My AUSMAT experience

Today, I returned to Sunway College, a place I called my second home for the whole of 2014, to attend Ausmat's awards ceremony. Receiving these awards is the perfect cherry on top of the cake, a sweet ending to a short but fruitful journey sprinkled with memories. Being back here after graduation invited a wave of nostalgia and I just had to write this - my AUSMAT experience.



The story begins in January 2014, when I came to Sunway as a curious kid fresh out of high school with no clue on what to expect. As with many post-SPM students our ideas of college revolved around endless partying, being able to ditch classes at will and basically spending more time on play than work.

How wrong I was.

After the first few days of orientation and games, the truth about college revealed itself. Attendance was still taken at each class. Homework was no longer blind copying or writing simple essays, we had to research, write formal reports, and learn how to do presentations. Worse of all, the so-called "50% coursework" that lured me into Ausmat (because it made me think that it was just homework marks) turned out to be 90% tests, quizzes and exams!

It was a nasty culture shock at first, but slowly I began to realize how these tough assignments were actually my stepping stones in prepping me for much harder work in university. And as I slowly adapted to the new study culture, newfound confidence in being more independent than before surfaced.

Social life-wise, however, did not go too well for me in the beginning. As a typical chinese schooled kid, back in high school I always preferred to stick to one or two close knit cliques, and my world's borders ended within that circle of friends.

Unfortunately, college had no space for that kind of luxury. I didn't share a class with a same person more than twice, so 5 subjects meant 5 classes, thus 5 different groups of peers to fit in. Coming into this new environment filled with strange people and without my security blanket around me, was a huge blow to my self esteem. For the first 4 months I was pretty miserable on the inside, unable to find my footing in this scary new world.

But there were angels here in AUSMAT and I am beyond blessed to have met them. Despite not sharing classes with many, somehow, through the power of social media a group of around 10 of us had formed a Whatsapp chat group. I didn't expect anything when I first met these friends in the very first week of college, but we managed remain in touch, growing closer and closer right till the end of our course. Starting with these original 10, I also picked up many other precious friendships along the way.

College has made me realize that you don't need to have just one group of friends to feel secure and happy. It is about standing on your own feet while appreciating those around you, without ever having to be overattached.

Needless to say, it was the friends who made my year here at Sunway College.



From one of our very first group pictures all the way back in January

Taking advantage of the haze period for the blurry "Genting Highlands" background

In the middle of Freshie's Night rave party!

First time doing Henna during I-Care day

One of the memorable events I took part in, playing Running Man in real life!

Also, forming our very own K-pop dance group "Sarang-A" and performing on Talent time. My first time dancing on stage omg.

A short gateway to Sekinchan and Kuala Selangor which was filled with the most unexpected adventures ;)

Karaoke every time exam finishes ^_^

Finally, end of WACE, our graduation day = awards night where we saw everyone dressed up so formally for the first time :P

And it ended with on an explosive note that concluded one of the best years in my life (A full length post dedicated to this vacation coming soon!)

Of course, before I end I must thank all the great lecturers that taught me this year - Ms Maria, Ms Santhi, Ms Sangeetha, Pn Hanida and Ms Stella, and Mr Chen and Ms Uma. Thanks for being there for studies and also for a listening ear, or a helping hand whenever I needed it <3

As we begin a new year, all of us will be walking separate paths down the rocky road towards our future. But once an Ausmatian, forever an Ausmatian :)