intelligent voices, passionately being spoke out. TedX, an independently organised event to share with the local people experiences, researches and ideas of local speakers.

Great ideas and life experiences were shared throughout the whole session. Eye opening speeches that needs hope, while also giving hope. A hope to make this world a better place where everyone can call home.

No speech was more important than the other. From innovation to salvation, everything was worth to hear out. One speaker pointed out to the benefits of a pet, how pets could help a person's life to be ever more positive overcoming stress and tension. Another spoke about justice, his first hand experience being branded a felon only because of a book he wrote. A book which was about a constantly misunderstood organization of the past who only wants justice for everyone.

While there were no short of attention to any of the talks, one that really caught me was the PHD to Ph.D segment. Given by OSU's own professor, Elaine Richardson. Her life was full of obstacles*literally*. From being addicted to drugs and abusive pimps, from streets to jails. Everything in life being thrown to her at a very young age.

Her recovery was no short of a miracle. At one time it seemed like her choice was either death or prison. But her mother and education saved her. Her mother didn't gave up on her. She went to school and never stopped. She now has a Ph.D.

Now she shares with the world her journey, to promote healing, recovery and empowerment through education.

-Adlan

TedX squad of the day!

*She wrote a book about her life. PHD to Ph.D by Elaine Richardson

Muslims Are Normal People

Islam is a religion. A Muslim refers to someone whose faith is of Islam, believing in a one and Almighty God. A common word that is constantly and unfairly being related to Islam and Muslims nowadays is terrorism. In this world, wherever and whenever there are terrorist acts, one way or another, someway and somehow it will always point to Muslims. The media will always find a way to relate it to ‘Muslim Terrorists’, giving a fearful impression of Muslims towards all of society.  Some politicians even used this issue as a way to rally their side and to gain more supporters. As a Muslim myself, I am not impressed and disappointed with how certain parts of the community unfairly judge Muslims in the world.

            It is important for everyone to know, that Muslims are also normal people who undergo normal lives. I want everyone to know that Islam is actually a religion which strongly promotes peace, love and unity. Muslims were taught to always love and be loved, respect and be respected, help and be helped. People also must know that all those acts of terrorism proudly being done and admitted by ‘Muslim Jihadist’ are strongly conflicting with what was taught by our Prophet and the Holy Quran. Never were we taught to hate and kill. Instead, we were nurtured to always be kind and respectful of others.

As students of a highly respected institution, it is essential for us to know the difference between Islam and Terrorism. Thanks to our educated environment, we see less hate messages in our daily lives. Despite that there are still people out there, who do not know or they themselves choose to judge Muslims badly. I want everyone to be aware that there is a fine line between a true Muslim and those who call themselves ‘Muslim Extremist’. A true Muslim will never ever promote violence and evil. Islamophobia, extreme fear and hate towards Muslims, should not be in our lives as Islam is actually a really gentle religion but it exists because those terrorist out there who claims to be Islam while doing horrible things. The media also never helps. The whole world need to know the true nature of Islam.

A point of view from this issue that I would like to include in the theatre piece is a way for the society to know more about the truth, to ‘open eyes’ and destroy all those double standards that was built towards Muslims. Islam and Muslims are not things that should be feared. People also need to realise the effects that are being experienced by Muslims in America due to prejudice towards Islam. Some Muslims are deeply traumatized while others struggle to live a normal life due to communities that judge them based on bad things that they did not even do. Innocent Muslims are being treated badly everywhere for things that they are not even involved in.

I imagine a theatre which could expose the audience with the true nature of Islam. A theatre which would depict the daily activities of a true Muslim. One which would also show the struggles in a life of a Muslim because of prejudice and hate that is not supposed to be directed on him. The prejudice and hate which is commonly played around by the media and politicians. The prejudice and hate which he or she never deserved.

-Adlan

Theatre Class Assignment, Social Change Paper