VIRTUAL TOUR
2019
16 FebLife at UCSI
Till this day most of my friends don’t know my full name. And even if they did, they can never pronounce it right. I don’t blame them though. I come from Myanmar, one of the lesser known jewels in Southeast Asia. Our mother tongue is one of the least spoken languages in the world so when I say, “My name is Min Kaung Htet Ko Ko,” everyone naturally goes, “Huh?”.
Ever since I enrolled in UCSI University, I’ve stuck with my last name: Ko Ko. This makes the whole introduction process so much easier! “Ko Ko” means “big brother” in my language ‒ but ironically, I am the youngest among my friends. I’m nineteen years old ‒ and I’ll be turning twenty this October. Somehow I’m already excited for my birthday celebration because I can never be too sure how my friends are going to surprise me.
Looking back, I’m pretty confident that my seventeen-year-old self would have told you get a reality check if you had assured him that he’d do well in university. Growing up in an overbearing family, I was sheltered from the world and hardships of life; living on my own and taking care of myself were my top concerns while studying abroad. Also as a kid, I was studious and reserved; I didn’t have much friends ‒ and unlike most teens I rarely left home. I was a big introvert; my idea of a good time wasn’t good coffee and great company ‒ but instead spending the evening propped up on bed with a good read as the rain poured outside. Interesting enough, as of right now, I am completely a different person.
When I first got to UCSI University, I was determined to try everything. I felt like I had missed out on proper high school fun as a teenager and I wasn’t going to allow that to happen in university. I promised myself that I was going to have the best four years of my life and every choice I’ve made in university was in favour of that commitment. In my very first semester, I joined as many student clubs as I could: martial arts, volunteering, peer-counseling ‒ you name it. By putting myself out there and being present in almost all activities, I had created a stage of experience and a lasting presence for myself. I was noticed and well-received. I began to meet and network with a lot of people. I felt important and that I could influence change. With that I didn’t feel so alone ‒ even though I was, for the first time in my life, far away from home.
Balancing my academics and extracurricular activities was indeed a challenge. As a university student I was told that grades come first. I disagree. Physical and mental well being comes first. I wish I knew that before I got myself too deep in responsibilities. I spared no time to take care of myself; day in, day out there was always some commitment somewhere. Overtime, it felt like I was forcing myself into situations which I wanted no part of. I started to feel unhappy and borderline depressed. But I still functioned like a well-oiled machine so nobody took notice of that. It took me two years of mental exhaustion and shattered nerves to realize that not all opportunities were worth pursuing and sometimes you’ve got to say, “No”. Saying “no” doesn’t necessarily mean that you are avoiding responsibilities; it just asserts that you are preparing to devote your time and energy to the next best opportunity that comes by.
Life in UCSI University is awesome! Over the course of two years, this whole place has become my second home. I live on campus, I work part-time in the library, and I am a student tutor in the Faculty of Engineering, Technology, and Built Environment. I am involved in multiple student chapters specifically SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineering) and IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers). As a student pursuing a bachelors in chemical engineering, people generally assume that I’m aiming for a well-paying position in an oil and gas facility. Truthfully, my interests are more oriented towards teaching and education. If all goes well, immediately after my doctorate, I would very much like to fulfill my sole ambition I’ve had since primary school: teach.
I might appear that I’ve got my life figured out, but that’s nowhere near true. Life is stormy; it is constantly in flux and unpredictable. Over two years of living on my own, life has taught me some painful lessons: people aren’t who they seem to be ‒ and that things fall apart. But thankfully, I’ve got people in my life who knows I’m not alright even when I’m smiling. It took me getting ruined by fake friends, and everything I had to find them. And the long search was worth it. It was only with them that I felt that things were finally falling into place. I’ve come to learn that the meaning behind the phrase “Friends For Life” can be so beautiful, so profound. My best friends are what make my university life special and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I’m starting to accept that our friendship is the simple proof that happiness has been constantly around me all along.
Life in UCSI University was not what I had pictured it to be. In fact, it’s so much better! It is true that I’m a tad stressed out and I complain at times (which engineering student doesn’t do that by the way?) but this place will undeniably go down in history as the home for the best four years of my life. I’ve got more to learn, and even more to accomplish, but the greatest thing is that I’m not doing this alone. I’m with my friends whom I call family. I’m cared for by my lecturers, and the relentless love and support from my family keeps me going every day. Life is great ‒ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ever since I enrolled in UCSI University, I’ve stuck with my last name: Ko Ko. This makes the whole introduction process so much easier! “Ko Ko” means “big brother” in my language ‒ but ironically, I am the youngest among my friends. I’m nineteen years old ‒ and I’ll be turning twenty this October. Somehow I’m already excited for my birthday celebration because I can never be too sure how my friends are going to surprise me.
Looking back, I’m pretty confident that my seventeen-year-old self would have told you get a reality check if you had assured him that he’d do well in university. Growing up in an overbearing family, I was sheltered from the world and hardships of life; living on my own and taking care of myself were my top concerns while studying abroad. Also as a kid, I was studious and reserved; I didn’t have much friends ‒ and unlike most teens I rarely left home. I was a big introvert; my idea of a good time wasn’t good coffee and great company ‒ but instead spending the evening propped up on bed with a good read as the rain poured outside. Interesting enough, as of right now, I am completely a different person.
When I first got to UCSI University, I was determined to try everything. I felt like I had missed out on proper high school fun as a teenager and I wasn’t going to allow that to happen in university. I promised myself that I was going to have the best four years of my life and every choice I’ve made in university was in favour of that commitment. In my very first semester, I joined as many student clubs as I could: martial arts, volunteering, peer-counseling ‒ you name it. By putting myself out there and being present in almost all activities, I had created a stage of experience and a lasting presence for myself. I was noticed and well-received. I began to meet and network with a lot of people. I felt important and that I could influence change. With that I didn’t feel so alone ‒ even though I was, for the first time in my life, far away from home.
Balancing my academics and extracurricular activities was indeed a challenge. As a university student I was told that grades come first. I disagree. Physical and mental well being comes first. I wish I knew that before I got myself too deep in responsibilities. I spared no time to take care of myself; day in, day out there was always some commitment somewhere. Overtime, it felt like I was forcing myself into situations which I wanted no part of. I started to feel unhappy and borderline depressed. But I still functioned like a well-oiled machine so nobody took notice of that. It took me two years of mental exhaustion and shattered nerves to realize that not all opportunities were worth pursuing and sometimes you’ve got to say, “No”. Saying “no” doesn’t necessarily mean that you are avoiding responsibilities; it just asserts that you are preparing to devote your time and energy to the next best opportunity that comes by.
Life in UCSI University is awesome! Over the course of two years, this whole place has become my second home. I live on campus, I work part-time in the library, and I am a student tutor in the Faculty of Engineering, Technology, and Built Environment. I am involved in multiple student chapters specifically SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineering) and IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers). As a student pursuing a bachelors in chemical engineering, people generally assume that I’m aiming for a well-paying position in an oil and gas facility. Truthfully, my interests are more oriented towards teaching and education. If all goes well, immediately after my doctorate, I would very much like to fulfill my sole ambition I’ve had since primary school: teach.
I might appear that I’ve got my life figured out, but that’s nowhere near true. Life is stormy; it is constantly in flux and unpredictable. Over two years of living on my own, life has taught me some painful lessons: people aren’t who they seem to be ‒ and that things fall apart. But thankfully, I’ve got people in my life who knows I’m not alright even when I’m smiling. It took me getting ruined by fake friends, and everything I had to find them. And the long search was worth it. It was only with them that I felt that things were finally falling into place. I’ve come to learn that the meaning behind the phrase “Friends For Life” can be so beautiful, so profound. My best friends are what make my university life special and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I’m starting to accept that our friendship is the simple proof that happiness has been constantly around me all along.
Life in UCSI University was not what I had pictured it to be. In fact, it’s so much better! It is true that I’m a tad stressed out and I complain at times (which engineering student doesn’t do that by the way?) but this place will undeniably go down in history as the home for the best four years of my life. I’ve got more to learn, and even more to accomplish, but the greatest thing is that I’m not doing this alone. I’m with my friends whom I call family. I’m cared for by my lecturers, and the relentless love and support from my family keeps me going every day. Life is great ‒ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
credits: gtd_photography (Amro)
[Left to right: Mohsen, Noman, Karam, Yours truly, Amro, Abdullah, Ammar, Asseel, Osama]
"They say university is the place where you find your people and I've found mine. Thank you guys for giving me the courage to share my story!"
Min Kaung Htet Ko Ko is a UCSI University Digital Content Student Ambassador. This article was first posted here: https://glimpse99.blogspot.com/
