Backspaces

Who knew time flew so fast huh? From reaching KLIA the other day to having a week's worth of jet lag to starting with online classes to Ramadan to catching up with old buds. Now it's less than three weeks left of my online summer courses which means less than three weeks of my summer holiday. In other words, I have to start getting my shit back together for the next three years of college.

Dammit this is so true. Wasted crap on textbook that I don't even read (Credits)

Actually I just found the meme on the internet and was frustrated at how much it really applied to me.

Anyway, I'm glad to say this summer (it's always summer in Malaysia) didn't go to waste. Here's a list of things that I managed to accomplish up to this point:

1. I learned how to drive. Don't have a license yet but planning to get one in the states.

2. Almost finished watching Fresh off the Boat.

3. Almost finished online summer courses (although I'm not sure how my grades will end up)

4. Finished reading a book (although I wish I could've completed even more books in the summer)

But most importantly,

Credits

5. Survived Ramadan. Now it's already Syawal. My Ramadan goal every year is to not have any regrets after Ramadan is over. No reminiscing the times I could've added more pages to my Quran-reading or more rakaat's during taraweeh. Alhamdulillah I'm happy with this year's ramadan, and hope to improve again next year. I do miss having Ramadan in PERMATA. That was the first time I took every opportunity that Ramadan has to offer, and I began to wonder how many previous Ramadans I have left wasted.

Oh and I almost forgot (actually I didn't forget. I just wanted to put this off until the end of the post).

I get to meet up with some of my closest friends: those from Sabah and those from PERMATA. I'd say, teenage life are the golden days. You grow up with the best friends you'll ever make in life. Because trust me, once you get to college, you'll find it harder to make meaningful, long-lasting relationships and friendships.

credits

And there comes a point in life where we encounter a fork in the road with numerous branches. That's when those whom we have been together with for so long have to go separate ways. And we're left wondering what'll happen 10 years into the future. Well, whatever happens, we have to keep moving forward because you know what? There's no backspaces in life.

p/s: I'm not good at metaphors

Bintang Syurga

Huhh.. Sekarang nie tengah exam week. It's been a while since I blogged, so I decided to share with you guys something that has kept me inspired to strive on the path to Jannah.

Ahmad Ammar. The word awesome doesn't begin to explain who he really is. I remembered some time during last year that my mother and I were in front of the TV watching Pencetus Ummah and apparently a woman was on stage, talking about somebody's death. I didn't pay much attention but I was aware that she didn't even shed a tear when the whole audience seemed to be rubbing their eyes in sorrow. Bak kata aku, dia steady jaaaa.

It wasn't until early this year that my mother told me about this guy and how he fascinated the whole country and even the whole world. I watched a youtube video on him. And previously during usrah (a.k.a. bulatan gumbira), the topic of Ahmad Ammar was brought up. We listened to a song dedicated to and inspired by him, Bintang Syurga.

Nah, ini lagunya... Enjoy! Hayati lirik ya...

Biar darah jadi baja
biar tulangku menjadi tonggaknya
Islam tetap di puncak
biar imanku terus melonjak
  
Aku tegar 
aku rela
sekalipun aku dihenyak 

Burung-burung hijau terbang
Oh ku tenang melayang
syurga firdausi menunggu ku datang 
bidadari pun tersenyum
merindu cumbu harum 
di saat cinta mekarku bercantum
  
Pergiku tak kembali
kerana memburu nikmat syurgawi
itulah yang hakiki itu yang abadi
dan ku tidak mati
bahkan hidup dengan rezki Ilahi
  
Kejayaan (kejayaan)
kebahagiaan (kebahagiaan)
bintang syuhada yang dirindukan
  
Datang datanglah wahai syahid 
dambaan mujahid
aku relakan sakit yang sedikit
  
Dari tahanan sementara
biar aku nestapa
demi bahagia untuk selamanya

Boleh dikatkan ini antara lagu Nasyid yang aku memang suka la. Because those Nasyid songs about love are just not my type.

So, if you guys have yet heard of him, do google him someday, and read his life story and journey. Watch videos of him on youtube. He merely lived for 20 years, but in that small amount of time, he managed to achieve and contribute immeasurable deeds towards his deen. 

The Essay

It's been a while since I last updated this blog. Apparently my mind has nothing to say for the time being, either due to the fact that the week has been hectic or that it simply refuses to function say anything. So, what's so damn hectic about the week? Cultural Day. I'm in the Borneo team and we're pretty much busy doing the best we could to make sure the audiences would be left in awe and amazement. 

Just the other day - Monday to be exact - I squinted my eyes to look at my calendar and realised that something huge is gonna happen on Friday. I wrote there "Illinois noti =='". Yup. I have applied for UIUC and the notification is to be released sooner than I thought. How fast time flies. Time and tide wait for no men. I have done my calculations. The noti would be out at 4.00 p.m. February 14th, CST which is equivalent to 2.00 a.m. February 15th Malaysian time. I can choose to stay up in anxiety - bite my fingernails and sweat like crazy - and wait for the release or I could peacefully be in my slumber and check it out first thing in the morning. Either way, I just hope to be mentally and physically ready for such a nerve-wrecking moment. In the end, it is Allah's decision that is best.

So, since I don't think you readers are getting any benefit whatsoever from reading my blog, it would be my greatest pleasure to share with you people my essay. UIUC application essay.

The prompt goes like this:

Tell us about one interest or experience................. Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.

You know what the toughest part is? 300 words. How do they expect me to tell a story in just 300 words? Well, I guess the reason is that they don't want the applicants to crap and waste their time (which I have a very high potential of doing). And here's my response. Took me quite some time to actually unravel my past and seek precious moments. Sure, you'll find way awesome-er essays out there but here it goes *gulp*

My name was never famous for sprints, long-distance, or any sort of running for that matter. But I wanted to prove, not to others but to myself, that I can push myself beyond the people's expectations. I saw nobody to my left or to my right, to my back or to my front. They were probably too far ahead or too far back, but I hoped for the latter no matter how ridiculous it sounded. 

Budak-budak Biotech

I was having my breakfast when Dalila Safiah told me that Kak Zana (our previous biotech instructor during PCS 2012) is having an Akikah and we're invited. Yay! I thought I was going to bore to death today being cooped up in my room all day long (too lazy to go for outing). Then Kasdi phoned me (I actually don't save anybody of my friend's number in my mobile phone. Just putting that out there) asking me whether I'd join in for the Akikah. Of course I would. Haha.

Dr Zul (another biotech instructor who happens to be Kak Zana's husband) picked us up at around 1.45 p.m. There were 9 of us: Abul Munzeer, Kasdi, Ruzainy, Where, Dalila, Alifah, Amalin, Siew and me. Lepas tu kan.. ada orang tu yang nampak stress gila naik motor. Sampai berkerut dahi. Si pembonceng pulak nampak sangat lawak. Memang kami dalam kereta tu ketawa gila-gila la XD. Being able to be their guest was truly an honour, and it's been so long since I myself experienced such festivity and family-bonding. Rasa best bila dapat mengalami perasaan "kekeluargaan" itu. (cehh ayat...)

We ate, chat, joked around, and played with some kids. The food was nice. Looking at the kuih still on the plate, the guys were like, "Weyh, si Dalila nak tu" "Malin, aku tau kau nak". And Kasdi was being his natural self - the playboyish part of him XD. 

Oh, and we took pictures.

A collage

We exchanged stories

Music in Islam + Acapella

Before I proceed, I'd like to remind fellow readers that I'm not in any way influencing you. Rather, this is just to share what I have recently found through readings and videos on the internet. It all started way back in school, when a few of us were discussing about music, and that someone has discovered a video by Mufti Menk regarding the origin of music.

Explorace-ish

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to create a protective layer for the chicken egg so that when it is dropped from waist-high, it shall remain undamaged. We had to accept it of course. No choice. We were given straws, papers and rubber bands, and if the stuff supplied were not enough, we could always "buy" more. My team went with slow and steady, not wanting to risk bankruptcy (which would certainly befall those who failed to protect the chicken egg).

Night Walking

She started to count. 82, 81, 80... She didn't know how long it has been, or how much longer it's going to take. 59, 58, 57... She wanted to calm herself down, tell herself that it's not going to be long. She was number 83 by the way, the 27th person to be left solo. Looking at the watch on her wrist might cause her more anxiety, so she decided that it was best for her to not know what time it was. There she sat, alone like everybody else.

Kuih with a Hole in the Middle

Being a both a Malaysian and a facebooker, you guys must've heard of the riddle "Banyak-banyak kuih, kuih apakah yang orang makan tepinya sahaja? Tengahnya tidak dimakan.". The answer is donut right? Well think again. This riddle had lived its days remarkably as one of those teka-tekis that gives people a facepalm. Not any more.

Unfortunately for that dear donut, companies such as Big Apple and Dunkin' Donuts start to rise, bringing a new generation of that so-called "Kuih with a Hole in the Middle". With fillings, creams, nuts and fruits at the centre of the donut, the riddle at the beginning of this post is proven to be invalid. (Awwwwwwwww) You may be wondering, up to this point, as to why I am discussing on this worldly issue. Have a look at the photo below

Gorgeous

A certain someone bought it for me when he went for an outing. And they're pink! With a slice of strawberry and tiny strips of white chocolate on top. Hooray for that. I didn't expect that he'd actually buy me something, but thanks nevertheless. By the way, I didn't have to place it in a burner. Nanti tak sedap la =='

Now I'd like you to imagine that you eat only the edges of the doughnut shown above, thus leaving its midsection. That would be such a waste wouldn't it. Boohoo. But I don't blame these companies. I am actually a fan of doughnuts (again, thanks for those doughnuts .. really appreciate it.. or them..). Doughnuts are often related to police officers, as seen in movies or American dramas. I still don't get why. They stop for some doughnuts before going for a pursuit.

Other varieties of doughnuts from the internet

The highlight for today is actually the International Mathematics Olympiad selection test (sorry for the divergence guys). I was the only odd-one-out. I mean, I wasn't even in the Math Olympiad class and then there I was, sitting for this very huge exam. Not that I was unhappy (Alhamdulillah I was selected to participate in this selection test), but it was the fact that I knew way less than all of the others.

However, I have learnt not to put down my weapons before I enter the battle. As I looked upon the question, the first one was pretty easy. The second one was okay if it weren't for the fact that I didn't understand the term "tangent internally" and "tangent externally". So answered what I thought would be the answer. Alhamdulillah, I could answer the third with confidence. But not the same can be said for questions number 4 and 5. I, having no other solution in mind, start thinking of matrices that we learnt in LA and tried to implement it. Didn't work.

A random photo from the internet

The time allocated for the test was 3.5 hours, but one by one stood up before me and got out of the examination hall. By over 2 o'clock, after only an hour and 45 minutes after the exam started, I, too, followed them. Seriously, I flipped the papers over and over, but still nothing popped up in my brain. Not actually hoping to be selected, but if I were to be chosen, then all praise goes to Allah.