My Valedictory Speech, IIUM 25th Convocation

VALEDICTORY SPEECH FOR SESSION 4, 25TH IIUM CONVOCATION, 2009.

Honourable Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Higher Education
And Honourable Datin Norlin Shamsul Bahri,
Honourable Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Syed Arabi Idid,
Rector of International Islamic University Malaysia
Honourable Prof. Dato’ Dr. Md Tahir Azhar,
Chairman of IIUM 25th Convocation
Honourable IIUM Majlis Members and Board of Governers,
IIUM Senate Members
Representatives of Institute of Higher Learning
Honourable Guests and Companies Representatives,
Staff and Graduands of 25th International Islamic University Malaysia Convocation
Members of Media / Ladies and Gentleman

Assalamu Alaykum wrt. wbk.
Selamat Datang, Ahlan wa Sahlan, Welcome to IIUM's 25th Convocation.

It is a pleasure for me to be here today, a day that does not mark the end, but rather the beginning - a commencement of another chapter in our lives. Fellow graduates, we shared the same memories of running down the hallways, the chaos of registration, late nights studying and rushing to classes. At this point, let us ponder upon how much this university has changed our lives.

Distinguished guests and Fellow graduates,
This year’s convocation theme, “The dynamic role of IIUM graduates in realizing IIUM’s vision and mission in facing global challenges”, made me think and ask myself, to what extent have we changed and improved our lives? And to what extent has this university helped us to incorporate the Islamic values in our lives; values to live by, and values to help us face the global challenges.

My answer to my first question, my dear friends, is that we should always be ready to learn and adapt ourselves to new challenges. And for my second question, my fellow friends, is that the university has succeeded in its vision to become a leading international centre of education which produces not only all rounder graduates, but also khalifahs of Allah who have sound Islamic values. Alhamdulillah, I believe that all of us have gone through some memorable experiences and life-lessons that have molded and groomed us to be the all rounder and capable graduates that we are today.

Fellow graduates, our university has truly opened up our eyes to realize Islam as the way of life, and as values to live by to help us face the challenges in the real world, the world of struggle and risks which are both uncertain and challenging.

Yang Berbahagia, please allow me to continue my speech in the Arabic.
(refer attachment)

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Some of us have already entered the working world and work as accountants, nurses or teachers. And for us who graduated from the Institute of Education, were posted to rural schools all over Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak to become the disseminators of knowledge. I am proud to say that, we are all the IIUM’s ambassadors. I hope we can utilize our knowledge learnt in IIUM for the betterment of the ummah; the hectic lives and the risks ahead will not become the hurdles to achieve a great life.

Fellow Graduates,
I would like to thank the Bahagian Pendidikan Guru, Institut Perguruan Perempuan Melayu Melaka, and the Institute of Education, IIUM for giving me and my fellow friends the opportunity to undergo the TESL Twinning programme. The few years in this university brought about everything we wanted in life. We learnt so much and craved for more. It was great to know and make friends with people from all walks of life and we enjoyed every program held. We missed dearly the lectures and interaction with the staff of this university. Our experience in IIUM brought out the best in us. We are the proud graduates of IIUM.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this dignified hall, there are two special people to whom I owe my thanks and gratitude. If it were not for them, I probably would not be here giving this speech. The two are my parents. Encik Mohamad Yusoff Mat and Puan Maznah Ibrahim. They are the ones who insisted that I join this university. I was very reluctant to become a teacher, but they were very sure and confident that I can become a good teacher and contribute to society by teaching. And now, I’m glad that I listened to their advice.

My father, Encik Mohamad Yusoff, who quit school early, once studied by himself by borrowing books from friends, and with only that, he managed to obtain good grades for the SPM. He proved to me that, learning never stops and age is not a barrier to education. Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. I will always admire his motivation and conviction.
My mother, Puan Maznah, provided me with tenderness and love. She taught me about sincerity. Her life experiences had also taught me about the hardships, and that the world can sometimes be cruel. She always motivates me to be stronger and to never give up. She has always said that Allah knows what is best for us. So, never ever give up hope.

Therefore, to be able to face the challenges, I shall push myself to the limit and realize my own potentials as khalifah. Truly, parents are the khalifahs entrusted by Allah to guide and teach their children. I want my future students and children to see me as I see my parents Thank you Allah for my mother and father. Terima kasih ayah, mak. Kasihmu ku junjung hingga akhir hayat ku. Dikaulah ratu hatiku.

Fellow graduates,
We also should not forget to thank our amazing lecturers; all of whom have worked so hard to help us become top-notch students. They have helped us during our ups and downs in these few years of studying. Thank you for your time and effort in nurturing us and in giving us the best education.

Finally, we must not forget our fellow friends who have accompanied us all these years; those who would wait for us in times of desperation and those who would be there for us when we needed support. We will miss their laughter and their silly jokes. Thank you friends for being the marvelous comrades during those years. And thank you all … for making IIUM a truly unique university.

Fellow graduates, I conclude my speech with a pantun in Bahasa Melayu,

Seantero dunia kita berkawan,
Menuntut ilmu tidak berakhiran,
Sama-samalah kita berilmu pengetahuan,
Semoga berjaya wahai graduan.

Thank you.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahiwabarakatuh

p/s: I do not enclose my arabic text in here.. may be later.. :D

ini cerita amad ^__^

Ahmad.. or (lebih mesra di kenali sebagai Amad)
Suka sangat tengok kartun..
Ye lah. Kakak dan abang borek,
Adik rintik.
Haha
(bukan ini yang aku nak ceritalah)

Amad,
Suka sangat berpantun,
gara-gara asyik sangat menonton Upin dan Ipin.
Tapi Upin dan Ipin tidaklah menjadi tumpuan utama Amad,
Kerana dia lebih gemarkan pengembaraan Benjamin Tennison,
Atau lebih dikenali sebagai Ben Sepuluh (Ben 10)
Hehe

Kes 1 : Pantun

Suatu hari, Amad bersuara;

Buah Cempedak di Luar Pagar,
Tak ada pokok, sila tumbuhkan,

(dia sambung lagi)

Saya budak baru belajar,
Saya berak dalam seluar.

Hahah
Habis satu keluarga gelak.
Iyalah, siapa sangka Amad akan berpantun secara tiba-tiba

Kes 2 : Debat lah pula…

Suatu pagi Khamis yang hening, diiring rintipan kasih sang langit lantaran kerinduan pada pancaran cinta sang mentari yang tidak kunjung tiba…Amad tersedar dari tidur.

Malam itu, kami berpelukan. Haha. Amad dimarahi ibu, dan mendakwa dihalau keluar dari bilik ibu untuk tidur di bilik aku.

“Amad bo tido bilik mok. Gi nuh tido nge kakak!!” ajuk Amad tentang bagaimana ibuku ‘menghalaunya’ keluar.

“tapi Amad sokmo tido peluk mok. Sedak kak peluk mok…”

Apa-apa saja lah Amad. Kami bukan berpelukan. Haha. Aku memberi sebelah tangan aku untuk dia peluk sehinggalah dia tertidur. kasihan sungguh si Amad ni.

Pukul 4 pagi… Amad tidak senang duduk, maksud aku, tidak senang tidur. Dia asyik terjaga. Aku dengan rasa kasihan menyarankan Amad untuk pergi ke bilik ibu.

“Malah ah. Mok halau Amad”, rajuk Amad. Lalu dia sambung tidur yang berposisi entah apa-apa.

Pagi itu, berbalik pada scenario iringan hujan, Amad terus berkata-kata apabila aku bingkas bangun untuk menyeterika baju kerja ibuku.

“Kak, mok kijo pulok ko hari ni” (walhal mak aku dah cuti sehinggalah hari Khamis atau Rabu, aku lupa)

“Ho lah. Mok kijo”, balas aku.
“Mok tu kijo hari-hari balik lewat.. berapo gak gaji mok nyoh bule bule (setiap bulan) ? Kalu Amad kijo natih, Amad nok gaji 3 ribu sbule.”

Mak aku pun jawab. “ hamboih.. nak makan gapo gaji 3ribu sbuley kalu kijo seksok gak? Pasir?”

Hahahah. Kami semua senyum bahagia diikuti gelak sakan apabila Amad yang bermuka yakin (confident) terpinga-pinga.

Apa lah Amad, baru darjah satu, dah fikir tentang gaji. Enjoy your time being a kid, kiddo! Nasib baik dia tak pernah tanya berapa gaji aku. hahahaha

it is a charm, i bet. ^-^

It was like tonnes of words and topics hammered my head in these couple of days. I was terribly insane out here, doing the thinking on things I bothered which sometimes I should just ignore them.

Dwelling on and on.. on those things, I think I have got to make a list so that I will not turn into a psychopath. Haha.

I still remember the night I waited so long for the bus from Kuantan to arrive and fetch me and jojo at the Hentian Kuala Terengganu. It was 2 nights ago and we were waiting until 12 midnight for it to come. When it arrived, the bus driver was shocked to know that we were waiting for the bus and he shockingly asked us where did we buy the ticket. Of course we bought at the Transnational Ticket Counter back in Langgar, Kota Bharu. Ergh! Anyhow, thank god those seats were still left empty, and the other bus driver innocently said, “here the empty seat”.. daaaa, it's ours. Of course we will sit on it. Haha... I seem like a girl with a total madness, aite? Nahh.. we dont really give a damn on what happened at that moment because we were pretty much tired of waiting.. 1 hour and a half in the cold dark night was not a pleasant moment to cherish on.

Speaking of waiting, we discussed what would appear on tomorrow's newspaper if we died. Haha. It should be “two chicks died of bored”..or “dua gadis mati kebosanan”.. haha.. we liked it. Terlalu bosan hingga membawa kepada kematian. Too bored that caused us to die. How ridiculous and very, very insane talk.

While waiting earlier, at that time we hang out at McD's, spekmataku, jojo a.k.a shumuera and I were in very deep conversation on how we perceived people.

Indah: you know what, if I were given a piece of paper with a question; “why do you like him/her? State your reason” for example, I cannot even answer that. Because I like/love you for u. what else should be the reason? If I said, I love you because you wear good clothes, does it means I don't when you were not wearing one?

Spekmataku: well, it's pretty much of how you look in the people. The reason why on earth you come to like this person. You cannot just like him. You will need to see the things he did hat what makes he is. It's the reason that makes you look deeper into that person. The way he walks, he talks, he replies and the way he carries himself. It count.

Indah: well, I agree with you. No doubt we should not abandon those particulars, but to state those reasons as the fundamental core of why I like him, is not quite alright. Those reasons should be calculated in and somehow, they make him. I still couldnt put forward the reason to love or to like or even to be friend with someone. Perhaps, I did reason it out but I come to look at him as one; himself.

Spekmataku: yeap. Sure you are. But mostly, it is sure good when someone says something about you. It showed that he cares, he put you as the major topic to think of. Everything you do did mean something in your relationship. You, as a whole.

Shuumuera: well, it seems you two shared a really interesting idea here. Hehe. So, indah I think you should find someone who you can rely on because you're fragile alright. You need a man who is matured enough to carry your relationship.

Indah: I bet it is. I am so tired to put a strong face. To take a lead and to appear superb; well, I am not that good I guess. I am really tired of putting that strong face, as if I need to do everything on my own, as if I dont need no one to rely on. Oh god, am I sick? Hahaha

shuuemura : haha. Nahh. You're cool, alright. You're great, I know. So, what about your criteria for your perfect match, spekmataku?

Indah: yeah. I bet someone who can complete you?

Spekmataku: hurm.. I .. well,... I cant find the word yet.. hurm..

(silence)

Spekmataku : I want and I bet I need to find someone who can complete …. or who can end my words. Who wants to understand me and who can understand me. I'm tired of trying to understand him but did not get that from him.

Indah: well, may be you havent tried enough?

Spekmataku: I have. I think I had. Hurm.. but seriously I looked for a guy who is willing to understand me, who will be able to share and talk on the same topic, at the same level of understanding. The guy who eventually be able to end my word. …

Indah: well, insyaAllah. You're right when you say so since you are very good listener. And when you started to talk, you also need a soulmate/friend to do the same to you also..

*******************************************************

okay that's all for today.. InsyaAllah, things will be easier and better for us and you. I wrote this because I think I should share it with the world on the things we girls dwell on, which are not only some stupid and naïve gossips around the clock. Hehe ^__^

aku mimpi lagi..

dah banyak kali aku mimpikan serangga.. atau lebih tepat, labah-labah
and it is not good ones. i was annoyed and threatened by their presents, they are everywhere near me, that makes me hard to walk pass the place i was standing. it was very 'seriau' or eerie..

they keep bugging me. i dont know why but when i come to think of it, i was rather disturbed by the feelings during the post-dream. i seldom remember my dream, like before, i dreamt about snake. only after 4 years i realised i have been dreaming for, only to grow in number, the same thing; snake!~i know this is when i go for the treatment, it was sihir and everything.

and now, the bugs are bugging me. it doesnt drive me crazy but i would really like to know about it. just wondering the hint/sign in it. hope Allah protects me from syirik/kufur. insyaAllah

here some of the meanings the net gave me:

Dream Interpretation Spider


The spider is a symbol of poisonous and sinful desires, on one hand, and an emblem of skilful and creative attitudes, on the other hand. If you dream of a spider, you'd better be honest and work hard in order to be happy and successful. To dream of a spider sitting on your skin: you need to be ready to fight provocation and worries. Sometimes a spider represents female seduction which "devours" of the male, in this case reconsider your behaviour, it may look patronizing, overprotective or demanding.

Tafsir mimpi tentang binatang

98. Mimpi melihat labah-labah
Nasib anda sangat diragukan.
99. Mimpi membersihkan sarang labah-labah
Persahabatan akan retak.
100. Mimpi melihat sarang labah labah
Jagalah perasaan anda dalam menghadapi musuh/lawan

**i'm not sure about seeing the web, but the spiders is everywhere.. and i was so afraid..

and this is what i found in ibnu sirin page, it was rather positive, but it showed that it is as how the western believe.

LABAH-LABAH *menurut Barat:

Labah-labah: Melihat labah-labah bermakna anda akan berhati-hati, bekerja dengan rajin dan menemui sukses. Labah-labah yang besar bermakna sukses yang cepat.
Tapi kalau anda dikejar atau digigit labah-labah tersebut bermakna masalah atau kesukaran dengan kejayaan tersebut.


hurm.. all in all, i pray to The LOVE, Allah who knows everything as He is the ONLY Creator and God for all. insyaAllah.

dear love..

dear love,

my heart is craving for you.
you sounds so pure,
so admirable, so fresh.
you shall give the spirit to my soul to live on.

dear love,

you come in a variety of range.
and now my heart is dying for the soulmate's.
i need to find the one whom can complete me,
one who owns you
and is willing to share you with me.

dear love,

i am looking for you everywhere,
but i had never found you yet.
perhaps, i did not look hard enough,
may be, i am not searching for you,
at the right time, at the right place
and for the right person.

right that does not mean perfect,
but one who can accept me as who i am,
me who has more weaknesses than strength,
and is ready to explore
for the mystery ahead with me..

hurm..
perhaps i should pray more to Allah,
to grant these love wishes..

and perhaps,
i just need to keep on trying..

^_^

p/s: i'm attending the First Steps Teaching English course in Pengkalan Chepa. and there was a man that caught my eyes, but he shows no interest in me. ehehe. sometimes i do feel that i should not aim for him,but some parts of me, being so optimistic, urge me to try to hit on him.

haha. but really, i'm not really into him. he just not a hit. not for me because i think he's already has someone. takkan la xde org lg. huhu..

well, actually,he is not really my taste. hate the part that says, "why not", "at least you try".. because i dont know my taste. fair and has beautiful hands. and has good personality and character. that's it. haha. i may be am bold and loud, but i dare not hit on somebody. i am afraid of the rejection. like any other girls would feel. huhu

TESLians' Convo - Topic 1

This years ‘ IIUM 25th convocation, the silver jubilee, marked the end of our studying years as undergraduates. We never think that it would be so fast, 6 years together, 50 of us, we never get bored with one and another.

And for me, the wonderful memories spent together can never be forgotten and will always be cherished. I can see myself changed, personality wise and of course, physically. Hehe. Well, I was pretty much of a rebellion back then. If there’s something wrong, I would blatantly speak out my mind without hesitation, without considering how people would feel or react to my action. Sometimes, I did regret for what I do and end up crying on and on without realizing why. I just felt like crying. I was unable to see or understand myself… but now I know why… because I don’t love myself. Back then, I felt that people should appreciate and love me… but I forgot to love myself.

Not only friends, my lecturers also did notice my misbehaviors. After I played the role of Project Manager for TCW- Tesl Community Weekend, (the Intervarsity Theatre Competition which comprises our girls’ brain and action to come out with several activities besides theatre) only then, I can see Allah tested me with my patience. I was condemned so hard by all of my friends although the programme was a success. Most of them never had the experience of how a programme runs and cannot bear with my style of leadership. Well, I cannot say I am a leader type but more of a consultant. I was so down that I taught of quitting my TESL studies. My parents also suggest so, well, sarcastically. Of course my rational and my parents sarcasm of me being low self esteem and motivation failure turns me on, to react the other way around, to give me a magic strength to be redha of what happened.

Thank god, Dr. Ariffin Mamat and all representative lecturers from other university praised me for what I had come out and done. He, personally, asked me to train our junior to held such a programme. The TCW programme was still a success until now, Dr. Suhaila is still proud of it. Its nature and its cooperation it brought us apart and closer in the same time. TCW is a magical programme that brought into the magical experience.

Talking about patience, it sure had changed me a lot. And sometimes I felt so lazy to argue on things that are not necessary to fight for. It also taught me about sacrifice; not blindly sacrifice what I am and what I had, but rather on being reasonable and considerate. And yes, I learnt how to think of others, as the same as I think of me. Patience increases my rationale and empathy. Thanks Allah for the challenges. You made me become stronger each day, insyaAllah. ^__^

sudah lama tidak update

di sini, aku saje mau letak the senarai semak untuk aku refer.
ye la.. aku perlu update
tahun ini merupakan tahun yang sibuk dan membawaku kpd perubahan yang agak besar..

1. practicum ends
2. mula keje
3. masalah kuaters
4. puasa + raya
5. konvo.. yey!
6. makan pompuan? jadi rutin?

okehh.. t aku cte ek.. hehe.. sibuk pye pasal..
ni nk kne bawak adik aku makan roti cotek.. kalo nk tau apa itu roti cotek, meh datang kelantan. hihi ^___^

salam..