The recent convocation may mark the end of a 3-year university life, but for some, life is just beginning.
March 26, 2011 10:40a.m.
By Leong Kwan Yi
When a young, sinewy Dustin Hoffman played the frustrated Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 film, The Graduate, he was in fact, depicting the average dilemma of a fresh graduate – being worried and anxious on the prospect of living up to the future expectations set upon him by adults. Like the film this article takes its name after, it’s almost common to come across such predicaments.
However, with the first batch of graduates from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kampar campus, the future doesn’t seem so bleak or complicated. The graduates, Mu Yin Yeng, 24, Wong Jia Wei, 23 and Yeoh Hui Ching, 25 share their experience.
Fresh from receiving their scrolls last month, the three graduates recalls the giddy excitement they felt on graduation day.
For Yeoh, it is the sheer anxiety of being up on stage. She explains, “I was feeling so nervous and worried that I would trip or do something stupid when receiving my scroll. However, once I held the scroll, the feeling of nervousness just disappeared and I had the fulfilling sense of accomplishment for completing my studies.”
On the other hand, Mu and Wong both feel that the best part of the convocation was reuniting with their university friends since they completed their studies in December last year.
Mu, although disappointed with the convocation arrangement, was thoroughly pleased with seeing her friends.
Though the notion of graduating is often relieving, it was also a turning point in life.
“It is the time when they would have to think about their next move - what do they want to do next and how will they go about it,” Yeoh shares.
Since then, three of them have gone on their individual paths and had a taste of the real world. Mu, a Public Relations graduate now works as a Business Development cum Administration Executive for a marketing firm in Ipoh, while Yeoh, an English Language graduate is currently employed as an Administration Assistant of an accounting firm in Klang.
Wong, also an English Language graduate, is currently juggling three things – her Masters, work as an assistant instructor in a language center and as a private tutor all at the same time.
As fervent a multitasker as she is, she isn’t perturbed at all by her double job.
“I prefer working because in my job area, I get to deal with different kinds of children and learn from them. It isn’t as stressful as meeting deadlines for assignments like when studying. I get to learn something new which I don’t think I will be able to from studying alone,” Wong says.
Wong, the all-rounder English Language graduate.
Then again, some feel that the transition from student to being part of the workforce have been less than enjoyable.
“It took me quite a long time to adapt to working life. I definitely feel that studying is much more enjoyable and fun whereas working is all about stressing over work,” Mu says. She also recalls that her university days were the only time where she could be carefree and lived perpetually in the comfort zone between her and her friends.
Similarly, Yeoh feels that working is a different ball game altogether when compared to studying.
“As a working adult, I have my responsibilities and with every mistake I made, I will have to face the consequences. Expectation is higher not only from my parents and family but also from my employers and colleagues. As a student, the expectation is to only complete my studies,” she notes.
Yeoh, also a Book Prize winner.
From their working life thus far, most of them have learned a common thing or two from the working arena. That is, in Mu’s words, “to be careful with the people that we work with.”
Yeoh learned that the naivety and optimism from having just stepped into the real world wears off with time. Eventually, one would have to stop looking through “rose-coloured” glasses in time to realise that it’s a dog-eat-dog world after all.
“When working, I get to meet all types of people; the nice ones, the arrogant ones, the rude ones, and even the self-centred ones. This has made me realise that what I have experienced in my study life is merely the tip of the iceberg. I am now more observant and wiser when meeting and dealing with people,” she says.
As if reading about these matter-of-fact precautions hasn’t worn anyone off already, work can sometimes be joyful. As Wong notes, her best accomplishment in working is the sense of achievement she feels when her hard work pays off.
There may be different views of the working life but it is unanimously agreed between the three graduates that it is most important to find a job that one enjoys doing and not find as a daily chore. But it really isn’t meant to perpetuate the notion of a carefree “ideal job” because ultimately, there is no such thing.
Looking back on their undergraduate life, something they often miss most is the people they have met. In the three years that have quickly come to an end, some have stumbled upon people who have changed their lives, some have found inspiration from another’s courage, and some simply found genuine friendships.
As Wong recalls, “My best memory was having met my good friends and hanging out with them in the night market, the mamak stall, discussing assignments and revising together in one of our places.”
But when Yeoh fondly commemorates her classmate, Joyce Low as the person who inspired her most in university, it truly reflected the close rapport that have indeed grown into many an inspiring friendship.
“She had single-handedly paid for her own education and living expenses without any monetary aid from her parents. Although she had the aid from the PTPTN loan, she would always try to save some.
“Not only that, she graduated with flying colours even when her command of English was initially adequate. She has improved significantly throughout the course. This has given me the drive to study hard. I had no excuses to do badly as I had no worries with my education fees and living expenses,” she says.
Of course, it is possible to acquire life-long friends from university. “We’ve gone through thick and thin together so I do feel that we have forged a bond that would last for a long time,” Mu acknowledges.
Tertiary education is an unmistakable stepping stone to many a good thing like friendships and knowledge. But mostly, it is the realisation of learning something new every day. Many would think that graduating marks the end of the learning process in life. But learning is never ending. Even when work comes knocking, learning continues. It really is, the ABC of growing up.
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