THE CICAK.com

University life, what’s your strategy?

By NG KHAI LEE

The session had already started when I arrived.

Racecar driver Alex Yoong was already on stage, sharing some interesting ideas about alternative, possibly higher paying, more fulfilling career options by “being good with your hands.”

NTV7 Breakfast Show host, Jessica Teng spoke next about broadcast journalism and her lifestyle.

Then, it was my turn.

My turn to talk about what?

It was theStar Education Fair 2008.

It happens every year, and it’s a whopper of sorts, attracting thousands of eager parents and children, shopping for their destiny.

They had career talks and such throughout the day, and the three of us were invited to speak on personal experiences with university life and work.

We were in an overly formal setting, which tamed my usual animated character, but that didn’t stop me from being a beast.

I was swift. But reminded myself not to talk too fast.

After my 10 minutes of anarchy, the deed was done. I know 90 percent of the crowd must have disagreed with some of my points, but I have always looked out for the misfits who were going “YES, YES, YES!”

Here is an edited version of the original script:

University Life - My Strange, Personal Five-Point Strategy

What’s up guys, I’ve got like, 10 to 15 minutes to help you choose a strategy for balancing out your university life.

So I won’t spend ANY time talking about who I am and what I do.

Let’s just assume I’m a racecar driver, and my name is Khailee. We can talk about the details later.

For the next 10 minutes of your life, I’m going to dive into the exact strategy I have used to navigate my university life.

First off, my strategy has helped me achieve a couple of things:

• Get kicked out of the Malaysian Student’s Club in Sydney.
• Have lecturers refuse to teach me.
• Almost quit college in year 2.
• Have university administrators recommend me into a mental clinic.

So I will be the first to say, this strategy is risky and strange.

Dear parents, I’m not even sure if you want me to share this with your children.

On the bright side, my strategy also helped me achieve a few things before I graduated:

• Co-founded, theCICAK.com - a popular, influential socio-political youth magazine.
• Graduated as the top student in my batch, and was personally invited to pursue a PhD.
• Nabbed a couple of awards in art , photography, drama.
• More importantly, it enabled me to venture down the path I am currently on.

What path is that?

We can talk about that later. We’ll talk strategy first.

What’s Your Strategy?

How many of you have a strategy, for their uni life? For example:

• “Try and pass all my subjects, try and get some work experience.”
• “I’ll go with the flow / see how it goes.”
• “Some other strategy.

Yes? No? Maybe? Cool.

Honestly, between you and me… I didn’t know what to think when I was 16 years old shopping around theStar’s career fair. I remember getting home with a bag full of flyers, and my dad asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I didn’t know.

Because I didn’t know anything, my only strategy was to do whatever it took to know everything.

I really had to get out there – stop doing normal boring stuff I’ve been doing all my life.

This was my only strategy. Do whatever it takes to know everything.

And this led me to do five main things.

I’m going to share these five things that I did, which you do not have to agree with.

1. Avoid typical Malaysians!

I arrived in Sydney to discover the Malaysian student committee actively re-creating the comfort zone they were missing oh so badly. They organized activities for Malaysians and only hung out with Malaysians. Scary!

If you’re overseas - don’t waste it with this type of Malaysian. You’ve hung out with them for the past ten years and more, and can do that the rest of your life. Invest your time wisely and learn about other cultures, and other types of unconventional people!

2. Don’t get a part-time job

Unless you have to fry char kwoay teow to send your sister to add maths tuition, then I respect that.

But for those of you who have parents paying for your education, my argument is that it costs more per hour keeping you overseas than you can earn being a waiter.

Think about how else that time can be used to enhance your learning - reading things online, learning a new skills, developing relationships with interesting people, and doing CRAZY things… especially…

3. Join clubs and societies

Personally I was active in more than six societies in these fields - drama, film, business, outdoor activities, debating, International Students Council. And through them I’ve met amazing people and had loads of fun. Every weekend I was doing something different with different people!

My advice is - whatever you are curious about, whether it’s something you like or don’t know anything about - go out there to meet like-minded people, and throw yourself into leadership opportunities.

Invest your time in priceless experiences.

4. Test your subjects / teachers before you choose

I enrolled in up to eight classes at a start of a semester - and then I withdrew from those I didn’t like. I would sit in on my friend’s classes to see what it was like so I could take it next semester.

This is one way to really find the best teachers, and take the subjects you will really get into. In any school, there is always “the good teachers” - go find them. Follow your curiosity, excitement, whenever you can. It’ll make studying a joy, and getting great grades way easier.

5. Get the best results

Have you ever looked back and “forgotten” everything you’ve studied? Well that happened to the subjects I scored OK in. But for most subjects where I scored top grades, it’s still in my head and part of my mental toolbox. Some people may argue that getting good grades doesn’t really matter - but I personally recommend trying for the BEST grades - try it once and you’ll feel the difference!

Summary

• Avoid typical Malaysians
• Don’t get a part-time job
• Join many clubs and societies
• Test out subjects and teachers
• Get the best results!

For those of you who don’t see this working for you, or if you have already decided on a lot of things, forget everything I said and do it your way!

But if you’re not ready to decide, do everything you can to EXPLORE and LEARN.

After all, you can think of your tertiary education as really just certification on a piece of paper, or a chance to flex your brain and to grow as a person, and ultimately, find your place in this world.

–
NG KHAI LEE is a co-founder and promotions manager of theCICAK.

Khailee also founded Bunch Out, co-founded Project Bazooka, and works with MindValley on strategy. On the side, he plays music in his bedroom. Visit his blog.