Future Endeavours

When I heard about it for the first time, I was speechless. Who would have thought that would happen ey mate? I know the chances of you reading this are slim, but allow me go on will you?

Maybe we had planned for something in our minds, getting an engineering degree and stuff, but I guess He had something else in store.

I too, went through the same thing, and I asked myself

"Did I chose the right major?"
"Do I really want to be an engineer?"

Turns out that I don't.

The transition must've hit you hard, cuz to get really good grades over here you would have to put literally lots and lots of effort. Anyways, good luck my friend. Do your best, start anew.

Wherever you are on this world,
goodluck on your future endeavours.

A New Start

Hey there,

It's been a while since I did any updates. So here we go,

Summer break is ending. Classes are gonna start after 3 months of 'rest'. To most, today is the first day of class. To me, it's my first day of work! My classes starts tomorrow. I'm kind off excited to start class though.

I really want to improve on my GPA's as much as possible this time. Last semester I got a pretty bad one as Physics dragged my GPA a lot. We'll see how this semester goes, I'm going to try my best this time. Misi 4 Flat!

Maju

Kan ku terus mencuba,
Kau tahu ku percaya,
Komplikasi itu takkan ada.

Biarpun nafas terhenti,
Kau tahu ku takkan pergi,
Sehingga ku jumpa apa yang ku cari.

Lengthy Road

Reliving that scraped up yesterday, We'll open the way to a hopeful tomorrow. What even remains in these hands?

My voice, dispersed into the sky.

Even if the reality I've obtained is dim, and I can't see what lies in front of me. I feel like I can proceed on this journey, as long as I have you guys.

Even if the bonds that we have gathered dust, as our past and future stand back to back.

Repeating an answer that's is full of inaccuracies. We'll seek the right answer, reaching out our hands, as many times as it takes!

Be.Long

The InterACT performance that I watched was ‘be·long’. The performance that night was directed and facilitated by Elizabeth Wellman. The play was devised and written by the InterACT Theatre ensemble in spring 2016. The play took place at the Roy Bowen Theatre at the Drake’s Centre at approximately 7.30pm on the 22^nd April 2016. The performance was  part of a service-learning course and was mainly conversations between characters and the audience for research purposes.

            This was the first ever interactive theatre performance that I have attended. It is a completely different experience as compared to all of the theatres that I have experienced throughout the semester. The play started in Part 1, where a group of students were seen in class at the start of a whole new semester and Part 2 is an interactive session between characters and the audience. I was really interested in the performance as I can somehow relate my own life with almost all of the characters in the play.

I felt a great connection with Mario(Eduardo Lozano). Mario(Lozano) was depicted as a student who does not have any friends in the class and seemed really lost. Even when he was assigned into groups with other students, he seemed scared and did not really open up with any of his group members. To be honest, I felt that way earlier this semester. My first ever semester in a different country. I felt out of place. I felt scared at not living up to my classmate’s expectations, which I imagined and created upon myself. I also felt scared of the consequences if I didn’t manage to speak English properly. I felt insecure. Thankfully, I realized later in the semester how silly I was going on about my insecurities. It’s normal to feel that way, but what matters most is how we adapt and overcome that feeling.

Next, I also can relate to Charlotte’s(Kesley Frustere) situation. Being in a group with her friends, she probably already knows her friend’s habits and decided it was best for her to do the proper research. I myself literally did it once as I was not satisfied with what my friend had came up with on a previous project together. When you know your friend is a total slacker who doesn’t really put his heart into his work, you end up taking the work load upon yourself to get the best of results. It was really horrible of her friends, Adam(Mohamad Quteifan) and Evan(Alex Wilson), to not have even the slightest of interest since the start of the class.

Lastly, I loved how Amanda(Ronda Cristie) improvised on her mistake of forgetting Kate’s(Casey Murray) name. If I were in Kate’s(Murray) shoes, I will definitely feel better if my TA apologised had they forgotten my name instead of pretending to know. I feel it is better to clear things up earlier in the class rather than face the awkwardness later. I’ll also feel disappointed if my TA pretended and will probably lose all my interest and focus in the class. It also leaves a really bad impression on the TA.

All in all, I really enjoyed my InterACT experience. Audiences pointed out a lot of things that I did not even think about in the discussion and the session rolled out pretty interestingly. The performance truly reminded me of myself earlier this year.  It was awesome how people share great ideas to overcome the problems that the characters were facing in their class. I believe the outcome of this InterACT research will prove important for the future.

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?

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

Ups and Downs

Just as I'm finally able to truly make sense of what I'm learning in Physics*literally, then came the results of Calculus midterm. I had to admit, the pressure was immense. Most of my time was used to make sure I'm staying on track.

But to be honest, I'm kinda glad actually.

I took this as His way to ensure my feet is always running, on the ground. It was tiresome, with the meetings and all. But I don't mind*sometimes I do haha penat kot, because this ensures my primary niat coming to Columbus keeps going. Though sometimes I do complain, I felt silly whenever I think about what I'm actually complaining before.

Opening up does helps though. At first I was kinda reluctant. It wasn't easy as I expected*okay maybe I overestimated my self in this xD*. Working in groups helped me, a lot. I struggled at first, brainstorming words in my mind each time I talk with my classmates here. Also looking up Google Translate whenever I'm writing summaries or reports in a group.

Glad it didn't stopped me from talking though*hahaha.

I admit, sometimes I'll be at lost of words when I talk with the people here. And most of the time I'll have a Google Translate Tab opened up on my browser whenever I'm writing reports. But I'm coping with it. Slowly but surely.

All I did*and still doing* was try, try and try.

I believe anyone who goes to another country either to work or learn, will never really truly 'live' if they don't ever mingle with the locals. It's up to you yourself though, to decide.

I think I should be more grateful, given the chance to learn in a world class environment. This golden opportunity needs to be spend to the fullest. I'll show gratitude by giving my all. That's a promise I'll do my best to keep.

Barakah

Earlier today during one of the mass lecture, I saw someone who was deliberately playing with his gadget. While the professor was teaching, the guy was playing some kind of game without any focus on what's being taught upfront.

This really brings me back..

Back then, my teachers constantly remind us on how important 'berkat' is. Whether you're an accomplished student or a weak one, berkat or barakah is still the most important element. Especially from one who teaches you. It's necessary to have a good relationship with our teachers, as to gain the teacher's 'berkat' on what she/he has taught us.

And I agree.

I remembered seeing my friends back in school, back in college  whom play with their phones in class. Not that I am the one who bestows 'berkat' among people, but how do you expect to really understand what was being taught by the teacher when you're busy with your phones, your gadgets?

Furthermore as a Malaysian myself, I know that generally Malaysians get offended easily. You wouldn't want to get on a teacher's/lecturer's bad side. Though they do not show it, believe me that most of the time they know that 'you're not in the class at all'. On a personal level, I myself would feel*at least a bit* offended when someone I'm interacting with is busy with other things when I'm actually trying to relay something to them.

"And still you complain tak faham lah, kelas bosan lah. And bila dapat markah rendah, blame benda/orang lain"

Sometimes it's just the slightest of things, 'berkat' perhaps? Wallahualam. Try standing in the shoes of a teacher, and you will know what it feels like. Trust me, it's not a feeling you would want to have while teaching.

The best thing to do I believe is to 're-adjust' your niat before each and every class, that usually helps when I have to go through long and 'sleepy' classes. If you missed anything, take the initiative to meet up with your teachers or lecturers. They will be more than happy to help out. And if they caught you doing something your not supposed to in class*e.g. sleeping*, quickly apologize.

Apologizing won't hurt a fly, and believe me, you'll feel much better afterwards.