My Next Step

Okay so the result for JPA-MARA and Yayasan Khazanah were out yesterday (17/3/15) and I was SO EXCITED because my applications were a success for both scholarships! Can't thank you much enough, thank you Allah, and please, do guide me towards the end of the iv sessions ^-^
InsyaAllah, Dr. Nadia-soon-to-be.

Everything begins with a dream.

Applied for IMU (Khazanah Watan) and University of Edinburgh (Khazanah Global)

Kolej Mara Banting!! & off to Ireland I go InsyaAllah ^-^

Medical Profession; insyaAllah.

My passion for providing desperate people with healthcare is conveniently supported by both my aptitude and affinity for scientific study. Throughout high school, biology and chemistry classes have been my most rewarding and enjoyable academic pursuits. I love the sense of achievement when I finally understand how a complicated chemical reaction progresses. While my classmates are preparing to graduate from high school and “been done with school”, I feel I have only sipped from the ocean of information that I want to learn.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That is the magic question that is most often asked of children. For many youngsters, the answer wavers between a lawyer, a teacher, a policeman and alternates every week. For me however, the answer has always been a constant “I want to be a doctor!” Initially, my desire to become a doctor was raw and unrefined. Motivated by a naive altruism, “I wanted to make the world a better place”. Although I do not exactly remember how that goal became my number one answer, I have held fast to that ambition ever since. Beginning in primary 6, I became an avid spectator of public television programs aired in the US involving hospital themes. By the age of fifteen, I had realized my passion for medicine and the human body. It was one of the post-PMR activities and we were brought to UM for a trip. We were given the opportunity to witness a general surgery procedure. After seeing my first biopsy, I left the room feeling fascinated and informed. I was in awe of the surgeon for her expertise with the instruments but I also felt assured that with proper training, I could also complete the procedure. That also deepened my fascination for the human body and the practice of medicine. Throughout the days, I could only taste excitement and passion for medical studies.

A future in medicine will fulfill every desire and demand that I require in a career. I need to be able to work with others, think critically, study the human body, and work diligently under pressure. Because religious faith and family are important parts of my personal life, I desire a career which affords me the opportunity to professionally express myself. I am not only choosing to be a doctor, but it feels like as if the career has called me. I am drawn to medicine for its continuous challenges, new technology, and for my love of learning. I yearn to be a part of the growth in the medical field. To learn my whole life, loving the challenges, and never becoming stagnant in my knowledge and experiences. Predominantly, I will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the quality of life for many people. To listen and understand my patients, to help them in every way my education has taught me how, and to see them as more than patient, as the most precious human life- that is the gift that a career in medicine offers. Through compassion and care for each person, I hope for a better Malaysia; a better tomorrow, a better living, a better future.

A good doctor is approachable and a calming figure in a patient’s life. When a patient is faced with the emotions and uncertainty of birth, illness, injury or death, the doctor is there to congratulate, comfort or console. A good doctor is one who attends to a patient’s feelings just as quickly as he/she makes a diagnosis and also mature in action and thoughts. He/she is able to handle difficult situations with professional ease and is able to relate patients much different from themselves. He/she is aware of the importance of his/her responsibilities and completes them accordingly. With these characteristics clearly outlined, I am even more certain of my future success in medicine. As a rule, I have always been an even-tempered individual. My emotions rarely go to extremes, and I am usually the first person to attempt to calm or soothe a friend. Being a SBP student, I am known for being a perfectionist. Spending the extra time to make sure a task is done correctly and completely is, for me, time well spent. I am also extremely approachable, with my ever-present smile. My best friend often nicknamed me as Dr. Nadia, perhaps she caught a glimpse of my developing personality and saw the beginning of a good doctor.

The final line of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 73”- “Love that well, which thou must lose ere long”- captures how I would like to be remembered at the end of my life. I want to be remembered not as just somebody who loved their community, but as somebody who loved it well, somebody who didn’t just take a look back, somebody who put attention and effort toward following her ideals. Shakespeare deliberately includes the word “well” at the end of his sonnet to avoid a clichéd statement about love and loss, to convey that the idealized notion of love being all that matters is false. He indicates that love alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by dedication and hard work. I think these are crucial words of advice for a future doctor. They help me understand that my strong desire to help my community is not, in itself; enough to make me an effective health care provider. I will need to read article upon as research progresses. I will need to deliver bad news to patient in a calm and encouraging manner. I will need to work long hours when I’m tired. I look forward to medical school as a place which I can apply Shakespeare’s instructions to my life as a doctor and to continue to construct a legacy of one who loved well the world, the nation, the country in which I love- Malaysia.

Sealed with kisses,

Nadia Alesa. xx

Ahlam, A Blooming Red Rose

The flowers that grows to glad all Earth,
Are emblems of a better birth,
When we shall wake beyond the skies,
And see the plains of heaven arise.



(17/1/2015), i've attended a driving class to prepare for KPP01. I swear it was hella boring of a class and i admit i kinda slacked off, not that it was my fault but hey it was super stodgy&tedious. Despite that tiresome class, alhamdulillah, i'm really glad i've attended and i've met a very vibrant soul, a soul of hope and belief.

Ahlam bt Muhammed.

How would i define her?

She's as pretty as a blooming flower. A livid,ravishing,delicate flower. A flower she is, a gem that gives  glow and colour for the poetry of nature. She's like, a full blown red rose, an emblem of beauty. And each time i gazed at her perfect ash-gray coloured eyes, i was dazzled and mesmerized.

When I was in the class, I sat in the back row, yep, it was easier for me if I zonked out. Hahaha, how peculiar i was because in class (at school) i sat in the front row! Okay but driving class and academic class is different okay. It's TOTALLY MISMATED. Okay that's not the point over here. Okay back to the topic.

30 minutes after the class had started, a lady in purple jubaah caught my attention. It was not because of that jubaah, but it was because the niqaab she was wearing. She certainly had some sort of an "aura" that made me intrigued to get to know her.

Since she was kinda late, the instructor was really grumpy towards her, man, i despised him!! He even made fun of her because she was wearing the niqaab. I just COULDN'T ACCEPT IT. Dude seriously, i would have smack him up in the face for that abhoring behaviour! She replied a few words in English and i knew that she was aggrieved of his misbehaviour.

The class went on for around 2 hours and a half, and finally it was our break time for brunch. Since i had no company, I went to the cafe by my own (seriously this is how a forever alone feels like??) gosh, i felt so lifeless and forlorn, I had the urge to socialize with somebody.

When I was at the cafe, I was really famished thus I bought some sandwiches. Dude, the place was filled with men, everywhere! I was really scared because I was all alone on my own, but then, from a far, that lady in purple caught my attention again. She was alone too, I approached her as she was unwrapping her sandwiches plastic.

"Assalamualaikum"

I said the salaam and I gave her my sweetest smile.

And then I introduced myself and we started talking :) She became my friend in just a short while. She's 29 years old, and she's from a suburban area in Yaman. There was something about her voice that i found rather captivating. Her voice was subtly sensual and smooth, a velvety whisper, her voice was rather sultry and melodic.

From some strangers to a friend :) Alhamdulillah i had somebody to be with the whole day! She told me her story and I was totally enchanted and I couldn't help myself to ask for more. I like to listen to other people's story, how their life journey is. Journey is like a story book, it is livid and fresh.

She told me that she was engaged when she was 15! Wow, I was totally astonished. I mean, the man came to hand-in marriage when she was so young? Seriously the man had some guts! She was engaged for 10 years and finally she was married at 25. She's currently under a scholarship from her country (if it's in Malaysia, it is like khazanah negara scholar) my o my, she's certainly a bright girl! She told me that the scholarship was a blessing for her, since 18, she had been to universities all around the world, under full sponsors. She had learnt about so many different culture while studying in the same time! (that is certainly, my life goals, sobs) And currently, she's studying under linguistic course in UPM, living with her husband and a daughter in Serdang, pursuing master studies. I've asked her mostly everything in overseas! How's life is like in UK, US and so on. MasyaAllah sister, you've totally inspired me. She had a hard time studying back in the US because of the skeptical thinking of islamophobic, and plus she was wearing a niqaab too. I knew how harsh it was, reality, it's saddening.

Break time was over and we went for dhuhr prayers together. And that is when I get to see her face :) I'm not able to describe how beautiful she is. As far as that I can say, she's as beautiful, as lovely as a blooming, red rose. An emblem of beauty. And now that I can truly see the beauty of Islam too, we, are the protected pearls.What Islam has established for woman is that which suits her nature, gives her full security and protects her against disgraceful circumstances and uncertain channels of life.  The status of woman in Islam is unprecedentedly high and realistically suitable to her nature. Her rights and duties are equal to those of man but not necessarily or absolutely identical with them. If she is deprived of one thing in some aspect, she is fully compensated for it with more things in many other aspects.

I wish that I could spend more time with you, sister Ahlam. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being an inspiration, a motivation. 'Til then, hope that we will cross our path again.

May Allah be with you at every step you take,
May Allah guide you in each decision you make,
May Allah help you when life gets rough,
May Allah Bless you with more than enough,
May Allah protect you when you fall,
May Allah hear you when you call,
May Allah sooth your heart when you don't understand,
May you always be in Allah's loving Hand.. 

Ameen

a blooming red rose.
-A.M.

Sealed with kisses,

YTN Scholarship Interview Experiences (Yayasan Tenaga Nasional) UNiTEN

The view was amazing.

Just my experiences and opinion on this.

I was offered an interview under YTN and the iv session was held yesterday at the RHR Hotel @ UNiTEN. Alhamdulillah, i was shortlisted and not many people were lucky enough for that position, thus i didn't miss out the opportunity to try out my own luck for that. I swear it was terrific :) I had the first ever scholarship interview experiences and it's gonna be a blazing fuel to keep me going towards further achievements in my future undertakings.

We were grouped into 5, A,B,C,D and E. I got to be in the E group and there were a total of 7 peeps in my group, 2 from SMAP Labu, 2 from Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah, 1 from MRSM Taiping and ..... that one girl which i didn't remember much. She didn't say a word and she was passive, so yea... she kinda slipped of my mind (sorry wherever you are). The girl from SMAP Labu was really friendly! She was the first to introduce about herself. (Hannan I'm sorry i was in a rush and i forgot to give you my contact number :( hmmm) The first session was a cozy talk with TNB's board of director. The talk was mostly about TNB and it's future, yep mostly he focussed on the job opportunity TNB offers. What the future holds for us under the scholar, the face of the future job holders and so on. Seriously before the talk i had no idea about the courses offered and how it is interrelated with TNB corporation (albeit the fact that i did some research on that). And yeah after the talk, i was truly mind-boggled.

The next session started at around 10.20, another cozy talk with the YTN's administrator. The session was aimed to make us crystal clear of the Yayasan Tenaga Nasional's scholarship, and our path later on with our career. It makes me realize that what goes around, comes around. What i'm trying to say over here, that a company doesn't easily give out scholarship to Malaysian's student for the sake of "just for fun" or in terms of helping/just sponsoring but in a total debt, and as a compensation, we need to work for them. Well, we have to keep in mind that reality... kinda hurts. In this whole vast world we're living in, i don't think anything is ever free anymore. (exceptional for the air we're breathing in). But, nevertheless, i was totally impressed to learn that the YTN's scholar is 15% more than MARA or JPA scholar. And that, if we're qualified and if we meet the total requirement, any of us under the scholar may be able to continue studying in overseas! Gosh, that made me aroused and I was totally in an excited state. (nope this is not chemistry).

We had a break for roughly 20 minutes. We had brunch but i chose to check on my phone. Gosh seriously what should i be preparing for the writing test later and the interview itself? Thus i googled TNB and i read more and more facts on that. (at the end of the day, it turns out to be that it was kinda unnecessary.. the question wasn't really related about TNB's history, mission, vision or anything likewise/related..)

I was really nerve-wrecked.

Again, another session. It was still a talk, but this was different. Because at the end of the session the writing test will be held. Gosh i wasn't prepared for any kind of questions that may be coming out. And plus, the air conditioner was set on high, it feels like i was in the ice pole. I was freezing to death in there and my esteem almost dropped to zero. God, just end this quick. The talk was handled by aunty Norin, she currently works in the Leadership Resources (LRM). She wanted us to unleash our inner passion, and to voice out. She gave us a few examples on Malaysian heroes that foot-stepped in a career that differs from what their courses were back in the universities. Later on, she spoke about the top 5 career driving employment in Malaysia, gave the 4Q's (IQ,EQ,PQ&SQ), DDRC, secret formula on walking through the iv process, ranted on about employment values and finally, she summed up the talk with the 3 keys, talent, passion and conscient.

And that marks the end of her talk.

It's time for the writing test. *gulp*

I wasn't sure what i felt but i took a deep breath and I loosened up.

Okay and they were handing out the question papers. I took out the pen i used for my SPM papers. So, there were two pages on that paper, the front page was about us and the back page was mostly about TNB, and there were 11 questions in total. Oh why was I THAT nerve-wrecked? That was just an opinion-based paper. To voice out our own opinion. They just wanna get to know the real me, not much of a pain. Like i've stated earlier there were no history of the company, mission/vision or anything like that. Hahahaha. Silly me for worrying too much.

And so, I answered the whole Q&A paper in fully English. The first page was about our fav childhood memories, fav subject in school, how do you describe yourself, something like that. The second page was the harder one, because it was related to TNB's future. Like, what related skills do you have to improvise TNB in the future? What is your idea to help TNB outshine? What makes you qualified for the YTN scholar? haha ok i don't remember in details, I'm sorry. But the questions were something likewise. Seriously, the questions were a cinch!

So, the writing test was over and we had a break for lunch and dhuhr prayers. We went to Jupiter Cafe for our lunch. There were myriad of delicacies but i wasn't in any mood of eating. But seriously, I've tried the best fruit parfait there and i think I'm in love. xo. I wish i could snap a photo of it but hahaha ain't nobody got time for that. I went for dhuhr prayers with my SMAP Labu friends.

The Jupiter Cafe House

The interview session.


Seriously the agonizing wait made me jittered. I tried to calm down and go easy with myself but I just, couldn't. Hence, I did the hand-thingy he told me to do and Alhamdulillah it works. :) I wasn't nervous at all and finally i was able to breathe.

And therefore my name was summoned up (i mean called upon lol) and I entered the room with 100% confidence. Bismillah, with the name of Allah the most beneficent. And i said the salam to the interviewers. There were 4 interviewers in total, 2 women and 2 men. Seriously DON'T FORGET TO GIVE OUT SALAM/GREETINGS. There's like, a mark for that. It's your first impression.

Like most/any other interviews, it began with the question, 'tell us about yourself'. Seriously, just go easy with yourself, i was just imagining i had a talk with my friends, nothing much.

Done with that, they proceed on with the voice out paper. Little did i knew that the questions were a trap! Haha it wasn't a trap actually, but i wrote something else that contradicted. I mean, a business manager that likes biology? Yea i wrote biology for the "fav subject in school&why?" and I've just realized that i wrote like, 5 lines about that :(

And soon, they found out that I was just trying out my luck with the scholarship and that my passion was somewhere not in the business field.

"awak ni, nak jadi doctor, kan?"

gulp, they knew the truth.

And so, to save myself, I told them that people changes and that was my childhood dream. Hah, so much of a cliche answer.

And the interviewer said,

"we want someone who is passionate in this field and not just because of the scholarship. Business is not an easy work if you don't have a thing for it. Imagine, if you're working with TNB under business management and you don't enjoy it, a few years later you realized that this isn't right for you and you choose to chase your own dream? It is entirely possible for that to happen, just look at the examples of our Malaysian heroes we gave you earlier in the talk."

Man, I was awestrucked!

"and i guess, that's the end of our session. Do you have any question regarding this?"

And thus, i said no, i smiled to them and i said thanks for giving me the chance to be here, and i left. Haha no chance for me i guess :) but that sure was a pleasant experience!

Before I headed back home, I took a selfie outside the RHR Hotel lobby.

Thank you for a remarkable interview experience, TNB! :)

Apple Pie 

I've been dying to try out Stephanie Jaworski's recipe for apple pie. Her recipe really works divine and scrumptious! I've tried it out today and i swear it was PURE PURRRRFECTION. Those mouth-watering brownish luscious succulent delightfully lip smacking tender flaky texture, just made me, crave for more! I'm so sorry if you're on diet or something, this might've failed your intention. *evil laugh. Okay i've been exaggerating quite much. Lol

You can get the recipe here along with the video demonstration. ;)

http://www.joyofbaking.com/ApplePie.html

So, here's the pics and step-by-step photo (by my own. hiks)

To make the pie crust and apple fillings

1) Mix those listed ingredients in a food processor. Or if you don't have one, just put everything in a large bowl and just use your hand for that! it works the same anyway. Get ya hands working ya lazy bump :D (i've used Anchor unsalted butter. it works fine :)

2) When everything is mixed well and incorporated, cover with a plastic wrap and set it aside. Chill the dough for aprx, 1 hour in the fridge.The dough needs their rest too, ya know

3) Time to get those apples all ready and set up :D wishy washy bath time for those apples.

*i've used 3 kinds of apples for this! :) The Granny Smith, Red Delicious  and  Gala  apples*

4) Peel the skin of the apples and core them up.

5) Cut those apples into smaller pieces :). Mix those other ingredients to get the fillings ready.

Macam rojak buah. Hiks

6) Set them aside for roughly 1-3 hours, and when they're done, strain those apples to get their juices.
    (I've waited for around 2.5 hours in total. srsly the painful wait. ouch)

7) It's time to get those tart shell ready :D

Bought the tart shell at Aneka Bakery for RM 10.60. The size is 10"

8) Take out those chilled dough from your fridge and shape it into the tart shell.

9) So, it's time for the fillings! caramelize those strained juices in a saucepan under medium heat. Add    cornstarches to the drained apples and finally, pour those caramelized apple syrup back into the drained apples. (reunion time for the apples!! hiks)

10) Fill the tart shell with the fillings :)

11) Roll out the dough into thin layer and lay it over the apple pie. (bed time story for those apples. hehe good night little apples). Make slits& tidy up the edges using a fork. Seems edgy.

12) Baking time (another 45-55 minutes of agonizing wait)

13) Done :D (those golden-brownish texture. i just can't *-*)

14) So, you're done with that. Time to add up some calories :)
      (don't forget to chill it in a fridge overnight before cutting. I'll post the pic of the sliced pie tomorrow
       hehe. Garnish with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream)


Thank You, Stephanie Jaworski.
Regards,

satisfied subscriber.