Dose of Reality



In another 3 weeks, hopefully I will end my career as college student. Yes, I am thrilled and I am excited. But at the same time, I am feeling anxious. To be honest with you, this angst is killing me slowly. The pressure comes from all angles and it is more than I can bear.

People say, outside there is a totally different world. How different it can be? We breathe the same air, we drink the same water and we walk under the same sun. I am looking forward to experiencing this new world. Yet, the contradiction to indulge myself again in college world is thumping my heart. Oh well, I am not yet a college leaver, please bear that in mind (bang my head on the table).

Having said that, I wonder how much a piece of degree worths out there? Along told papa, it doesn't really matter here in Malaysia, for as long you have the degree, you will be okay to join the workforce. I guess that is right for engineering major though, how about those who are majoring in Computer Science or IT for that matter? Many of them are still unemployed from what I've know from my dear friend, Boss, in Pasir Mas.

People go through a lot of things before they earn their degree. And at the end, degree doesn't justify how good your life will be, but it somehow indicates how well you will probably be in the future if you really want to pursue your field of study. Do I want to pursue Chemical Engineering (Ch E) as my career? Or, maybe as Process engineer in any factory in Malaysia?



According to the statistic produced by American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a Ch E student who receives an average C grade in their Ch E courses gets USD 50,000 - USD 60,000 per year. That is about USD 4,000 - USD 5,000. What if you're getting more than an average C in the Ch E courses? You do the math, ok? Oh, by the way, the top student in Electrical Engineering major gets USD 4,000 annually. So, it's not that bad eh to be a Ch E major even if you're sure as hell know nothing about thermodynamic or organic chemistry.

Up till now, Ch E still holds the highest paid position among the engineering majors. Oh well, I guess it should be because everytime I mention my major to other people here, they will quickly raise their eyebrows and look pity at me, as in I am having HIV and die on the very next day. Yes, Ch E is hard. It is hard enough to make you to think twice before encouraging people to join your Ch E caravan. I'd rather to spend my years in college by joining Architecture Engineering for 5 damn years than be in Chemical Engineering. But hey, the mistake is done. The only thing I could do for now is to redeem and finish it with grace.

The thing is, I don't want to stay here. I don't want to pursue the American dream. I know Arnie succeeds and does very well in California as governor, but I am thinking, my star doesn't smile wide enough for me here though.

I have other ambitious lead to follow. I want to be all, everything that I can be (yeah, sure thing!). Bake and sell my own cake (I am trying to do this, eh Jaja?), doing charity work by giving free tuition at orphanage and join NGOs.

I am thinking of taking Political Science degree somewhere in local college in Malaysia. Part time of course. I want to follow my guts. I want to follow my conscience. I will explore any chances for me to do this at local college.

Hmmm..life is full of ambitions. Life is full of its colors and I hope I will not get drunk with its beautiful colors. Or maybe, suffocated to death.