Showing posts with label Graduation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graduation. Show all posts
What d'ya know. This girl has graduated with a Masters degree - majoring in Criminology!
Never in my life have I ever imagined myself being able to graduate with a Masters degree, neither have I ever expected that I would have completed a research thesis on a Criminology course.
Being able to fly back to the UK and visit London + Cardiff after a good 6 months of leaving my second home was surreal and it brought back feelings of familiarity and nostalgia. I mean, I've always loved London (albeit hating that place when I first visited during my first year in the UK because I often got lost, missed my trains and hated the crowd). But I got used to it and eventually got the hang of the pace, as to which I am extremely proud of.
When I walked towards the Vice Chancellor to shake his hand, it was the first time where I wasn't too nervous (as compared to my undergraduate graduation). I felt prepared and I shook his hand with confidence, knowing that I've made it through.
I would say, that my experience as a whole was different as compared to my other previous undergraduate coursemates. While the most of them decided to take the bar, I did not (as mentioned in previous posts). I opted to take Masters instead because I didn't see myself entering the legal professional world anymore, some would say I took the easy way out because the Bar is an extremely rigorous program, but for me, I felt I owe it to myself to do something else with my life. However, I am not criticizing the BAR program, I know plenty of my friends who has done it and they have nothing but good things to say about the course. I simply didn't want to do law anymore.
Then why did you take Law as a degree?
I'm not going to lie. I have always wanted to be a lawyer ever since I was 11 years old when my relatives told me that I would make a great lawyer because I would often argue back. It dawned upon me that I was going to be this big shot criminal lawyer who defend people. I kept this dream until college and that's when I realize, that there's more to things in life. I have the freedom to choose on what I want to do. Nevertheless, I still kept the dream of being a lawyer because you know, what's there to lose? I went on to HELP University to do my transfer program there, I loved my lecturers, the modules and my coursemates.
However, the one thing that did struck on the back of my mind was 'Do I really want to be a lawyer?' when I started my internship at the High Court during my first year before I transferred to the UK. In the UK itself, I had strong doubts about myself - the challenges I had to face whilst juggling with my studies and getting used to the system over there was not easy. It was overwhelming, infact. I wanted to do my best for my studies, at the same time I hated everything and I just wanted to go home.
I couldn't do that.
Not after the sacrifices my parents had made for me and not after how hard I've worked to get to where I was.
So, I did what any normal student would do - do my best to study. I stayed in the library for hours (Lol, I was so unproductive at certain times), discussed with a few course mates about things I don't understand and what they don't understand. I sincerely did enjoy the modules I studied (Land law's an exception).
I somewhat made the decision in the back of my mind that I didn't want to be a lawyer when I was interning at a reputable law firm during the Summer back in Malaysia before I entered third year but I couldn't tell my parents. I told myself that I should atleast try and apply for the Bar to see what would the results be.
When the time to apply for the Bar came, I refused to apply. I could see my peers flocking around everywhere, asking one another if they have applied but all I could think was 'I don't care'. I started doing research on other courses, things that would get me interested - Journalism, History and so on. I met up with counsellors and asked for their advise and opinions.
Ultimately, I chose Criminology.
Entering a field where I have no clue about during the start of the semester was an unsettling situation and feeling for me. I knew nobody, we only had 9 people in the course. The modules were new, I had no experience whatsoever in social science subjects - I only had my law degree experience with me and I feared that I wasn't able to use it at all.
Boy, was I bloody wrong.
Regardless of whatever degree you receive, the soft and technical skills you have attained during then would help you in whatever situation that applies. It just depends on how you use it and when you could apply it. Fear not, if you think your degree is worthless. No bloody degree in this world is worthless or useless. I enjoyed being able to learn new things, also applying what I have learnt into my new course.
People often have the perception that doing Masters is easier as compared to other courses or they would often compare it to their own course. It triggers me everytime someone says 'Ya your Masters course damn easy la'. While I don't deny that we do have more free time as compared to probably other courses, but I wouldn't say that we have the easiest times as well. Putting those free time hours in doing research, getting courseworks and tutorials done, pre-readings and post reading materials. Understanding the topics because your lecturers would question EVERYTHING you say.
Plus staying in the UK for another year wasn't so bad. I got to do things I've never done before - volunteer at schools, becoming a leader for the Girl Guides organisation (and attending free movie screenings & plays hehe). But that's another post to talk about.
So yeah, there you have it.
Me, Sofea - the noisy girl who is extremely opinionated in certain things (trying to mellow this down tbh!!) has completed her Masters degree and will be fighting against Education Inequity under the Fellowship Program by Teach For Malaysia.
See ya next post.
Never in my life have I ever imagined myself being able to graduate with a Masters degree, neither have I ever expected that I would have completed a research thesis on a Criminology course.
Being able to fly back to the UK and visit London + Cardiff after a good 6 months of leaving my second home was surreal and it brought back feelings of familiarity and nostalgia. I mean, I've always loved London (albeit hating that place when I first visited during my first year in the UK because I often got lost, missed my trains and hated the crowd). But I got used to it and eventually got the hang of the pace, as to which I am extremely proud of.
When I walked towards the Vice Chancellor to shake his hand, it was the first time where I wasn't too nervous (as compared to my undergraduate graduation). I felt prepared and I shook his hand with confidence, knowing that I've made it through.
I would say, that my experience as a whole was different as compared to my other previous undergraduate coursemates. While the most of them decided to take the bar, I did not (as mentioned in previous posts). I opted to take Masters instead because I didn't see myself entering the legal professional world anymore, some would say I took the easy way out because the Bar is an extremely rigorous program, but for me, I felt I owe it to myself to do something else with my life. However, I am not criticizing the BAR program, I know plenty of my friends who has done it and they have nothing but good things to say about the course. I simply didn't want to do law anymore.
Then why did you take Law as a degree?
I'm not going to lie. I have always wanted to be a lawyer ever since I was 11 years old when my relatives told me that I would make a great lawyer because I would often argue back. It dawned upon me that I was going to be this big shot criminal lawyer who defend people. I kept this dream until college and that's when I realize, that there's more to things in life. I have the freedom to choose on what I want to do. Nevertheless, I still kept the dream of being a lawyer because you know, what's there to lose? I went on to HELP University to do my transfer program there, I loved my lecturers, the modules and my coursemates.
However, the one thing that did struck on the back of my mind was 'Do I really want to be a lawyer?' when I started my internship at the High Court during my first year before I transferred to the UK. In the UK itself, I had strong doubts about myself - the challenges I had to face whilst juggling with my studies and getting used to the system over there was not easy. It was overwhelming, infact. I wanted to do my best for my studies, at the same time I hated everything and I just wanted to go home.
I couldn't do that.
Not after the sacrifices my parents had made for me and not after how hard I've worked to get to where I was.
So, I did what any normal student would do - do my best to study. I stayed in the library for hours (Lol, I was so unproductive at certain times), discussed with a few course mates about things I don't understand and what they don't understand. I sincerely did enjoy the modules I studied (Land law's an exception).
I somewhat made the decision in the back of my mind that I didn't want to be a lawyer when I was interning at a reputable law firm during the Summer back in Malaysia before I entered third year but I couldn't tell my parents. I told myself that I should atleast try and apply for the Bar to see what would the results be.
When the time to apply for the Bar came, I refused to apply. I could see my peers flocking around everywhere, asking one another if they have applied but all I could think was 'I don't care'. I started doing research on other courses, things that would get me interested - Journalism, History and so on. I met up with counsellors and asked for their advise and opinions.
Ultimately, I chose Criminology.
Entering a field where I have no clue about during the start of the semester was an unsettling situation and feeling for me. I knew nobody, we only had 9 people in the course. The modules were new, I had no experience whatsoever in social science subjects - I only had my law degree experience with me and I feared that I wasn't able to use it at all.
Boy, was I bloody wrong.
Regardless of whatever degree you receive, the soft and technical skills you have attained during then would help you in whatever situation that applies. It just depends on how you use it and when you could apply it. Fear not, if you think your degree is worthless. No bloody degree in this world is worthless or useless. I enjoyed being able to learn new things, also applying what I have learnt into my new course.
People often have the perception that doing Masters is easier as compared to other courses or they would often compare it to their own course. It triggers me everytime someone says 'Ya your Masters course damn easy la'. While I don't deny that we do have more free time as compared to probably other courses, but I wouldn't say that we have the easiest times as well. Putting those free time hours in doing research, getting courseworks and tutorials done, pre-readings and post reading materials. Understanding the topics because your lecturers would question EVERYTHING you say.
Never ever compare your course with another person's course.
Me, Sofea - the noisy girl who is extremely opinionated in certain things (trying to mellow this down tbh!!) has completed her Masters degree and will be fighting against Education Inequity under the Fellowship Program by Teach For Malaysia.
As promised in my previous post that I'd blog about my graduation day once I have received all the pictures from everyone.
I was honestly really nervous for my graduation day, I was panicking over what to wear (to which I finally decided to wear a baju kurung hehe) and I was also panicking over walking on stage (There was no stage LOL more on this later).
I flew back to the UK straight after Raya with my mum, speaking of which KLIA really needs to work on their system of queuing ugh.
Managed to meet up with my dearest friends who stayed back in Cardiff since their course wasn't done yet (Medic students :P)
I was honestly really nervous for my graduation day, I was panicking over what to wear (to which I finally decided to wear a baju kurung hehe) and I was also panicking over walking on stage (There was no stage LOL more on this later).
I flew back to the UK straight after Raya with my mum, speaking of which KLIA really needs to work on their system of queuing ugh.
Managed to meet up with my dearest friends who stayed back in Cardiff since their course wasn't done yet (Medic students :P)
I received homemade Thai Tea ice cream personally made by my Yau Yau and it was delicious!!
She actually made this a month ago for her charity run and was selling either thai tea or chocolate hazelnut ice cream to raise money for her charity run and it was a success! Super proud of her!!
Some of the gifts I received on Graduation Day itself :)
Thank you very very much guys :')
Made Wan Ton Chicken with Celeste and TG as a celebratory meal along with the sushi that was pre-made by Celeste. Hihi.
The ceremony itself was short, there wasn't many speeches tho and when my name was finally called, I felt relieved and happy that I am now an official LLB Graduate. The event itself was at St. David's hall where we performed our Festival of Diversity back in February. LOL the hall is so stuffy!! Or maybe it's because I was wearing my robes.
However, Law wasn't the only course graduating, there were students from the Politics course, Law and Criminology and so on. There were students who were graduating from their Masters program and PhD as well!
Cardiff's really efficient in the sense where they provide a live streaming for parents or relatives who aren't able to attend the graduation ceremony or do not have tickets to go into the hall since each student are only presented with two tickets. I gave one to my mum and one more to Celeste aka Yau Yau hehe.
Baju Kurung - Zalora
With some of my Malaysian coursemates, to which I won't be able to see most of them next September :'(
Thank you for coming and I'll miss having you as my housemate who won't stop asking me 'Eh Sofea when you wanna get boyfriend ah??' HAHAHA.
My fellow favourite medics who are definitely going to work their butt off to save people's lives and treat me for free HAHA.
My annoying partner in crime who willingly (*ahem*) watches Reality TV shows such as 'Love Island' and 'Murder U' on TV with me.
Wouldn't be here without you, papa and kor kor :')
To my fellow coursemates, university mates and friends, congratulations on graduating and all the best in your future endeavours! May you all be successful in life (according to your own very definition of success ofcourse) and to remember the things that we have experienced and learnt throughout our time at university. Thank you to each and everyone back home in Malaysia who constantly supported me throughout my journey in the UK and I really wished that some of you were there with me, really.
So to the past, present and future. Let's go.
Signing Off!
They say you will go through a few phases in life to get to where you want to be.
To me, graduation's one of them.
I remembered questioning myself all the time - was it going to be worth it? Will I make it? And there were times when I really wanted to change my course to something else so badly that I nearly clicked the "transfer programme" button but I didn't. I had to finish what I started and here I am.
After 3 years of grueling through textbooks, notes and lectures - I can proudly tell you that I am now an official law graduate from Cardiff University.
University isn't just about studies, it's about getting to know yourself better as well. You may want to beat yourself up sometimes for doing those stupid things back then but as time goes by, you're going to realize that you may just turn out to be a better person than before.
To fellow freshers or current juniors on going to senior year in university, fear is always going to be there but never let the fear keep you from striking the game. There are going to be times where you will feel worthless, that everything's not good enough for you but I can assure you that as long as you keep doing what you're doing, realizing and improving your mistakes along the way, you're going to be just fine.
And if there is a time when you need help, do not ever to hesitate to ask anyone - be it a close friend or even a stranger in the library. There are always people out there to help you.
Will update on the day itself once I've collected all the pictures :3
Picture Credits to Haikal Danial!
Signing Off!
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