Fates and Destinies

 

As a favorite TV character of mine once put; we are all brought here into this life for a reason. So he says; take a leap of faith and live life by that very reason.

Destiny, as John Locke would put it.

A chance meeting, a trivial coincidence, a role which we inevitably settle into in our lifetime, we would logically just brush off as just mere luck and coincidence.

Like say, this opportune encounter with a lost Stormtrooper wandering the streets of KL, making ends meet so as to one day traverse the dimensions and rejoin the Empire.

Or perhaps even this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to plop myself in its posh leather seats and get behind the wheel of an Audi R8?

Whether these events were already set in stone by the powers that be or just plain happenstances alone, there is however, one thing that I absolutely believe with my every single fiber of my being.

There comes a time when revelation just dawns itself upon you; a time when epiphany hits you so hard you shit yourself in your pants; a time when you are so sure that in a world of so many wrongs, doubts and insecurities, you are RIGHT about something.

Today, at approximately 1.50 pm local time, I knew that that time has come.

This. Is. My. Destiny.

There and Back Again

 

I do believe that the lack of updates on this blog of mine can be rather frustrating to some of the readers who faithfully return to this blog, only to be disappointed to have the same wall of text and parables staring back at them.

Well, the only thing that I could say in defense to justify the lack of updates on this blog of mine is one that is synonymous with every college student, or human being, for that matter:

PROCRASTINATION!!

Here’s a smiley face to cheer you readers up:

=D

Don’t be mad, and don’t lead a village mob on a witch hunt to my hostel doorsteps, please?

Well, the least I could do is provide you all with a short but sweet recap of college life so far, no?

As we usher in the Fall Semester of 2010, one cannot help but notice an omnipresent void that clings onto our day-to-day activities in Intec UiTM.;a feeling of emptiness that tugs at the back of one’s mind but never making itself known.

No doubt that rift left behind was by our beloved friends who’ve left us for the States to pursue their dreams.

In hindsight, it’s a funny thing to note that these individuals have carved out such a niche in each of our lives within such a short span of only a year.

To think that they leave behind a deeply-ingrained depression in our lives where their presence have taken root is testament to just how much of an impact they’ve left on us.

So, here’s wishing these wonderful guys and girls luck and that may fortune smile upon whatever sheenanigans they get up to in the States.

Now that the teary, somber, morbid and emo bit has been done and away with, what say we address the more entertaining facets of college life?

For starters, this Fall Semester saw me clothing myself in all manners of fashion and accessories (in an absolutely so-not-serious manner of making a bold fashion statement.)

The prevalent themes for each week did wonders in helping me decide what article of clothing to garb myself in.

1Malaysia Week:

Total Badass/Cool Week:

Sexual Ambiguity Week:

Military Week:

Also, Fall Semester saw me progress leaps and bounds in addressing my issue of addiction to video games!

By leaps and bounds, I meant that the progress was done in the reverse manner and not the forward manner that everyone is always referring to nowadays. Pshh, progressing forward in curbing your gaming addiction? Talk about being overrated…

To list several milestones in addressing said issue:

1. I’m currently on my 4th playthrough of Mass Effect 2. (Inter-stellar, inter-species romance with incredibly hot alien chicks that are WAY out of your league? Oh, and the occasional inter-galactic ass kicking. What’s there not to LIKE?)

2. Smashing a zombie’s brain in with a skillet for the umpteenth time never gets old. Especially if there’s four like-minded, questionably sane individuals running around the map bonking the living shit out of every zombie they see.

3. Also, we’ve finally managed to relive the glory days of Call of Duty 4. Although it doesn’t hold a candle to the heydays of Spring Semester, we make do by totally disregarding standard military protocols, and and just plain blow shit up with whatever ordnance our itchy trigger fingers can get their hands on.

Having friends who exude artistic flair in expressing their destructive creativity does wonders in mindlessly leveling building after building.

4. Finally, Starcraft II. The. Single. Biggest. Moment. In. Gaming. History. Ever

I must admit though, playing a strategy game is tough! And I hate playing games I’m not good in(yeah, my ego is THAT inflated). However, Starcraft II has given me reason enough to sit through moments after moments of getting my base orbitally nuked, ling rushed, zealot raped, thor gangbanged or whatever creative ways of ownage the Starcraft community can think of next.

5. The advent of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Fallout: New Vegas, and Dead Rising 2 is SO totally, going to multiply my addiction ten-folds. And that’s just the way I like it.

Oh, did I leave out the part of having to cram for my finals and exams? Hmm, guess I did, didn’t I? Goes to show just how much I prioritize my tasks in college.

Oh well, time to hit the books I guess! Till I master the art of pulling solutions to those parametrically defined surfaces and iterated integrals in Calculus out of my ass, I believe I have much to catch up on!

Till my next post, toodles!

Friggin' lag! Took 3 months to Respawn!

As I type this post, I sit my tushies down on the familiar family couch that already has its cushions specifically molded to fit my butt.

Ah, home. Nothing beats the wonders of being able to drown yourself in the air of familiarity and the scent of fattening Kuching delicacies wafting through the air. Add to the fact that you have assistants (read: your parents) to tend to all the housework and chores, life is good.

Last I checked, the previous blog update was 3 months ago. So.......

~*awkward silence*~

...let us just put the past aside, and concentrate on the present ey? Hence, a quick recap of life (or the lack of it) for the past 3 months.

One of the biggest highlights was, of course, the new batch of ATU 18 students. Now, I don't mean to sound sadistic, but the stuff these juniors are capable of are just delightfully rib-tickling, laugh-out-loud material.

Sure, we seniors get our share of entertainment from their plight, but I just can't help giggling like a school girl at a Twilight premiere at some of the antics these juniors get up to.

Redefining the rules of grammar? Check.

Declaring your undying love for a particular senior? Check.

Scandalous gossips and rumors flying about? Check.

Giving Mr. Kamal a run for his sanity? Check and check.

Still, while we said hello to new faces, who could forget the moments we bid goodbye to familiar ones?

And so, we stand helplessly by at the airport terminal, wishing some of our dearest friends a tear-streaked goodbye as they depart the terminals to meet destiny in the States.

......and the part about tear-streaked goodbyes was total bs, if you readers knew by now.

Moving on, a short peek at the more academical facet of college life:

Like a hazy, surreal dream, I still can't quite believe I'm already starting my first year of degree at wonderful INTEC UiTM!

As to be expected, subjects became tougher and the workload started piling up. Add to the fact that I was stuck in the one and ONLY class taking Calculus 3 AND an extra subject, we're a pretty disgruntled lot of students.

Nonetheless, that didn't hamper much of my time spent productively (or unproductively) cooped up in my room gaming the hours away. XD XD

Oh, did I mention?

STARCRAFT 2!!!

Also, a big shout-out to my saviour, roommate, possible romantic option Darren Ng for showing me the ropes in Starcraft. Thank God for some of your strategies! I think I'd still be marching them Marines right into orbital nuclear strikes if it wasn't for you. XD XD

I guess this about concludes the post for now. Till then, expect more sporadically updated posts to be uploaded on this poor blog of mine. XD XD

Hitherto, I march off to heed the calls of reinforcements for some poor newbs online!

See ya~~

Status Report

So, how has life been for me so far, you ask?

Well, college is one heck of a tumultuous roller-coaster ride of ups and downs I guess, and that I can attest to.

So, since my last blog post, life's been somewhat calm and quaint (don't think it'll last long tho), like the placid waters of a lake left undisturbed.

Since then, I've not managed to get either the President or the Vice President's post of ATUSA. But that's okay, I wasn't expecting I could get it in the first place.

So, yeah, no worries about me slitting my wrists any time soon.

Apart from that, I've also had my fair share of an exodus in one form or another. My roomies and I have finally moved from our lodgings in Cendana to the hustle and bustle of Cemara.

Despite a few setbacks at first (having to move a shit-load of crap to the topmost floor and no running water), Cemara is finally starting to offer us the comforts and luxuries otherwise unavailable back in Cendana.

Finally, we are now surrounded by civilization and did I mention, CHEAP, MOUTH-WATERING, DELICIOUS food?

Oh. HELL. YEAH.

Even despite the rooms not being as pretty as those back in Cendana (our new dorms are better-furnished tho), the frequent bus services to Intec, improved locality and cheap food here in Cemara kinda quelled our anxieties over moving here in the first place.

Right now, I'm starting to think that life here in Shah Alam is finally looking up at last.

So yeah, that concludes this mini-update of mine. Only 3 more weeks before I get back to Kuching to wreak some much needed havoc with my my equally-retarded friends.

XD XD

Till then, cheerio~

Nathaniel Sia For President!

NATHANIEL SIA FOR ATUSA PRESIDENT~~~~~~

It’s that time of the year again! The ATUSA 2010 HiCom Summer Elections!

So, here I am to ask something from you, students of the American Program!

As we all know, our wonderful seniors are leaving Intec for the States to continue their further studies.

I feel really grateful to my seniors for making my life here in Intec, especially in the American Program, such a wonderful, unforgettable and awesome experience. I will miss these very same seniors when they step on that plane to America.

And not only that, when they do leave, there will no longer be anyone left to head the American student council, ATUSA.

So;

I, Nathaniel Sia Shan, will be running for the post of President of ATUSA and I need YOUR help.

How can you help, exactly? Well, do come on down to:

The Old Library Hall

26th May 2009, 2.00pm

and cast your votes for me, Nathaniel Sia as the next President of ATUSA!

I know you are all probably asking, "Why should I vote for him?", "What can he do for us that I can't?", "How is he any better than the other candidates out there?"

Well, here's all that I can say;

Why Vote For Me?

I believe that I have the drive, the capability and the experience of a leader to be able to efficiently guide and lead ATUSA as well as the American Program.

And these experiences of being a leader and taking charge I have acquired from being:

1. The High Commission Committee of SMK Batu Lintang’ Prefects’ Board (2007-2008)

2. The Vice President of SMK Batu Lintang’s Science Club (2007)

3. The President of SMK Batu Lintang’s Science Club (2008)

- Which, during that year, secured a spot in the prestigious Intel Science and Exhibition Fair held in Reno, Nevada, USA on May 2009.

4. The current President of the Intec Debating Society (MINDS) (2009-current)

5. The project manager of many events and functions in high school

To put simply, I believe that I am more than ready and capable of handling the burden and shouldering the responsibilities that accompany being the President of ATUSA.

With past experiences of leading a team, coordinating events and making important decisions, I believe that I am an ideal candidate for this post.

Furthermore;

Should I be elected as President, I promise that I will try to fulfill the President’s duties

to the best of my abilities

. This includes coordinating and organizing all the events and programs related to our American Program, staying connected with the HEP Office as well as the other on-campus student councils.

Moreover, during my term as President, I promise that I will also seek to improve the ways in which ATUSA can better provide for the welfare of the American students. And this is where you, the ADFP/ACTP students play a vital role. I need YOUR suggestions and ideas to help make the program a better (or more tolerable) experience for you and I.

Having some problem with the bus schedules? No problem, we can start a petition and lodge a formal complaint to the Transport Department. Sick of the queues at the cafe? Why not petition to call for a change in their cafe system?

Mind you, these are just some of the agendas I am keeping in view but with enough support from YOU all, these suggestions can, and will come true.

Thus, elect me as President and you can finally get the chance to play a part in making these changes.

Lastly;

We pride ourselves on being a unique program unlike any other here in Intec. We enjoy setting ourselves apart from the other programs. We enjoy the craziness and wackiness that the American Program can be at times.

We enjoy being special.

With that in mind, I dare to dream and go beyond my limits to make the American Program just as interesting, if not a more awesome program for us and our juniors.

I wish to preserve the individuality and the uniqueness of the American Program that sets us apart from the other programs. And I sincerely wish to carry on the spirit of the American Program, just like what the seniors before us have done.

I'm sure the seniors would very much like to leave Intec, ATUSA and the American Program in good hands. And I can think of no better reason to be President than to carry on their legacy and repay the kindness that they have shown to us in the little time that we had with each other.

If you see eye to eye with my plans for President and think that I am suitable enough a candidate to be the President of ATUSA, then please;

VOTE FOR NATHANIEL SIA.....

...........GO BEYOND FRONTIERS

No Pain, No Gain..

Spring Semester....

So much to say, so much to do, so where do I start?

Well, I would think that the cliche title did a good job in summarizing Spring Sem. The whole 4-month long semester was a whirlwind of assignments, sleepless nights and gratuitous awesomeness.

To go into further detail regarding Spring Semester, I can safely say that it basically entails all the usual academic fare one would come to expect of in college.

You have your usual lectures in the lecture theaters...

....near-fatal lab sessions in the chemistry lab...

...and amusing presentations for our Speech Communication classes.

Hobart ties the knot with a tie (pun intended)

Not forgetting those countless books that one needs to pore through for one's assignments and exams....

....and of course, the mental exhaustion and fatigue that soon follows from pulling all-nighters.

However, don't let the pictures fool you into thinking that college life revolves around a mundane and repetitive timetable (although it sometimes does) when it is in fact, quite the opposite!

For starters, college, especially Spring Sem, was packed with uber awesome, orgasmic food-fests! (P.S: The food in Shah Alam didn't help matters much)

Pictures above do not accurately depict Shah Alam's wonderful delicacies

Pictures above are courtesy of those ivy-league-universities-bound students who so generously chia us intellectually-inferior mortals to all these fine foods.

Kudos to this particular guy and others (but particularly this guy) who's bounded for friggin' Yale for the free food:

Hobart the Great~~~

Furthermore, as the old saying goes, the more the merrier no? This was definitely the case with my nights out to town.

Seriously, you guys rocked my socks off and made life here in Intec so much bearable on a day-to-day basis.

Whoever said that JPA scholars were incapable of partying hard, you people are sorely mistaken. Hur hur.

Just ask the nearby clubs of the Intec college kids and the crazy antics they get up to.

With all the rambunctiously good times in Intec aside, I have to admit that there was more to Spring Sem than just endless waves of unfinished assignments and exams.

Spring Semester was, for lack of better words, a journey of self-discovery and personal growth for me. As cliche as it might sound, I somewhat discovered traits I never knew I possessed amidst the chaos of Spring Sem.

Despite all the lack of free time to finish up assignments, I still found myself participating and trying out new things that I never thought I could do.

For instance, who knew I'd ended up in a leadership camp ala National Service style.

Safe to say, my inner Macguyver was unleashed and we macguyver-ed up a friggin' raft to escape from prison in style (which was so totally cooler than that of in Prison Break)

I also found myself singing and dancing to the tunes of Iyaz and N'sync in our very own talent show (in a so totally not William Hung way).

Producing and choreographing a Peter Pan performance for the class parades during the American Indulgence Fiesta .

Directing (in a so totally James Cameron way) a video-shoot for our engineering class.

Kicking zombie ass and taking names during Halloween Night (Bill from L4D would be so proud of me, god rest his poor soul).

The wonderful costumes worn by the others also made the night a memorable experience.

And who could forget literally grabbing life by the balls during Dodgeball. Balls were grabbed and balls were hurled. Also;

Balls. Were. Bruised. XD

Other highlights of my sheer awesomeness which manifested itself in Spring Sem were pretty self-explanatory:

I hereby endorse the prison system we practice here in Malaysia~~

Alleycats is all the rage here....

Speaking of cats....

College, like that of ritzy Hollywood, also had its fair shares of scandals, controversies and scandals.

Hur hur...

HUR HUR HUR.....

And I am proud to declare that, after 4 months of drifting between heaven and hell; which are two sides of the same coin to this semester, I have survived the ordeal that is Spring Semester!