A-Voice August 2012 by help avoice

Hello!

IT’S ALIVE! After months of toiling in front of our laptop screens, we have finally given birth to something that I am thoroughly proud of. This is our first issue with a new editorial team at the helm and with a tough act to follow, I am truly grateful for having such talented people on board. I would like to thank Ms. Cristabel, Mellissa, Liiyung, Andrea, Kelly, and of course, our two amazing graphic designers Hazel and Nicola. I’d also like to give a big shout out to all of our writers and layout team members...without you guys, the A-Voice would just be a three-page pamphlet with our ramblings in it—and there were plenty along the way, believe me. In this issue, we look to the future. Not just the distant future when a zombie apocalypse is likely to occur (yes, I too thought it was impossible until recently, check out our Zombie Apocalypse feature to see why) or when light saber duelling becomes an Olympic sport, but also to your future, the future that is waiting for you beyond these walls. So, the A-Voice team decided to do some of the digging for you, and hopefully our series of education articles will help you as you chart your future in the coming months. However, we’ve also mixed things up a little by showing you that your future isn’t necessarily defined by the degree that will hang on your wall, but can be defined by your dreams instead. In sight of the future, we’re always looking for more people to join us, so do not hesitate to drop us an email if you’re interested in being part of this amazing team; the A-Voice is an avenue to showcase your talents to the world, and to make yourself heard. In the end, we hope that our hard work pays off and that you enjoy reading our take on The Future. We look forward to seeing you again in our next issue. To infinity and beyond,

IT’S NOT DEAD (yet)! After months of hard work, I feel like a proud mother to our first issue of the A-Voice—and boy, do I have a lot of people to thank! Ms. Cristabel, Kailash, Andrea, Liiyung, Hazel, Nicola, Kelly, and everyone else on board: thank you for being such an amazing team! I took this issue’s theme, “The Future,” to heart because I have no idea what lies ahead of me. University applications are around the corner, and here I am, feeling incredibly unsure of myself. While I was working on this issue, uncertainty plagued me. What if we don’t meet our deadlines? What if the writers never respond to emails? What if I have to face the wrath of a certain lecturer? But I could only guess. Trust me, nothing beats the excitement (and horror!) of not knowing what lies ahead. In fact, I believe it is never our place to know. Life is only worth living when you don’t know what comes in the end. Imagine watching a film, or listening to a story. You may enjoy the storytelling or the acting, but the story is only worthwhile if you want to know what happens next. My point is, it’s fine to be unsure about where you’re going in life. So, if you have no idea what your future is going to be like—keep guessing! Don’t know what the cute guy in class thinks of you? Keep guessing! Don’t know how to do your chemistry homework? Keep copying! (Just kidding. The A-Voice does not support any form of plagiarism.) Happy reading!

A-Voice August 2012

PEOPLE Editor-in-Chief Mellissa Ng Managing Editor Kailash Kalaiarasu Sub-Editors Andrea Wong Yeow Liiyung Writers Angelize Tan Xin Wen Davinia Gunasagran Dinnish Raj Isabelle Tan Joyce Lim Kareem Fareed Khoo Ghee Ken Lim Chin Yang Loo Han Rong Louise Tan Nicola Choon Rachel Chin Samantha Cheh Sandra Chong Tan Wei Jian Thulaja Thessa Valerie Ngow Yingli Yip Mun Yee Marketing, PR, & Photography Kelly Xiao Ran Art & Tech Hazel Lo Nicola Choon Lim Hor Mun Quah Zhong Yao Tan Jiak Ying Tan Xin Wen Teoh Mae Jeann Yip Mun Yee Special Thanks Mr. Jahn Cheah Ms. Caroline A Levels Department HELP MIT Ms. Mun Seong Cover Nicola Choon Galactic Emperor Ms. Cristabel Tan

Laughter is the best medicine

Dr. Jason Leong, B.Med, B.Comedy

I Photos courtesy of Jason Leong

t’s 6.30pm on a Thursday night. The interior of The Bee at Publika is empty, save for one lady sitting alone in a corner of the sea of tables and chairs. I ask if she’s performing later. It turns out Komella is Jason Leong’s wife. Unfortunately, before I can dig up any embarrassing stories, Jason shows up carrying his signature blazer and orange shirt. After completing his A-Levels at HELP (where he christened the A-Voice and “wrote funny articles” as part of the pioneering editorial team) in 2004, Jason went to University College Dublin for two and a half years before coming back to Penang Medical College to finish his MBBS. He now works at Selayang Hospital. He’s one of a kind: a standup comedian approved and accredited by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Six months ago, Jason married his coursemate and fellow JPA (Public Service Department) scholar, Komella. Marriage often provides lots of material for comedy, but Jason refuses to complain about his wife. Later on that night, he tells the crowd that they are happily married and he’s very grateful for her support of his comedic ambitions—she even handles ticketing and reservations for Comedy Kao Kao. The wedding, on the other hand, was eventful, to say the least… “The two sides of our family started a food fight. The Chinese hurled beef at the Indians, who retaliated with everything they had: tomatoes, potatoes, fish bones, chicken bones... But the Indians were losing, because everything they threw, the Chinese just used to make soup,” he says, to laughter. “Komella and I had to stop the fight so we could actually get married. We had to find some common ground, something both sides would agree on. So I grabbed the karaoke mike

By Loo Han Rong

and shouted, ‘STOP! EVERYBODY STOP! If you don’t stop fighting, Komella and I will get divorced and marry Muslims.’” I ask him if this sort of racist humour enforces stereotypes. “No, I think there’s an important distinction between racist humour and jokes that poke fun at the different races. In fact, humour forces us to take a good hard look at ourselves, and to reevaluate how we judge other people.” Fair enough, but Malaysian comedians tend to fall back on race-based humour for easy laughs, I counter. He says that he’s trying to move away from this sort of humour, towards more universal themes: sex, air travel, kids (“One of the reasons Komella and I got married was because we’d have beautiful Chindian kids, but I’m afraid that instead of getting the best of both genes, they’ll end up looking like a darker Kim Jong Il with a big backside, or Samy Vellu with no chest hair.”) Jason was initiated into the world of standup in June 2010 at Time Out KL Comedy Thursday. He used to work in Penang, and would travel down to KL four times a month to perform at open mic events. For just three minutes onstage? “Yeah, I wanted to become really good.” Any chance of becoming a full-time standup comedian in the near future? “That’s the dream. To me, it’s more fulfilling than being a doctor.” Really? He’d stop saving lives (Jason works in the emergency room) to make people laugh? “Yah! Every time I go on stage and perform a joke for the first time there’s this this adrenaline rush that I can’t find anywhere else. You never know what’s going to happen, and that’s part of the thrill.” In March, I watched an open-miccer (a first-timer) struggle through painful silences. Jason admits that sometimes a joke (Continued on page 5) A-Voice August 2012

Laughter is the best medicine

just doesn’t fly, for no particular reason. If that happens, it’s best to just cut it short and move on. I ask him what it is that pushes a story or joke over the tipping point, into spontaneous laughter region. He says that the best jokes are the ones that are relatable, and contain a kernel of truth. “Standup comedy is human life, stripped to its bone and then embellished for extra effect.” Jason starts coughing violently. Alarmed, I ask if he’s caught anything from his patients. He explains that he always gets very nervous and starts coughing before the show. I’m surprised, because his wife told me earlier that he’s a very loud person who loves being in the limelight, and has no stage fright at all. He laughs and rushes off to check on the lights and sound equipment. Soon, the lights dim. Jason bounds onstage. Beneath the harsh spotlight, between two bunting posters that urge the audience to “Live free, die hard, laugh kao kao,” he grabs the mike from its stand to cheers and applause. “Malay people in the audience make some noise!” More cheering. “Don’t worry, all my jokes are halal; no pork jokes. Sex jokes got three—wait for them later.” **** Besides hosting Comedy Kao Kao once a month, Jason is part of the MACC (Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians).

Turn to page 20 to find out what Louise and Kareem say about this

A-Voice August 2012

Interview: Katrina Arokiam

SHE’S NO STRANGER

by Mellissa Ng

With years of social work experience under her belt, Katrina Arokiam is no stranger when it comes to having a second family.

ormer drug pushers, the children of sex workers, undocumented refugees, and ex-prisoners: not necessarily the people you and I would want to hang out with. She, on the other hand, is not only friends with them—she has dedicated her life to helping them. To her, they are more than just clients; they are her family. Meet Katrina Arokiam: an inspiring social worker with a growing passion. There is no doubt that Katrina’s parents have greatly influenced her career choices. After all, she was only eight when her father opened his own drug rehab in Batu Arang and her mother actively helped out. “I grew up in a drug rehab centre.” Katrina says matter-of-factly. One of the main things that strikes me about Katrina is her almost cliché-free eloquence. “There were never just the three of us kids in the family. I shared my parents with hundreds of people who were orphaned by society.” Because she was exposed to drug users, sex workers, and people living on the streets from a very young age, Katrina developed a natural propensity to reach out to those in need. In her shoes Katrina was one of us: “Psychology makes you a jack of all trades and a master of none,” she says of her degree in Psychology and Communications from HELP. “It is not so...specific to a certain type of issue, but it gives you a bigger picture of how everything works—it definitely helped me a lot in understanding human behaviour.”

Reaching out Katrina relates her story about a kid who lived in an abandoned house: he was a drug user and a drug pusher, but of course “he 6

“We found out from the other street kids,” Katrina confides. “By the time we found him, he was totally unconscious with a fractured skull, cracked ribs, and broken shoulder bones.” It was a dilemma for the KL KrashPad team. They couldn’t make a police report without putting their lives at risk—“because the next time someone sees us, they might just slash our throats”— so they agreed to “buy” this kid from his “guardian.” They even had to fork out their own money for the boy’s medical bills as they didn’t have fundings specifically for outreach. “Especially for cases like this. When funders give you the money, they want to see the outcome; they want to see how their money is used. We will need to write a report. But we couldn’t report the case because of the confidentiality involved. So, how could we justify the use of the funders’ money?” Katrina believes that experience has taught her to be more tactful in difficult situations. There is no doubt that she wants to help the children, but she has to be careful not to overstep boundaries with gangsters, or her staff’s welfare may be at stake. She is also not as gullible as she used to be. “[The kids] can’t cheat me anymore,” Katrina exclaims, on a slightly cheerful note. “I used to get cheated left, right and center, all the time. They would say, ‘Kakak, boleh pinjam dua ringgit untuk ubat?’ and then you see them in the alley, doing god-knows-what with the money.” She admits that they are really smart, so “maybe they can still try to cheat me, but not as much anymore.” The most rewarding aspect of her job is “definitely not the pay,” she quips. “But there are many other fulfilling aspects, really. It’s a tough job, but your support comes from the people you are working with—in my case, it’s the children—and also

(Continued on page 7) A-Voice August 2012

Photos courtesy of Katrina Arokiam

Right after completing her degree, she interned with Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, former President of the Malaysian AIDS Council. For six months, Katrina worked on the pilot methadone maintenance project in Malaysian prisons (methadone is a type of drug used in curbing heroin addiction, with long-lasting effects) so that past drug users would not plunge into relapse upon release. Katrina then promoted women and migrants’ rights with Tenaganita but eventually, she found her calling in working with children and teenagers. She is now the centre manager of Yayasan Chow Kit’s KL KrashPad.

had a big boss and a bigger boss on top.” They didn’t let him off easily, though, when he was caught stealing some of their money.

Interview: Katrina Arokiam

the staff. The main thing would be the relationships I have built in this line of work. It’s like working in a family.”

The future I ask her if the social work profession has gradually changed over time: how does her work differ from that of her parents’ generation? Katrina asserts that she can’t make a fair comparison as her parents were working with a very different community (drug users) while she is working with children. “But there is one thing I can say. Twenty years ago, my father was more of a lone ranger. There was a social stigma strongly associated with drug users, sex workers, and HIV patients.” While she admits that there is still a lot of discrimination against the community, there is definitely much more awareness now. NGOs such as Ikhlas or the Pink Triangle provide HIV/AIDS education on prevention and care, and support programmes. “The networking now is also greater. No NGO is alone; we help each other out.” Apart from that, Katrina observes that the number of young people coming in to volunteer has increased, compared to her parents’ generation. However, a common critique of student volunteerism is that students volunteer in social work just to beef up their personal statements. Katrina is well aware of that. But in her personal opinion, she believes that it is alright. “We do support students. We don’t just take from our volunteers, we hope to give them a good experience in return. Of course if you are sincere and you want to give back to the society, it will reflect in your work,” she states, adding that it is more than enough even if 2 or 3 students out of a 100 eventually take up social service because of their short volunteer stint.

So, what’s next for her? Katrina just accepted the prestigious Chevening scholarship to pursue her Masters in Human Rights. Her course begins in October so she’ll be leaving then. “I’ve always wanted to further my studies. It is something very personal to me; it’s not just about work,” she says. Since it is only a one year course, Katrina hopes to return to KL KrashPad—“unless they fill up my position with someone else,” she jokes. Later, I had a thought-provoking conversation with a middleaged, Caucasian tourist at KL KrashPad. He was staying at a budget hotel nearby. “I arrived in Kuala Lumpur a few hours ago. I found out about this place and I just felt like doing some charity work. I thought I’d drop by to help out.” Throughout our conversation, he sounded so sincere and concerned about these kids in a country he was only visiting for a few weeks. I was touched, but also extremely ashamed—if anyone should be feeling obligated for the welfare of our children and our society, it is probably us. Yet, this man seemed to love our kids more than we do. A-Voice August 2012

The Roads Less Travelled

Unpopular Careers

edicine. Engineering. Accounting. Throw a stone in a room full of college students, and chances are you’ll hit one aspiring to study in one of those fields after graduating. It has become a norm for students to incline towards “Popular Careers” because of Tan Wei Jian various factors (*ahem*Asian parents*ahem*) such as job stability, income, and recognition; but what about the roads less taken? Here, we’ll look into 5 unpopular careers—and why they should be acknowledged. Video Game Tester Admit it: most of us have been guilty of playing video games for hours. Now, just imagine doing that and getting paid for it! But video game testers don’t just play an entire game, they explore the entire layout of the game—while we search for monsters and loot, they search for bugs and glitches. Imagine hitting a brick in a game of Mario just to see if it breaks, or walking into every wall in Grand Theft Auto to check if your character would walk into an abyss. Without them, we would be playing video games that may freeze every three seconds and experience glitches that would ruin our gaming experience. Art Curator

Photo © healthcarefineart.com

Embalmer

Let me guess: you picture an art curator as a nasty, old man who scrutinises every move you make in the art gallery (so that you won’t mess up the paintings). This stereotype is far from the truth! Art curators do much more than just preserve the artworks in a gallery. They decide the theme for an art exhibition, gather similarly-themed artworks from various artists, and explain the pieces to visitors. To put it simply, an artist may paint a picture worth a thousand words, but a curator is the one who says them. Some curators even organise talks for visitors to have a better understanding of the artworks. In other words, they are the mouthpieces of artists—responsible for passing on messages of art to the masses.

Embalmers work in morgues to make dead bodies presentable for their final rites and to prepare the deceased for their funerals. It is probably a recession-proof job as frankly, everyone dies sooner or later. Despite the job security, not many are willing to deal with dead bodies as they are seen as disgusting and repulsive. Besides that, fictional movies featuring zombies as a recurring central theme add to humans’ instinctive fear of the dead. But if death is inevitable anyway, isn’t it better for us to accept it as an everyday thing like the embalmers do? Heck, this job might even prepare them for the zombie apocalypse!

Social Network Consultant Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you probably own an account in a social networking site. Many companies realise the potential of social media in reaching out to their targeted customers, and are hopping (social network consultants step in to tell the companies when and how to do the “hopping”) onto the social network bandwagon. Usually, these consultants are a part of their companies’ marketing division. They study trends and preferences by using social networks, and then come up with strategies that ride on these trends (e.g. placing advertisements on suitable web pages). This job is demanding as social media is ever-changing—what works today may not tomorrow. However, if you enjoy keeping on your toes, and you think effective advertising to the correct group of people is fun, then this may be the job for you.

Pet Food Tester Photo © womansday.com

Yes, you read that right. Pet food testers are literally people who test and taste pet food. A reflection of the growing standards in their owners’ lives, pets nowadays are increasingly fussy with what they eat (food scraps won’t suffice anymore). Hence, these pet food testers dedicate their time and effort researching the texture, shape, taste and aftertaste of each piece of pet food for the satisfaction of animals everywhere; since pets can’t tell you what they think about their food. Sure, it’s a tough job; but for the happiness of pets and their owners everywhere, it is worth it.

We must know that society is like a giant clock: it may function if all the cogs mesh and fit with each other, but it will only work perfectly if the cogs are of different shapes and sizes. Every profession exists for a reason, just like how the diversity of cogs allows the gears to move. So, be brave enough to explore unconventional careers and not just the popular ones. You can’t deny that they are much more fun, and who knows, they may pay as well as the popular careers! 8

A-Voice August 2012

Education

STUDYING IN THE UK

by Yeow Liiyung and Sandra Chong

A flurry of university talks. A worry of forecasts, marks, and mocks. What do you want to study? Where do you want to study? And, what if a senior told you that by the time you read this issue, you’re supposed to have completed the fifth revision of your personal statement? Feeling the heat yet? University application fever is here!

ost of us A-Levels students will end up flying off to the United Kingdom to complete our studies. But how many of us really know the UK application procedure? We’ve heard of UCAS, IELTS, BMAT. But UKCAT might just be a cat from UK that you have to dissect...so, to avoid reality shocks later on, Yeow Liiyung will guide you on this journey to the UK, by first convincing peers who are still undecided about applying to the UK, providing tips on getting the most out of your UK academic experience, and the covering the actual application procedure.

there will impact the rest of your life in more ways than you can imagine. 1. Location and facilities

Why study in the UK?

Universities in the UK are somewhat scattered—some are in the countryside while others are right smack in the city. Do you want to study in a Hogwarts-like environment or do modern universities inspire you more? Some people also take into account the facilities of the university they are applying to. It all boils down to the kind of learning environment you find most conducive.

1. Value for Money

2. Course availability

UK degree courses are said to be less costly simply because they have shorter terms and are taught in a more intensive manner. Courses with a shorter duration enable you to obtain a degree more quickly and at a much lower cost—due to the shorter duration of your stay. Also, if your course is longer than 6 months, your student visa permits you to work in the UK to support your studies. You will also be allowed to obtain free health care based on the National Health Service system.

If you’re set on furthering your studies in Actuarial Science, applying to Cambridge won’t do you any justice. Conduct your research on the courses you plan on studying and narrow your list down to the universities that offer them.

2. Worldwide recognition UK is well known as one of the leaders in providing the best international education. Every year, around 250,000 - 300,000 students flock to the UK to study university courses and programmes ranging from Law and Politics to Mathematics and the Natural Sciences, making UK the most popular academic destination, second only to the United States. A UK degree or qualification is known to be of world class and excellent quality, so studying in the UK means you will be graduating from one of the best education systems in the world. 3. An international perspective The UK of today is more cosmopolitan in nature than it has ever been. With its racial, ethnic and religious jumble, studying in the UK will allow you to be part of an international student environment rich in cultural and social diversity, enabling you to gain a comprehensive understanding of various cultures and people. Plus, with all your new international friends, you’ll have a place to stay in every corner of the globe! Choosing the right institution There are a few questions you must consider before determining the universities that you’ll apply to. After all, you will be spending the next three to four years there and your experience A-Voice August 2012

3. Subject depth and specialization How broad is the offered course? Does it delve deep into the subject or does it merely skim the surface? These are questions you have to consider before applying to any institution. For example, the General Engineering course at Warwick University starts you off with a wide range of engineering streams before allowing you to choose a specialized stream in your 3rd year. You can find out more about specific course outlines by visiting respective institutions’ websites. 4. Student social and academic support Is there on-campus accommodation? Is there dorm-based support? Is there a network of people in place to help a depressed, alienated, or failing student? Is there a strong mentorship or advising programme? Choose an institution with a strong social support system in place for students. 5. Financial situation and financial support How much can you afford to spend on college? What does the financial aid package look like? If you are going to live off campus, what does the housing market look like? Typically, studying in the countryside means spending, on average, less than if you were studying in the middle of London. 6. Reputation Though not a final deciding factor for your university/college choice, the reputation of your potential institution is a good (Continued on page 10) 9

Education

way of anticipating what kind of education you will walk away with once you complete your degree there. Furthermore, higher ranking universities will definitely give you an edge after completion of your degree. In UK, the Russell Group is recognized as a group of top universities. However, when applying for the 5 universities/colleges in UK, you are advised to save at least one institution for you to fall back on, especially if your other choices are institutions of higher ranks with highly competitive applicants. UCAS Application Process • The Apply system UCAS has a straightforward online application process called Apply. The UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk) provides full guidance notes detailing how to use their Apply system. • Course Choices When your lecturers tell you to do research on the courses you’re interested in, they really mean it. There are many similar courses offered by UK universities, but course outlines and, more essentially, course names and codes may differ from university to university. You’ll need to conduct proper research on the ones you’d like to take and in which institution. UCAS allows you to apply up to five universities, and you can choose a different course for each one. However, bear in mind that applying for vastly different courses makes it difficult for you to write an effective personal statement. UCAS’s flexibility is such that you can also choose to apply for the same course in 5 different universities/colleges, or choose 5 different courses directed at the same university. However, the same personal statment goes to all five of the courses you apply for. The exception for this flexibility is for Oxbridge applicants, whereby students can only choose one course from either Oxford or Cambridge. If you’re applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science, or Dentistry, only four of the five choices on the UCAS application can be used for these subjects. The remaining choices can be used for an alternative course. For example, you may apply for 4 Medicine courses and a Biochemistry one.

Applying to study in the UK is a relatively easy and straightforward process. Irrespective of your course choice, every application to a university in the UK goes through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) system, which guides you through the process with its comprehensive application instructions. UCAS applications open from mid-September onwards. Here are some key points to take note of when submitting your UCAS application:

• Personal Statement Your personal statement is the key element in your application. It is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from your fellow applicants, especially when applying for highly competitive courses. You are given a limit of 47 lines or 4000 characters (including spaces), within which you are expected to highlight your interests, motivation, commitment and enthusiasm in relation to the course that you are interested in pursuing. Here’s a tip from an A-Levels lecturer—you will find (Continued on page 11)

A-Voice August 2012

Education

many essay “formulae” out there, but don’t follow them blindly. Don’t write what you think the admissions officers want to see, because the worst thing that could happen is sounding insincere, and not projecting your true self. You should get at least 3 different people to read your personal statement—someone who knows you very well, someone who doesn’t know you well, and a mentor or lecturer. For instance, getting your best friend to read the personal statement allows you to gauge if you have successfully marketed your best traits. On the other hand, a person who barely knows you judges you the same way an admissions officer would. Your mentor will be able to give you valuable insight towards your personal statement, as their experience via reading previous applications allows them to know where you stand among the sea of other applicants.

Interviews “Define osmosis.” Don’t be taken aback by this question, you’re supposed to know your subject material well! UK has a highly academic education system in place. Some interviews, like those of Oxford and Cambridge, include tests. There are now more universities and colleges (particularly popular ones) calling potential students to be interviewed before making a conditional or unconditional offer. If the universities think you cannot cope with the demands of your chosen course, you will not be offered a place. However, policies vary greatly and some universities interview only selected or borderline applicants, while some do not even interview at all. Types of offers: At the end of the day, you can only get either one of these offers : 1. An unconditional offer This decision will be made if you have satisfied the entry requirements for your course. (i.e. if you have already obtained your exam results). 2. A conditional offer This decision will be made if you have yet to sit for your exams. You will be told the grades that you need to attain to enter the course. 3. A changed course offer If the university is unable to offer a particular course, or if the admission staff feel that the course you have applied for is not suitable—given what you have written in your application form—they may offer you either an unconditional or conditional offer for another course. 4. A rejected offer This decision will only be made if the university is unable to offer you a place.

UK Academic and Entrance Tests There are various academic and entrance tests that applicants of specific courses have to be aware of. For example, students who wish to apply for Law degrees are required to take the LNAT (The National Admission Test for Law), and applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Sciences are required to take either the Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT) or United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). Some universities/ colleges may require entrance tests for other subjects as well.

To keep updated about UK university talks at HELP, check the notice board on KPD E Level 1 and the notice board at the entrance of KPD D. You could also check with the A-Levels Department about upcoming UK university talks. If you still aren’t too sure about what you want to pursue, now is the time for self-discovery. For further enquiries, make an appointment with Ms. Michelle at the A-Levels Department, or consult MABECS. To everyone applying for the UK, all the best prepping up. You’ll never get there if you don’t apply, so don’t give up halfway through your application. Let’s see the whole lot of you there! MABECS: http://www.mabecs.com tel: 603-7956 7655/7439 email: ukdegrees@mabecs.com

A-Voice August 2012

Education

STUDYING IN THE UNITED STATES

Last year, the A-Voice decided to do some research for our November 2011 issue. The result was this guide by Joyce Lim, which attempts to demystify the US education system and answer the question, “Why study in America?” Flexibility like no other Unlike many other education systems, the US education system is both flexible and accommodating. While most universities in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and even Malaysia require you to declare your major when applying to the university, universities in the US are the complete opposite. You are not required to pick a particular area of study prior to enrollment. This gives you the opportunity to explore different interests and to discover yourself along the way before declaring your major at the end of your sophomore (2nd) year. Having the time allowance to decide minimizes the risk of making a premature mistake. As your career will take up a good percentage of your life after school, it’s important to consider what genuinely interests you when choosing a major. The US education system accommodates indecisive students by allowing them to switch majors if they happen to change their minds. A holistic education Even though the US education system places great emphasis on academic excellence, the American perspective of a successful academic experience includes much more than tests, lectures and study sessions. Beyond the classroom walls, extra-curricular activities (sports, cultural and social events) play a big role in student life and help develop personal qualities such as leadership skills, community spirit, perseverance and commitment. You can get academic credits for things like Dance, PE, service learning, volunteer work, and participating in performances–in other words, this system recognizes and values different kinds of achievements. The liberal arts philosophy

Photo © us-flag.net

The liberal arts philosophy has come to uniquely define an American education. Its mission is to offer a broad-based education—with courses in the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities and the arts—to develop students who are knowledgeable in a wide range of fields. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, effective communication, strength of character and a spirit of inquiry. It also promotes intellectual growth beyond one’s major. Students are allowed—and encouraged—to dabble in other elective courses outside of

their major and minor, to learn about things from the perspective of different disciplines, leading to both a deeper and broader understanding. In fact, unconventional courses (think modern dance, Arabic, medieval history) often turn out to be unexpectedly fun and rewarding! The majority of colleges in the US follow this philosophy. Some colleges have a compulsory distribution requirement. As an example, an Economics major would be required to take up one of the natural sciences as well as a humanities course. Likewise, a Film Studies major would be required to take Mathematics and Social Science classes. The requirement varies from different colleges—some allow you to pick your courses at will—but the basic concept remains. Generally, students begin their first year with a broad syllabus with classes in all four aspects before specializing in one or two majors. The criticism that this “dabbling” produces American graduates that are Jacks of all trades, and masters of none is unfounded. The academic rigour of the courses is more than comparable to courses in universities in other countries. A college for everyone There are several factors that you should take into consideration when picking a college. One of these is the size of the college. An LAC may have 2,500 students with small, intimate classes where everyone knows everyone; while a public or private university may have 25,000 students, with classes conducted in large lecture halls filled with hundreds of students. The location of the school is vital, as it will affect your school life for the next four years. Would you prefer a rural setting, a suburban setting or maybe even the city centre? NYU and Columbia University are among schools that are located right smack in the middle of the city. You also have schools such as Carleton College and Dartmouth College in a rural setting. Some people might also take into account the facilities or the campus life the school has to offer. There are plenty of options to pick from so rest assured that it’s definitely possible to find a school that is the perfect fit for you if you look hard enough. (Continued on page 13) A-Voice August 2012

Education

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

pplying to study in the US can be a very long and tedious process. There are so many things to take into account—the right university choices, personal essays, interviews, SAT tests, student visas, and scholarships. Previously, in the November 2011 issue, Joyce Lim went through the application process briefly. Here, Isabelle Tan will take you deeper into the application process. The Common Application Commonly referred to as the Common App, the Common Application is an undergraduate college admission website used by applicants applying to universities in the US. However, not all schools in the USA use the Common App—only schools that evaluate the students holistically are allowed to use this system of application. This means that the admission officers will take into account application essays, letters of recommendation and the overall performance and personality of the applicants during the application process. Schools that use the Common App are not looking for students with good grades or all-rounded students, but rather students who will contribute to the campus in meaningful ways. Nevertheless, a vast majority of US colleges and universities use only objective criteria—grades and test scores—so they are not eligible to use the Common App. Examples of schools that do not use the Common App are MIT, University of California, University of Wisconsin and Georgetown University.

you can upload a resume containing more activities that you have done into the additional information section. Your resume should detail any extracurricular activities, volunteer work and internships that were not listed in the activities section. Some schools you apply to have supplementary sections to fill in. In this section, there are questions concerning your ambitions and dreams. There is also a supplementary essay to submit. Some universities even ask for multiple supplementary essays (which is why this component is so difficult!) and the questions differ with each university. However, the supplementary essay for some universities is of open topic. In this case, you may reuse the same essay for the different universities. Do try to reuse your essays as much as possible, especially if you are applying to more than 5 universities.

PARTY IN THE USA

There is no specific style when it comes to writing your essays. It is entirely subjective and open to whatever - MILEY CYRUS way you want to write them. Reading other application essays may not help Application Essays and Personal as your words may lose their identity. Essays It is also important to note that your essays do not need to Seniors (who have applied to America) regard the applica- sound American. Giving a Malaysian touch to your essays tion essay as the most difficult and taxing component of the may in fact, make them more personal. You need to write entire process because the student must have a very deep many drafts and proofread them before actually uploading them onto the Common App. understanding of himself/herself to write a good piece. Instead of a personal statement as per the UK system, in the Common App you are required to write a personal essay based on your chosen topic. You will get to choose one out of 6 options as there will be 5 given topics and 1 open topic question—which allows you to write an essay about anything you want. Below the personal essay section in the Common App, there is an additional information section where you can upload details that are not reflected in your application. Most students use this section to upload a resume. Do note that your resume is not the same as your high school results. In the Common App, there is an activities section where you can list your extracurricular, volunteer and work experiences. However, the Common App limits the activities you can list to 10 activities only. Therefore, if you have more than 10,

Proofreading these essays is important as it allows your essays to be seen from different perspectives. There are 3 different people who should review your essays: people who know you well, people who don’t know you well and lastly, your mentor, teacher or lecturer. People who know you well will be able to tell if the essay is a good reflection of yourself; people who don’t will be reading the essays from a similar viewpoint as the admission officers. Your mentor, teacher or lecturer may have valuable advice for you as they have read essays from previous students who applied to the USA. Different institutes have different application deadlines, so do check and refer to the website of the university you wish to apply to. Keeping to the deadlines is imperative: your application will not be considered if you miss them. It is very important to submit your applications early; submitting your (Continued on page 14)

A-Voice August 2012

Education

application a few hours before the deadline is risky as your application may not be processed due to site traffic. Do take note that the Common App follows Central American time. For more information about the personal and application essays’ writing process, visit www.usapps.org/applicationresources/guide-to-the-application/. Interviews In the admission process, most universities offer an interview too. For international students (e.g. Malaysian students), these interviews will take place via Skype, phone, or conducted by an alumni near your geographical location. The Ivy League admission website has described the interviews as a “primary tool for the schools to identify exceptional candidates whose talents are not reflected by their GPA or test scores.” Try to accept the interview offer as it allows you to showcase your interpersonal and communicative skills. Before the interview, be prepared to ask questions to find out more about the university. Also, please take note that for US universities, the major you want to pursue is irrelevant until t h e 2nd year. Therefore, during

the interview, you do not need to state what major you want to pursue. However, you should know what you want to do or at least have a rough idea of what you are interested in studying. Do not panic, structure your answers, and be coherent throughout the interview. When you are asked to introduce yourself, talk about your talents, but please do not lie. For more information on interviews, check out http://www. ivyleagueadmission.com/uginterview.html Early Decision (ED) A system where an applicant applies earlier than a regular applicant. Admission for early decision programs usually end by October or mid-November. ED’s are a legally binding pledge should a student be accepted to a college. A student 14

can only submit one early decision application to one school. They can still apply to other schools under the normal procedures, but if he or she is accepted, all other applications or offers have to be dropped. One applies under ED if they are very sure they want to attend that university. By the end of the year, applicants under ED would be notified if they have been accepted, rejected or deferred. If an applicant under ED has deferred, the applicant will be reconsidered with the second round of ED or with the regular admissions. According to Wikipedia, when an applicant is deferred, he or she is released from the ED binding agreement. Examples of schools that have ED programs are Boston University, Columbia University, George Washington University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania and Middlebury College. SAT & SAT Subject Tests According to Wikipedia, SAT was formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Scholastic Assessment Test, but now SAT does not stand for anything. There are several SAT tests b u t

they can be classified into two major categories which are the SAT Reasoning Tests and the SAT Subject Tests. T h e SAT Reasoning Test (also known as SAT 1) is made up of Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing, with 800 marks being the maximum score for each section. In the Critical Reading section, there is the reading comprehension, sentence completion and paragraph-length critical reading. Two of these sections are 25 minutes long and the other is 20 minutes long. This section normally begins with sentence completion questions to test the student’s vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure. Generally, in this section, questions get harder towards the end. (Continued on page 15) A-Voice August 2012

Education

In the Mathematics section, you will be tested on topics such as Algebra and Functions, Statistics and Probability, Geometry, and Data Analysis. There are two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section. The first 25-minute section is made up of 20 multiple-choice questions. The other 25-minute section contains 8 multiple choice questions and 10 grid-in questions. For grid-in questions, the answers have to be written on the answer sheet. Calculators are allowed in this section. The last section, Writing, is made up of a 25-minute essay, which is administered as the first part of the reasoning test, and 2 other subsections which are of 25 minutes and 10 minutes respectively. The essay questions are styled as prompts which are broad and accessible to all students regardless of their social or academic backgrounds. The multiple-choice questions include error identification questions, sentence improvement questions, and paragraph improvement questions. Overall, the entire SAT Reasoning Test takes 3 hours and 45 minutes with breaks in between. There are at least 20 different subjects to choose from for your SAT Subject Tests. The full score for each subject is 800 marks. SAT Subject Tests are not required for applications to a majority of colleges and universities in the US, but they would definitely strengthen your application. However, the best institutes require 2 or more SAT Subject Tests. The tests are generally based on subject understanding and academic skills that have been developed in school. With enough preparation, anyone can get a high SAT score. When choosing a SAT Subject Test, do some research on the subjects required by the universities you are applying to. Places for sittings may run out very fast, so make sure you get the dates right as there are probably hundreds of students from Malaysia applying to the US. For more information about the test dates and registration, go to http:// sat.collegeboard.org Applications via the Common App is only open on August 1st, 2012. Meanwhile, do your research and consult Ms Muna if you have any doubts or questions regarding the applications. Please take note that appointments with Ms Muna have to be booked 2 days in advance and that late requests will not be entertained. Ms Muna can be contacted at 03-20958791 Ext 5320 or yamunar@help.edu. my. To keep updated about US university talks at HELP, check the notice board on KPD E Level 1 and the notice board at the entrance of KPD D. You could also check with the A Levels Department regarding the US university talks.

You may also borrow SAT prep books for freeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;just be sure to return them. Oh, and yes, this is the time to start being nice to your lecturers. After all, they are going to write your recommendation letters soon.

Upcoming SAT Test Sittings 1. 6th October (Register by 7th September) 2. 3rd November (Register by 4th October) 3. 1st December These SAT test dates are for both SAT 1 and SAT 2, depending on which SAT you want to sit for. Do take note that you cannot sit for both SAT 1 and 2 on the same day.

US Applications Workshop 2012 USAPPS is a non-profit organisation that holds workshops to help Malaysian students understand the complex system of applying to America. The workshops will cover aspects like the type of universities in the USA, the Common App, interviews and a lot more. Some of them are as follows: 1. Two day workshop for students on 28th and 29th July from 9am-6pm. 2. Half day workshop for parents on July 28th from 2-6pm 3. Half day workshop for teachers and counselors on 28th July from 9am-1pm. All these workshops will be held in Taylors Lakeside Campus. For more information regarding these workshops and registration, please visit www.usapps. org/the-2012-workshop/.

Do check the notice boards or the e-learning portal for the lecturer who has been assigned to be your mentor throughout the application process. A-Voice August 2012

Education

GET YOUR DEGREE

Khoo Ghee Ken gives us the low-down on alternative institutions in various countries.

..like a hipster!

Okay, so all your friends have decided to go to the UK or US. Whatever. You find none of those places worthy of your presence. So why not check out these alternative study locations? Main attractions:

Popular universities:

Affordable: Canada invests heavily in education, making quality education very much more affordable.

McGill University (ranked #17) University of Toronto (ranked #23) University of British Columbia (ranked #51)

Diverse curricula: Each territory in Canada holds autonomy over its education system, which encourages unique courses among its universities. Quality of Life: Canada is known for its public safety and general living standards, ranking 4th on the UN Human Development Index. Requirements:

• A-levels • English Competency Test (A-level English/ Literature or IELTS or TOEFL or MELAB)

ing Monthly Liv M): Expenses (R

00 2,800 – 5,9

CANADA

GERMANY Main attractions:

2,800 – 8,0

Requirements:

• SPM + German Proficiency Exam (usually either DSH

German Engineering: Germany has a long history in machinery and engineering, hence becoming a popular choice for engineering students.

Popular universities:

Culture: Germans love their festivals just as much as they love their beer. And for some reason I also associate Germany with sausages.

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (ranked #53) Technische Universität München (ranked #54) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (ranked #62)

Specialised Studying: Students start with a general curriculum of the subject before specialising. German degrees are widely respected. 16

Monthly Living Expense s (RM):

or TestDaF)

*All expenses quoted are based on the exchange rate at time of writing. University rankings are from the most recent QS World University Rankings. A-Voice August 2012

Education

Requirements:

Main attractions:

• A-levels + University’s Screening Exam +

Japanese culture: The Japanese have a rather eccentric culture—a result of them fusing their ancestral past with the ways of the future.

Proficiency in Japanese • Although most universities allow screening tests to be taken in English, classes are conducted in Japanese.

Techno-nation: Known for its technological advancements, Japan is the place-to-be for aspiring engineers. Admission: Because the Japanese government encourages student diversity in universities, foreigners have an advantage over the locals.

Popular universities: University of Tokyo (ranked #25) Kyoto University (ranked #32) Osaka University (ranked #45)

Monthly Living Expense s (RM):

AUSTRALIA

4,700 – 6,7

JAPAN

Monthly Living Expenses (RM):

Main attractions:

3,800 – 6,300

Laid-back lifestyle: Pleasant weather, good facilities, and friendly people mean that you’ll be socialising a lot. Student-friendly: Students are entitled to work 20 hours/ week with a minimum wage of $12.80/hour. Cosmopolitan: The cultural diversity in Australia helps foreign students assimilate easily. Tourist attractions: During course breaks, why not visit the local tourist hotspots since you’re in the region? Popular universities:

SINGAPORE

Requirements:

Australian National University (ranked #26) University of Melbourne (ranked #31) University of Sydney (ranked #38)

• A-levels + English Competency Test (A-level English/Literature Monthly Living Expense s (RM):

1,870 – 3,74 0

Requirements:

or IELTS or TOEFL)

• A-level English/Literature: Minimum grade E • IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5 • TOEFL: Minimum score of 580 (paper based) or 237 (computer-based) with a TWE of 4.5

• A-levels + SAT I and SAT II (Some universities don’t require SATs) Main attractions: It’s nearby!: More trips back to Mom and Dad.

Popular universities: National University of Singapore (ranked #28) Nanyang Technological University (ranked #58)

Almost like home: Don’t worry about missing your Nasi Lemak and Chee Cheong Fun... chances are the nearest hawker centre serves it too!

A-Voice August 2012

Education

STUDENT INTERVIEW Sandra Chong talks to Low Zhi Yang (Medicine, University College London, UK)

irstly, a word of caution: applying to study Medicine is no easy task, but with the proper mindset, adequate support and a pinch (or a handful) of discipline, it can be the most rewarding application process. The application for Medicine is like any other university application—just slightly more intricate. The first difference is that the application deadline is much earlier than those of other courses. It is even earlier if you’re attempting the near-impossible: applying for Medicine at Oxbridge, which is something I didn’t dare try. By the time you’re reading this, you should have drafted your fifth Personal Statement, be very prepared for your UKCAT (which is absolute hell), be sufficiently involved in co-curricular activities, completed a shadowing stint (trust me, you’ll need this) and excelling in A-Levels in general. However, this early deadline is surprisingly an advantage as other applicants would be juggling their Personal Statements and mock examinations—usually held around the ordinary deadline. This isn’t a good place to be, and has more than often proved too much to handle for some.

My first interview at King’s College was a disaster, with my nerves completely taking over. I shall not elaborate on that. My aunt’s help proved to be instrumental for my second interview, which was at UCL. If I were to offer one piece of advice on how to tackle your interviews, I would say that you should treat it like a conversation. My personal experience tells me that they’re not after someone who can quote excerpts from textbooks to the letter, but rather someone personable and one who can carry a conversation. Just be yourself and don’t panic, you’ll do just fine. The interview questions ranged from the typical “Why do you want to be a doctor?” to the more unexpected scenario questions about homeless people on the street. From questions about your co-curricular involvements, to those regarding your hospital shadowing experience, there’s no definite set of questions you can expect! But from what I observed, the styles for each university do differ. King’s College’s questions were obviously from a prepared list, while UCL’s interview was very conversation-oriented. I did my interview with St. Andrews through Skype, which was awkward and honestly, not very conducive. If time and money permit, I would suggest that you opt for a face-to-face interview.

“If, at times, you feel like giving up during your application, remember that throughout your medical course and career, you’ll be going through worse. So don’t give up before you’ve gotten a taste of medicine.”

My preparation for the interview was a rather strenuous one. I received two interviews which were both in London, and I had about a week and a half to prepare, right after the second semester Edexcel exams. I had the fortune of having an aunt as a doctor. She trained me tirelessly, pointing out mistakes and even arranging a mock interview with another doctor. This sort of “training” really pulls you out of your comfort zone; it gives you a feel of what it’s like to sell yourself to a total stranger (not literally, prostitution is frowned upon by most of society).

A general word of advice: if, at times, you feel like giving up during your application, remember that throughout your medical course and career, you’ll be going through worse. So don’t give up before you’ve gotten a taste of medicine. (See what I did there?) You’re already halfway through. Stick to it and kick ass!

Yes... This is the same guy who made it into UCL for Medicine. 18

A-Voice August 2012

Student Council Report

Photo © miners.k12.ar.us

L I C N U O C T N E D STU T R O P E R A new student council has been selected to take over the reins. Thulaja Thessa gives us a report on the ups and downs of the student council.

ow that we’ve said our goodbyes to the former student council, it is time to start looking at the new council that was elected in May. The elected members have promised us much in their manifestos, and we, as part of the student body, are anxious to see them fulfilled. Although the new council aims to tackle the umbrella service system and bus queue problems, they don’t seem to offer much change from the previous council’s focus. However, only time will tell if the new blood has the edge to complete the job left for them by the previous council. Being part of the student body, we need to cooperate with one another—issues such as missing umbrellas and cutting queues concern “individual ethics,” as one council member had put it. That comment holds true for a few pressing issues promised to be addressed—those concerning the washroom, for instance. There is always an insufficient supply of toilet paper in the girls’ toilet. A bigger concern regarding the toilet is the flushing system—some of them simply don’t work. Perhaps these could be due to the students’ irresponsible behaviour, but we expect the management to handle such problems swiftly. This is where the council could take charge—reporting damages and ensuring that they are fixed as soon as possible. In essence, we hope to see a more proactive council.

senior students claim that they don’t even know the council members, what their manifestos include, and how much action they’ve taken. One student noted that we haven’t heard much from this new council, apart from communications regarding Prom. Another mentioned that there had previously been frequent updates and greetings via Facebook, but these have not been taken up entirely by the new council, except for a few well wishes and notifications regarding the exam. Feeling that the council isn’t making themselves heard loud enough, we wonder if they’ll be able to identify, let alone address, more woes faced by students in the times to come. Despite all that, it’s important for us to understand that since the election, the council hasn’t had much time to take charge and accomplish their goals. They, just like us, were swamped with exams not too long after the election—followed by the holidays. As Rajveer Singh puts it, “We faced the same problem too last year—you can’t expect to see results so soon. They need time.” Of course, time is of the essence, especially when they only have one year left to prove themselves. But now that their major endeavour, prom (generally felt to have been quite a success), is over, they will now have more time on their hands to better our experience as A-Level students at HELP Academy. We are hopeful of what’s in store, and ready to cooperate for a great year ahead.

Nevertheless, the council’s first true test was prom. With an apocalyptic theme of “The Last Ball,” the council initially encountered some problems regarding the logistics of the event itself. Some seniors were also dissatisfied with the pricing of the tickets. However, the council pulled up their socks and bounced back by delivering their promise of an unforgettable prom. Apart from those mentioned above, we have yet to see the tip of the iceberg for the rest of the council’s promises. Some A-Voice August 2012

Photo © Low Kian Wee

On a more pleasant note, the council has promised a new lounge area for students. I was told to “expect a posh setting” that would be comfortable and “chill,” instead of the rigid tables and chairs that we are more accustomed to. From the impression that I got, it seems highly likely that this idea will come into fruition, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.

our new student council, headed by aminah ibrahim.

Contact

her at

012-2264444.

Mind The Gap

3. We are highly dependent on being attached to a school in order to be able to learn anything. 4. Learning = studying. (The funny thing is that we believe this, despite how much we criticize the Malaysian education system!) Photo © mareheffernan.blogspot.com

Kareem Fareed Louise Tan

f you’ve ever felt a little nervous about your plans for the future, you’re not the only one. If you’ve ever felt the urge to scream, “I’m NOT ready to go to university!”, you’re not alone either. It’s not uncommon for students to feel...unsure. Often, the more we know, the less we are sure about. Most of our thirteen-year-old selves thought that at eighteen, we’d have a concrete plan for the future—but now that we’ve come of age, we feel just as lost as ever. Yet we face such intense pressure to know what to do next. We’re expected to have our sights set on top universities and “stable careers.” This can lead to misinformed, poor decisions, such as choosing the wrong course of study and slogging away at a university we don’t really want to be a part of, ultimately setting us up for a future we’re not prepared to face. Unsurprisingly, there are those of us who feel that we need to be given a little more time to better decide what we want to do with our lives.

Mind the Gap: Malaysia was founded by three former HELP Academy students who, by default or by choice, did not make an immediate transition from pre-university studies to university. We wanted to debunk the myths above, and show people that a holistic learning experience cannot solely be gained from textbooks and classrooms. With this in mind, we set up a blog that aims to reach out mainly to students doing their pre-university studies, but also to anyone planning to take a few months’ break in their education. We compose weekly write-ups on the various activities around Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur that students can engage in to fill their time with, as well as personal stories from people who have had an empowering, enlightening gap year experience. Our goal is simple: to provide teenagers with a little direction and a few ideas on how to make full use of their time out of school—and in the process, get everyone (hopefully!) to think differently about what it means to get an education.

Photo © hidden-shallows.co.uk

When each of us at Mind The Gap: Malaysia first announced to the world (consisting mostly of our parents, teachers, and friends) that we wanted to take a year off from our studies, we faced a lot of resistance. Most people seemed to think that we’d be spending the entire year “doing nothing.” A few of our friends, while appreciative of the concept, said they were afraid they’d run out of things to do for an entire year. Others said they were worried that they’d “forget how to study.” The various reactions to our taking a gap year revealed some rather negative perspectives among our peers, reflective of our society’s perception about what it means to have an education: 1. Any amount of time not spent “studying” is time wasted. 2. The aim of life is to be young and successful. Hence you should finish studying quick, so that you start earning money as soon as possible.

(Continued on page 21) 20

A-Voice August 2012

Mind The Gap

How can taking a gap year (or a gap of any length, for that matter) benefit you? It really depends on your personal interests and goals for the future—what better way for you to cultivate those interests, and discover new goals? Here is a non-exhaustive list of how a gap year can help you: 1. Learn something new. Quieres aprender español? Est-ce tu veux apprendre le francais? Ever wanted to learn a new language? Take up rock climbing? Taking a gap year allows you to truly immerse yourself in projects that would otherwise have been impossible to commit to. It’s your opportunity to pursue any unexplored interests, which could possibly help you make a decision about what you want to study at university. 2. Applications.

that will set you apart from other applicants. Taking the time to do all of these things can be a huge confidence boost, and can provide you with skills that will come in handy when you do decide to take the leap to university—especially if you’re studying outside of your home country. Having said that, deciding to take a gap year is not as straightforward as it sounds. Don’t ever jump at the decision to take a gap year before thinking about it thoroughly. A gap year can only be beneficial if you have the initiative and self-motivation to plan your time effectively. Set yourself goals that you would like to accomplish by the end of your gap year, and plan your time off productively; always remind yourself why you took a break in the first place. Be realistic about what you can and cannot achieve. Only then can your gap year truly help you discover yourself, build your confidence and help you find your direction in life.

Be realistic about what you can and cannot achieve. Only then can your gap year truly help you discover yourself.

If you haven’t applied to university, you can take all the time you need to focus on your applications without the stress of exams. You can make your application stronger and tighter. 3. Real-world exposure.

Taking a gap year allows you to obtain real-world experience in your field of interest. Intern for a politician. Volunteer at a youth centre. Work at a law firm. You will soon discover a world of knowledge outside the classroom. 4. Independence. Living on your own terms forces you to look within yourself for answers, and to take the initiative to do something productive with your time off. Your new-found independence will motivate you to explore new things and helps you discover yourself in the process. 5. An edge. Universities tend to appreciate applicants who have taken gap years to find fulfilling and enriching things to do. It will give you an extra edge, along with added real-life experience

Remember, a gap year isn’t for everyone. Some already know exactly what they want to do; others may face hurdles such as parental pressure and financial constraints. If you have the financial means, a gap year can help you make the best of your time before university, ensuring that your parents’ funds don’t go to waste. At the end of the day, make sure you make the decision that benefits your situation the most. If it is more costefficient for your family to complete your education fast so you can earn your own money, do not take a gap year. If you feel unsure about your ability to motivate yourself to do useful things during that gap year, do not take a gap year. However, for those of you who remain unsure, undecided, or just plain excited to experience a new process of self discovery outside conventional learning, we advise you to consider planning for a g a p year. Happy planning!

For inspiration and gap year guidance, visit us at: mindthegapmalaysia.wordpress.com A-Voice August 2012

Photo © medicaltranscriptionindia.net

Photo © sflonews.wordpress.com

Volunteering Opportunities

EXPLORE THE WORLD, SAVE THE WORLD!

n our Nov 2011 issue, we featured weekend getaways for HELP students to escape to. Now, Yip Mun Yee looks at three fun activities that are not only exciting alternatives to lazing around at home, but will also give you a chance to give back to society.

Bringing Learning Abroad: AIESEC-Guru Gedara

a role model to impoverished children. During your allocated free time, you will be allowed to explore the rich cultures and local areas with guidance from natives: giving them the opportunity to interact more with foreigners. Interested in being a part of this program?

Photo © aiesecus.org

Visit http://www.aiesec.org/sri-lanka/ and refer to Social Responsibility on Education Initiative or find out more on https://www.facebook.com/groups/aaasrilanka/. Volunteer at Zoo Negara

What will you be doing?

Our national zoo offers volunteer activities in a range of departments such as promotions, research, keeper aid, photography, and graphic design. Conservation of nature requires a lot of hard work, funding and determination, so the main idea of this program is to educate the public about wildlife and to incite a passion for Mother Nature among the younger generation. Photo © sarahyusof.blogspot.com

By volunteering, you will plan and implement activities— educational games, songs and dances, arts and crafts, and storytelling—to encourage the children to learn while having fun. The teaching activities are aligned with the country’s community needs. As a volunteer, your main task is to focus on tutoring children (aged 10 to 14) basic literacy in English. Although they are eager to learn, these children are usually in need of extra guidance as many of them are from underprivileged backgrounds. You will often be teaching in local schools during or after school hours. The teaching syllabus will be provided by the English Language Teaching Units (ELTUs) from local universities.

Photo © zoonegaramalaysia.my

This project by AIESEC’s Global Internship Program aims to develop an English learning space in Sri Lanka’s local schools. The students are mainly from rural areas and have minimal exposure to proper education. Therefore, the local AIESEC steps in to truly serve the needs of local communities with sustainable volunteer teaching projects.

What’s so great about it? By providing a safe, fun and creative atmosphere, you will help to shape the early but critical stages of a child’s learning development. You will also get a chance to lead and conduct your own classes in the local community centre and serve as

What will you be doing? With guidance from the zookeepers, you will assist in feeding (Continued on page 23) A-Voice August 2012

Volunteering Opportunities

Photo © raleighinternational.org.my

the animals, maintaining their living environments, and sending them for veterinary check-ups to ensure that they are disease- and infection-free. Besides that, you will learn quite a bit about animal behavior when you volunteer at the zoo’s education department for visitors, build new exhibits for the zoo, and work as a guide for school children and tourists. Facts to note: The National Zoo’s volunteer programme is open to everyone above the age of 16 who is willing to spare some time at the zoo. For safety purposes, volunteers will be under the supervision of a zookeeper or supervisor during their interactions with animals. Do visit the zoo before volunteering to gain insight on the quality of your working conditions. So, have you decided to volunteer for the animals? Visit http://www.zoonegaramalaysia.my/ to fill in the volunteer form and submit it to the Education Department of Zoo Negara.

Photo © raleighinternational.org.my

An All-in-One Expedition

What will you get? The program encourages tremendous personal development—extremely important for your future education and employment—and your interpersonal skills will be strengthened as you work with the environment, animals and people. A day leader system is implemented during the expedition. Leaders will be changed after a day, so every participant will have the chance to assign tasks and make decisions for the group. A project manager will give you feedback on your performance so that you can improve yourself and understand your capabilities better. By interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, your social skills and general knowledge will be vastly improved. Necessary preparations

Would you like to carry out an environmental program, a community project, and an adventure activity during your gap year or study break? This is a “3-in-1” expedition you can take part in! Conducted by Raleigh International, a youth and sustainable development organization, the overseas expeditions include countries like Borneo, Mongolia, India and Tanzania. There are three different lengths for the expeditions: 5 weeks, 7 weeks, and 10 weeks. The type and number of activities will depend on the length of your chosen expedition.

Participants must attend a Pre Expedition Training (PETE) by Raleigh. During the training, you will be briefed on safety procedures, medical kits, and travelling conditions by previous Raleigh volunteers. It will also be an ice-breaking session for members of the expedition. Be prepared to live outside your comfort zone as the countries you visit are usually underdeveloped and have limited facilities. You will go back to the basics of life with a simple toilet, shower, and cooking area; so, camping with a backpack filled with food is a must!

What you will be doing?

Want to find out more?

The community projects may include providing villagers with their first access to clean water, building a nursery for the children, and installing bio-gas units to improve their standard of living. Some projects are environmentally themed; you might work with wild animals threatened by extinction, such as elephants and turtles. Adventure-oriented activities like trekking through outlying landscapes will force you to push yourself beyond your limit. You will be working with young people (aged 17 to 24) from all over the world as the expeditions are international. A-Voice August 2012

Feel free to apply online at www.raleighinternational. org. Aspiring participants can check out the videos and blogs about the expeditions on Raleigh’s website. While I admit that the activities may seem extremely challenging or ambitious right now, don’t worry! Most of the volunteers your age are inexperienced as well, so it’ll be a tremendous learning experience for everyone. Be adventurous enough to step out of your shell! Be bold!

Zombie Apocalypse

10 WAYS TO SURVIVE A IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Rachel Chin on everything we need to know about survival in a zombie-infested world.

May 27th, 2012: A naked man in Miami was shot dead by the police for trying to eat another man’s face (It’s true. Google it). The face-chewing man, Rudy Eugene, was shot once by the police, but continued to rip off bits of the other guy’s flesh with his mouth, forcing the officers to fire several rounds before eventually killing him. The police say it was cocaine psychosis; I say it’s the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. But don’t panic! If you follow these 10 steps, your chances of surviving a zombie apocalypse will be significantly higher than nil.

Any zombie invasion worthy of the label “apocalypse” is going to have fast zombies—the kind that were inspired by (or inspired) the 2002 movie “28 Days Later.”

STEP 1: Assess the kind of zombies you may be running away from.

Graphics © Nicola Choon

To make it simple, there are two distinct categories: fast zombies and slow zombies.

Which brings us to... STEP 2: Avoid the zombies. Your best chance of survival is to lie low, so hide in your home with a bunch of canned food until everything blows over. Of course, as you’re sitting in your basement, you may comfort yourself with the thought that there’s always the Malaysian army and police; they’d probably intervene sooner or (Continued on page 25) 24

A-Voice August 2012

Zombie Apocalypse

later—right? In a zombie apocalypse, being the aiya-no-bigdeal-lah Malaysian is a fatal flaw; and interesting as they may be, never slow down to observe car accidents or people getting eaten. Trust me, this sort of Malaysian ke-po-ness—notorious for causing traffic jams—will not end well. However, if confrontation is inevitable... STEP 3: Arm yourself. In Malaysia, guns are not really an option as our country has one of the strictest gun laws in the world (heck, even BB guns are illegal). But don’t worry! Anything can be used as a weapon if you use it right. I took a look around the house and made a list of potential zombie-fighting weapons: baseball bat, curtain rod, frying pan, standing lamp, gas tank, etc. If you happen to have durians lying around, feel free, but be careful not to injure yourself. Durians are most effective when deployed from great heights; similar to a Malaysian styled “Molotov Cocktail,” they are useful in dispersing hordes and deterring zombies from entering your home. STEP 4: Buy protective clothing. —like motorcycle jackets. They don’t just make you look badass, these babies also happen to be made of high density ballistic nylon and Kevlar: the same material used in bulletproof vests. That makes your motorcycle jacket the next best thing to body armour. However, they tend to impede movement, so if the situation calls for a fast getaway, throw the jacket over the zombie’s head and run. STEP 5: Surround yourself with dogs. Preferably dogs trained to attack. Few things are more distracting to a zombie than a dog gnawing its leg or trying to rip its arm off. The only downside is that the dogs may eventually become infected, which leads to a bigger problem: zombie dogs can run faster than humans and they have more acute senses.

STEP 7: Avoid malls. It’s tempting to just camp out in the supermarket—plenty of free food, drinking water and functioning toilets—until the disaster is over. Unfortunately, they tend to have many entrances. Made of glass. And more hiding places for zombies ready to ambush you. STEP 8: Stay on social networking sites. Don’t give out your location, but use social networking sites to find out which areas are no-go zones and which areas are relatively zombie-free. They also allow you to form quick alliances with other survivors. As a precaution, make it harder for zombies to understand your messages by tyPiNg lyk Dis. While it’s unlikely for zombies to go online, are you willing to take the risk and lead them straight to your hideout? STEP 9: Stock up on mosquito repellent. No one knows for sure if the infection can be transmitted through insect vectors such as mosquitoes; but why take the risk? You don’t want to outrun and outsmart all those zombies, only to have all that work go to waste just because you got bitten by an itty bitty mosquito. STEP 10: Avoid aeroplanes. I know what you’re thinking: if our country is about to be overrun by murderous zombies, it is time to give patriotism the boot and head for greener pastures. Alas, that plan is flawed. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handles an average of 100, 000 passengers daily; statistically speaking, at least one of them is bound to be a zombie. And even if you manage to board the plane, you may be sitting next to a violent, cannibalistic passenger in a metal bird flying 40,000 feet in the air. You will be completely unarmed, with nowhere to run or hide, and no parachutes because guess what, commercial planes don’t provide them!

STEP 6: Be brutal. A zombie apocalypse is underway, and chances are, your relatives and friends are among the infected. If you want to survive, dear Kia Si reader (that means “fear death” in Hokkien), you do what you have to do, which means you may end up: • smashing your granny’s kneecaps to escape gaping jaws of false teeth • •

leaving your girlfriend/boyfriend when you are surrounded by zombies surrounding yourself with a human shield consisting of naïve orphans

Saving yourself is your priority, never mind saving other people. Survival is not how fast you can run, it’s how many you can outrun.

A-Voice August 2012

And there you have it: the 10 steps to surviving a zombie apocalypse. I still have a few more tricks up my sleeve which I cannot share in this article, because you just never know who reads this newsletter—and for selfish reasons too. 25

Swich Review

Photo © Swich

ood for thought: What creates the perfect dining experience? Is it the exquisite flavours that excite your palate wildly and have you mumbling “Oh my God,” at first bite? Is that all it takes to “seal the deal” and have you satiated with the place you’ve chosen to dine in? Not for me. It takes that, and a whole lot more to keep me satisfied when it comes to matters of the tummy—especially when I’m paying for it—so thankfully, one café just around the bend has left me contented.

Photo © Kelly Xiao Ran

It’s Called ‘Swich’

Thulaja Thessa

Welcome to Swich, the new place in (Damansara) town that serves strictly-no-compromise gourmet cuisine—local, Asian, Western and fusion—at comparatively high, but still affordable prices. It only opened in March this year, and we were immediately drawn to how fresh everything at Swich was—its flavours, scents, and sights. Adorned with a simple white interior, the plain but pleasing ambience at Swich is juxtaposed with an eclectic mix of background music. Callie Peh, a fellow customer, feels that it’s more than just a cafe: “Swich has life and personality in it.” I couldn’t agree more; Swich is a celebration of life. Its mastermind and manager, Madam Cheng, believes that every day is a blessing and to be able to share that idea with everyone is life’s greatest gift. And if you can’t reach out to the whole world at once, it’s alright; just start small at a café. Built on that simple philosophy, and her principle of “doing it right all the way— no concessions,” Madam Cheng strives to ensure that everything leaving her kitchen exceeds expectations, even the minute details. Carob, Valrhona chocolate, Modena balsamic vinegar, and organic Muscovado sugar—only the most nutritious ingredients are used in painstakingly developed recipes. You don’t have to be a connoisseur to appreciate their uniqueness and authenticity; your taste buds will assure you that you’ve come to the right place to eat. 26

With a team of seven (including a talented chef and an award-winning cake decorator), Swich dishes out a menu with witty names and lists of ingredients to help you decide on your dining experience. Besides that, a different set lunch menu is served every week to keep you interested. Offering a choice between two (usually new) main courses and a drink (Kopitiam coffee, tea, green tea, or a carbonated beverage) at not more than RM20, Swich’s smart move draws in many customers for lunch. One of my favourites is the “Walnut and Pine Nut Pesto with Grana Padano”: a textured pasta tossed in rich pesto sauce with generous portions of toasted walnuts, pine nuts, shaved Grana Padano cheese and a hint of extra virgin olive oil. Nutty, cheesy, and oily, it is sinfully addictive. Not a fan of pesto or herbs, but still craving for pasta? Don’t worry; you can opt for the “Chicken Rendang Pasta,” a scrumptious and closer-to-home alternative. To spend some quality time with friends (and sweet treats!), hang out at Swich after the lunch crowd dissipates around 3 p.m. Swich’s tempting desserts such as the “Bread and Butter Pudding,” “Swiss Bliss Brownie,” “Chocolate Paradise Cake,” and “Pavlova”—stay true to their names, and taste as good as they look. The “Swiss Bliss Brownie” is said to be popular among college kids for its chocolatey goodness. Although I have no doubts about that, I believe the Hummingbird Cake deserves a

From Top to Bottom: Walnut Pine Nut Pesto; Tomyam Beehoon; Cranberry Carrot Cake; Pavlova

special mention. Traditionally a Southern American favourite, this cake is said to be named as such because it’s so good that people “hum” happily when they eat it. Rich, moist and slightly sticky, the cinnamonspiced mixture of bananas, pineapples, and coconut embedded in frosted cream cheese is also tangy—thanks to the orange zest. The generous coconut shavings create a perfect balance to the sweetness beneath, making it “hum” worthy indeed. While most of us would think twice before forking out RM20 for a meal, an occasional treat at Swich is worth every cent, especially if you consider the thought, precision, and money put into your dining experience. If you’re looking for a fine treat nearby, then Swich is the place to go. Also, compared to other commercialized, upscale places serving similar food (but not similar flavours, mind you), Swich is cheaper and healthier, in my opinion. And hey, food for thought: if you can afford a RM17 Frappucino from Starbucks, or a RM15 ice-cream from Baskin-Robbins, why not spend the same amount for a delectable, wholesome meal at Swich? A-Voice August 2012

Neopets vs Tetris

THE GAME OF LIFE

by Valerie Ngow and Nicola Choon

et’s call it THE GAME OF LIFE. Imagine a day in the future, when checking scoreboards becomes a daily routine. The scoreboard displays rankings of your current household carbon footprint versus those of your friends. Every positive activity you complete successfully earns you points. Plus 10 points for sorting out the rubbish. Minus 10 points for the overuse of electricity. What if? To create THE GAME OF LIFE, we’ll need to look into the games and gamers:

Let’s Level Up Now, we know 2 things. One: Games can help train specific skills. Two: Gamers are a can-do community. Mix these two together and you’d be surprised at the level of achievement we can attain. Imagine the creation of a supreme game, which breaks down our tasks into quests and rewards, and turns everyday life into a huge game. Here, everyone—all 7 billion of us—play the game. The aim of the game is simple: a better lifestyle for everyone. In this game, we have tasks at hand and responsibilities we ought to learn: from simple tasks like clearing the trash to long-term obligations like advocating charitable deeds. For every task accomplished, we gain points; for a certain amount of energy saved, we could be entitled to various discounts and incentives. How possible is this? Being part of the gaming community, we’d say this is a CAN-DO crazy idea. 20 points to us! A-Voice August 2012

Are We Living In A Sci-Fi Future?

ARE WE LIVING IN A Image © Zhong Yao

Photo © wall.alphacoders.com

SCI-FI FUTURE? LIM CHIN YANG

hen you were in kindergarten, you probably remember your tutor asking you to draw a picture of the future. If you were like most kids, you would have probably drawn tall metal skyscrapers, huge supersonic planes, form-fitting body suits, and flying cars. However, now that you are long past childhood, if you look out of your window, you probably won’t see people walking around in multi-purpose body suits, nor are we using paper-thin gadgets. War still plagues us and a common world government to solve humanity’s problems as predicted by H.G Wells in his book The Shape of Things To Come still seem like a far-flung ambition. Are we living in the world we envisioned, or at least the world sci-fi writers had hoped to see?

If you are an avid sci-fi movie fan, you must have watched aliens attacking Earth on the big screen countless times. Sci-fi literature fans will tell you that this much-beloved storyline was pioneered by H.G. Wells’ book The War of the Worlds. Nevertheless, aliens have yet to pay us a visit, nor has a time travelling machine been invented as imagined in his other classic: The Time Machine. However, he did predict space flight in his book The First Men in the Moon, 60 years before Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. There are many other examples of sci-fi technology taking the leap from fiction to reality. When Luke Skywalker’s beeping droid R2-D2 projected a 3D hologram of Princess Leia so many years ago, who would have thought a similar feat could be achieved when legendary rapper Tupac was resurrected for

TICK. TOCK.

Mankind, in its eternal search for knowledge, has always been in pursuit of invention and innovation. About a century and a quarter ago, a futuristic submarine like that imagined by Jules Verne in his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea once seemed as ridiculously impossible as teleportation seems today. But while technologies like the submarine, robot, radar, and space flight once captured the imagination of science fiction authors, science has brought them to mainstream awareness. Researchers are continuing to catch up with imagination, and it’s only a matter of time before the technologies we still consider fiction meet a similar fate.

a 3D hologram performance recently at this year’s Coachella music festival. Technology giant IBM also recently predicted that mobile phones would project a 3D image of callers by 2015. The laser guns that were featured prominently in the Star Wars movies have also come to fruition. However, if you want to own a laser gun like Han Solo, you will have to wait a few years. The Laser Weapon System, which is currently being developed by the U.S. Navy, weighs approximately 4 kg. Its firepower? Let’s say it is not something you will want to see an angry Chewbacca with. If you are an aspiring Jedi with poor control of the Force, here’s good news—scientists have invented levitation. It’s been three years since researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University accomplished that feat, although the power is currently reserved for molecules. Other inventions in Star Wars that scientists have successfully created include Boba Fett’s jetpack and robots like duo R2-D2 and C3PO. How about lightsabers and the Millennium Falcon’s hyperspace flight? Well, scientists would say that you’ll have to wait several decades.

In the near future, we can expect more to come. The gaming industry is a very interesting area influenced by sci-fi technology. Despite poor sales for the past few years, the industry continues to grow from strength to strength in terms of the technology that powers it. When Nintendo launched its console Nintendo Wii, its success sparked its competitors to rapidly churn out wireless controls. The hands-free Kinect, which holds the Guinness World Record of being the “fastest (Continued on page 29)

A-Voice August 2012

Are We Living In A Sci-Fi Future?

selling consumer electronics device,” brings sci-fi flick Minority Report to mind, although the movie features hands-free and far more accurate motion sensing. Recently though, Silicon Valley-based company Neurosky released Mindwave, a gadget that can translate brain waves into digital information and beam it wirelessly to computers or other devices. While still confined to mostly digital interfaces, it opens up a world of possibilities for game developers. Imagine playing Diablo III with your barbarian character’s strength directly proportional to your anger.

Sci-fi writers often envision a world where technology makes life easier. However, one may argue that due to technology, life has become so easy that it may lose its charm one day. The animated film Wall-E depicts a society in the future where humans live a very sedentary and complacent lifestyle to the point they have become morbidly obese. This is thanks to the robots who are at the human’s beck and call. Director Andrew Stanton states that the movie argues that technology is best used to help humans cultivate their true nature—that it must be subordinate to human flourishing, and help move that along. This is encapsulated in the final scene of the movie which shows humans and robot working together to rebuild Earth which had been covered in waste. In the end, mankind will have to hold themselves responsible for the things we create and not pursue what we imagine just for desire’s sake. References: news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9489000/9489104. stm

digg.com/newsbar/topnews/are_we_living_in_a_ sci_fi_future

Which is our future? A-Voice August 2012

mashable.com/2011/01/02/real-sci-fi-tech/

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/avengers-damage-manhattan-would-cost-160-billion-322486

Nonetheless, with the tremendous progress scientists have been making, one is more likely to ask when and not if. While some technological advances might have been pre-empted, the big problem for both scientists and science fiction writers is predicting how these advances will change society. During

medieval times, human life was highly restricted due to the unavailability of technological applications. Mankind’s first invention, the wheel provided a simpler means of travel. A person living during that era would have been content with a simple cart. Contrast that to today’s society where the more fortunate of us covet fuel-guzzling cars and are excessively dependent on their many gadgets.

Advancing technology is always cool—but it sure isn’t always pretty. While the media has often presented alien attacks as entertainment, a recent study by disaster experts estimated that The Avengers film’s damage to Manhattan would have cost a whopping $160 billion. This is far more than Hurricane Katrina, the financial carnage of 9/11 and the tsunami that hit Japan. The latest invaders are the Chitauri, the shape-shifting aliens that descend upon Manhattan in the climactic battle of The Avengers. However, we might have more to fear from our motherland than otherworldly shores. In Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown, an antimatter bomb that nearly decimates Vatican City sparks widespread frenzy. Scientists were quick to debunk the antimatter theory which forms the core of the plot. People need not fear an antimatter bomb as it would take scientists a billion years to create the amount used in the book, they said.

Advancing technology is always cool—but it sure isn’t always pretty.

Dystopian Fiction

THE HUNGER GAMES: A DYSTOPIAN TOMORROW OR TODAY?

“In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up a male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public ‘Reaping.’ These Tributes shall be delivered to the custody of the Capitol. And then transferred to a public arena where they will Fight to the Death until a lone victor remains. Henceforth and forevermore this pageant shall be known as The Hunger Games.” -The Treaty of the Treason, The Hunger Games

oung Katniss Everdeen never knew her world would change when she and her sister, Primrose, put on their dresses for the Reaping of the 74th Hunger Games. Most heroes and heroines of dystopian fiction novels are rarely ever aware of the turn their world will take. They are the untested, the untrained and the terrified, just like Katniss Everdeen of District 12. Here’s the gist of the story: after an apocalyptic disaster wipes the USA from the map, Panem rises from the ashes. A tyrannical Capitol rules over the twelve surrounding districts, oppressing the people. 74 years before, thirteen districts rose in rebellion against the Capitol’s tyranny and as a result, a whole district was wiped from the map. The result was The Hunger Games, a televised event where twenty-four teenagers fight to the death for glory and survival. When Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister, Primrose, was Reaped for the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss heroically volunteers in her place. As she heads towards the shining city along with Peeta Mellark, the boy tribute, Katniss only knows one thing: it’s either she kills or she is killed.

THG treats its readers like it treats its characters: unflinchingly, mercilessly and like adults. It is definitely not a book for kids. The murders and the fights in the story are brutal and Collins is sharp in her delivery of them. She does not write down to her audience like so many authors are likely to do. There is no pretty romance, there is nothing redeemable or remotely “heroic”—the simple truth is that when it comes down to it, the human will to survive is stronger than any moral compass we could ever have. THG is not a preachy book. It does not serve up moralistic stories to be forced down the readers’ throat and its story is anything but simple. The complexity that Collins manages to deliver stuns and enchants; her skills at characterisation shines through Katniss Everdeen. The young hunter is cold and calculating with an edge of self-preservation that would usually

by Samantha Cheh

condemn a character but instead, she becomes likeable. She is, undoubtedly, the backbone of THG. Her strength and her cynicism leave their impressions on the story but at the same time, she is scared, confused; just a young girl from District 12. Taken away from all she knows and loves, she adapts to the challenges and her ingenuity is a breath of fresh air after so many hapless female leads. Her strength and her bravado are paid for by the slow, gradual loss of her own humanity. Yet, Katniss’s loss of humanity redeems her in the end. By the time the Games are over, there leaves little left of what she used to be and, as she quickly realizes, things will never return to the way they were. The loss and numbness that accompanies the final victory proves what the books are about: that she and the other tributes are merely children. Just like that Maroon 5 song from the movie soundtrack: “come away little lamb, come away to the slaughter.” Each child in the Games is a mere pawn, each to be slaughtered for the entertainment of the citizens of the Capitol, used to silence the mob and make them obedient. The breakneck speed at which this story proceeds had me flipping through the book incredibly quickly. Each turn and twist literally makes your gut clench, especially if you’re rooting for Katniss. Even the kind-of romance between Katniss and her male lead has you on the edge—and perhaps with a little subliminal messaging from Collins, has you thinking twice about whether they’re meant for each other or not. *wink If you were a little less vigilant, you would think that the whole series is about government control, the corrupt nature of power—and you wouldn’t be necessarily wrong. The novels are subtle, but that’s exactly what they’re meant to be. Beyond the idea of the “evil” government and the “evil” President is a society that has become lazy and complacent with the lives they lead. To them, the Games are nothing more than a televised spectacle, just like how we view WWE or Survivor contests. (Continued on page 31)

A-Voice August 2012

Dystopian Fiction

And once we realize that our viewership plays a part in these contests, we also realize the gravity and the real message of Collins’s novel: each and every one of us is a citizen of Panem, and we all have a hand in how the lives of these other people play out. Not only do we live and breathe culture; we create it. And that is a reality we cannot escape. As the first of a trilogy, The Hunger Games is set up perfectly. There are so many more dominoes to fall and there is so much that can be told. Plot holes abound and so many answers are left hanging. But if you listen carefully, you can hear the roar of the next book just waiting. THG is not a terribly complex first story but take it from me: it gets better. The story of Katniss Everdeen is not over yet.

Why explore Dystopia? Dystopian fiction is a relatively new genre and hardly easy to build fences for. The term was first coined by H.G. Wells to describe a “utopian” society gone awry—thus, “dystopian.” Dystopian societies have no desires—all wants and needs are determined by a totalitarian and oppressive regime who operate under the guise of a utilitarian motto. All forms of individualism have crumbled and are replaced by propagandaic slogans and authoritarian voices.

Maybe it’s the cool gadgets that are soon to come: whooshing doors opening, whole arenas built and preserved as museum pieces, pills that can keep you alive for forty-eight hours without food or water or pills that can kill you instantly and painlessly. Or maybe even the idea of being a hero: defying the law, paving your own path and making it in a world that said you couldn’t without following the rules. There is a kind of attraction in being different and being thought brave. Elements of danger, deception, and rebellion all come together in dystopian fiction. Characters beat odds and prove themselves bigger than their disaster and we have always found triumphof-the-human-spirit-stories fascinating. The “hero” will always have a place in our culture, no matter how much time passes. Trust me though. You do not want to live in a dystopian society. Really.

If you guys loved reading The Hunger Games, you’ll adore these other books.

In a dystopian society, the wasteland left behind usually ends up going two ways: either the society falls apart and all morals and humanity disintegrates or a stricter way of life is enforced, as is the case in The Hunger Games, usually because of the fear of more chaos.

It begs to be asked as to why people are so interested in dystopia right at this very moment. I point my finger directly in the direction of the “catastrophe” that is supposedly hurtling towards us. Humans have always had a fascination with their future and what it could hold and what it could be—fortune tellers still exist, after all. Dystopia, as science fiction did in the past, gives us a sort of foretelling of what could or will happen. Many people (especially conspiracy theorists!) see their governments turning against them—and it may not be so far-fetched if we were to look at our own reality.

Top Ten D ystopia Picks

Young 1. Blood Red Road by Moira alupi cig Ba 2. Shipbreaker by Paolo 3, Legend by Marie Lu 4. Matched by Ally Condie th Revis 5. Across the Universe by Be ous Huxley 6, Brave New World by Ald 7. 1984 by George Orwell 8. The Trial by Franz Kafka adbury 9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Br Anthony Burgess 10. A Clockwork Orange by

A-Voice August 2012

Maka Kami

ounded in 2003 by a small group of young Malaysians at Stanford University in San Francisco, Malaysia Forum (MF) is now an international, collaborative effort by Malaysians who are concerned about the everyday issues we experience as citizens. In other words, it is a platform for Malaysians to engage in civil discourse and to allow our voices be heard. And so, when I came to know that HELP University College would be hosting the KL edition, I immediately registered myself for it. Just seeing the list of names billed for this year’s edition was extremel exciting. Many of them were prominent figures whom I admired and had only read about, hence a chance to see them in action was one that I could not miss. The theme was simple yet powerful: “MF 2012: Maka Kami.” It was obviously inspired by the lesserknown preamble to our Rukunegara, which among other things, proclaims that Malaysians should strive to be a liberal, just and democratic society—concepts that may seem rather alien to us today. The theme also signalled the evolving nature of Malaysian politics: the governance of our society no longer resides in the corridors of power but rather in the streets and backyards of our homes. The forum was divided into two panels and lasted from breakfast till noon (which might have explained the rather disappointing turnout; it was a Saturday morning). The first panel, discussing the tenets of unity and democracy, seemed to display (by default or by choice) the current political divide in our country. The panel comprised of Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah (Deputy Minister of Higher Education), Datuk Lee Hwa Beng (former State Assemblyman of Subang

Jaya), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (current State Assemblyman of Seri Setia), and Edward Ling (former campaign manager for the current State Assemblyman of Subang Jaya, Hannah Yeoh). Moderating the first forum was the respectable political analyst, Dr. Ong Kian Ming, who recently made headlines with his controversial dissections of the electoral roll. Among the topics discussed, the panel took particular interest in the issue of MPs “toeing the line” and whether such a practice was reflective of the democratic principles underlying the foundation of this country. “Toeing the line” refers to MPs who do not vote based on their conscience, but on their party’s ideology or in most cases that of the party leader. Almost all speakers agreed that such a practice was definitely prevalent on both sides of the House, but expressed their hopes to see a more democratic Parliament in the future, one that does not heed to the wants of the Party Whip. On the issue of unity among Malaysians, the panel concurred that it is a case of too little too late for the older generation of Malaysians and that the dream of a united Malaysia lay in the hands of the future generation. However, this discussion degenerated into the usual rhetoric so frequently used by politicians. For example, Edward Ling conveyed his wish for a single school system to unite Malaysians from a young age—to sounds of agreement from the other panelists—but the panel could not produce a clear-cut plan as to how this would be achieved. The second panel was definitely more exciting. Moderated by the illustrious Dr. Farish Noor—a personal idol of mine, I jumped at the chance to have a light conversation with him after the forum—and joined by other prominent speakers: P. Uthayakumar (HINDRAF), Zainah Anwar (Sisters in Islam), and Liew Chin Tong (Executive Director of the Socio-economic and Environmental Research Institute), the second panel debated on the merits of a just society. (Continued on page 33)

A-Voice August 2012

Maka Kami

The second forum was more engaging due to the diversity of issues raised by the speakers. Uthayakumar, a champion of Malaysian Indian and Hindu rights, started the forum with a graphic depiction of the Indian society’s destitute conditions in Malaysia. However, Dr. Farish quickly (and rightfully) retorted that it would be incorrect to scrutinise these issues from a tinted view, whereby one must learn to see impoverished people as fellow Malaysians and not by their race or ethnicity. Zainah Anwar, on the other hand, was very vocal on women’s rights. Known to be at the forefront of feminism in Malaysia, Zainah pointed out that even though the maleto-female ratio at tertiary level education is 40:60, statistics show that female participation in the labour market has been consistently paltry (approximately 35%) for the past decade. According to her, this boiled down to the discriminatory policies practised by employers and the social obligations that women “must fulfil.” She went on to explain that the female labour participation rate would increase significantly

if only the government provided a support system (e.g., day care centres, babysitters, flexible working hours) for working mothers. Liew Chin Tong and Dr. Farish interjected the discussion with key economic and historical insights on the issues raised throughout the forum. Chin Tong argued that in order to birth a just society, economic inequality must be addressed first. He opined that we need to change the way we distribute welfare aid in the country; we need to look at the bottom 40% of Malaysians who are in the lower income bracket regardless of their race or ethnicity. Also, throughout the forum, it was heartening to witness the level of discourse that the audience engaged in with the speakers during the Q&A session. Needless to say, the interchange of comments and arguments provided a nice conclusion to the day. However, ultimately it was Dr. Farish Noor that banged the nail in the head for me. His bold statement, “This generation of Malaysians may be physically younger, but it is a generation that is mentally older and more sceptical,” left me thinking. What is the root of all the scepticism that surrounds our future as Malaysians? Where have all our hopes and dreams vanished to? What has happened to the Malaysia that we once hoped for?

To be part of the global community that is MF, join their mailing lists at mf-announce@googlegroups.com or mf-kopitiam@googlegroups.com.

@elninayummy @farahshaqhirah @mellissang @moonghua @jonchoongqx @sarahfrancis_4 @xtabelll @yliix Wondering why all these names are here? They managed to win Eternal Glory through our A-Voice Instagram Challenge! Check out their awesome photos on the back cover! A-Voice August 2012

Future

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE by Brad Paisley Genre: Country Dreams. Hopes. Desires. “Welcome to the Future” certainly contains oodles of inspiration and motivation. Basically, this song is about welcoming the future while reminiscing about the past. Even though the song lasted almost 6 minutes, the catchy melody and witty lyrics kept me wanting more. Combining the sweetness and simplicity of his words with the rhythm of his guitar and percussions, Paisley sends out a powerful message that leaves listeners thinking about the differences between the past and the present. And I’d have given anything/To have my own Pac-Man game at home/I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade/Now I’ve got it on my phone.

FUTURE REFLECTIONS by MGMT Genre: Indie Pop From Oracular Spectacular (their debut LP), “Future Reflections” is the last track on this popular album by Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser. With a tinge of retro-psychedelia and heapfuls of synth rock, MGMT manages to keep it interesting while retaining a dreamy aura. Their harmonised vocals, juxtaposed against the everchanging instrumental background, strike a good balance without overcomplicating the song. All in all, this song is worth listening to but it doesn’t beget the same feet-thumping and body-jiving response as their other anthems, “Kids” or “Electric Feel.”

FUTURE SONG by Cranes Genre: Dream Pop Imagine a young girl singing her lullaby in the darkness of Wonderland—that high pitched, haunting voice is how I would describe the vocals of lead singer Alice Shaw in this song. Exploring the uncertain and unpredictable nature of our future, the ethereal melody and the eerie vocals powering this song prompt listeners to a more gothic era. However, although this song is whimsical and trancelike, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression, unlike songs by Florence + the Machine.

E R U T U n #F Xin We by Tan

R C I S MU

THIS IS THE FUTURE by Owl City Genre: Electronic Owl City is a one-man-band by Adam Young whose unique musical style is instantly recognisable. With the aid of multiple instruments and digital synthesisers, the rhythm is light and unsubstantial. Throughout the song, the beat constantly changes to hold the attention of the listeners and make them want more (I wanted more!). Young sings about the optimism that we should always carry with us, especially in an inevitably bleak future. However, the song ended before I could fully immerse myself in it, which left me slightly disappointed.

WE ARE THE FUTURE by Stratovarius Genre: Power Metal Honestly, I’m not a fan of the headbanging and morbidity related to metal, but this song took me by surprise. Taken from the Finnish band’s third album, Dreamspace, this song is a wicked, rapid instrumental that keeps the feet tapping with the beat. Timo Tolkki’s clean vocals prevent the background instrumental from drowning out his voice—allowing listeners to understand and absorb the lyrics. This song is something fresh for those who want to give metal a shot. A-Voice August 2012

Android

PARANOID ANDROID by Radiohead Genre: Alternative Rock “Paranoid Android” is a six-and-a-half minute mini-epic inspired by The Beatles’ “Happiness Is A Warm Gun.” Its 4 distinct sections are skilfully held together by Colin Greenwood with a bass line that bridges each “sound” effortlessly. But brother Jonny overshadows Colin’s brilliance with a mind-blowing distorted guitar solo that appears out of nowhere only to attack your sanity. Not to mention the nefariously humourous lyrics that are quite literally about Marvin the Paranoid Android, a character from the sci-fi comedy series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In conclusion, I wouldn’t recommend this song if you were a paranoid schizophrenic—you might just like it.

S W E I V RE #ANDR

OID

by Dinn ish

Raj

YEAH I’M IN LOVE WITH AN ANDROID by Say Hi To Your Mom Genre: Indie Rock This indie rock hit from Say Hi—as they’re referred to in short—is by far, my favourite track on this music review. I was not familiar with this band before I wrote this article, but I’m already “in love” with this song. From its sombreness to its downright melodramatic indie vibe, I have to admit that I’m quite startled this band hasn’t receive more recognition. They’ve been around since 2002 and this track in particular was released 7 years ago—yet it only has 6,872 views on Youtube. To be fair, it is a genre that only hipsters hail to and the band’s name is pretty sketchy, but they’ve certainly won me over. Oh well, it’s indie rock and roll for me.

ANDROID by The Prodigy Genre: Electronic To the uninitiated, The Prodigy is an English band that pioneered (alongside Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers) the “big beat” genre. The song itself is rather futuristic and forward in nature. Released all the way back in 1990, “Android” sounds like a crafted piece of 90’s electronica made with a 2012 synthesizer. The intro sounds a bit like Deadmau5; the drop, Steve Aoki; and the climax, Tiesto. It doesn’t sound as fresh as their more famous hit “Omen,” but trust me, it gets your feet tapping along to the beat.

ANDROID by Green Day Genre: Punk Rock Taken off Green Day’s second studio album, Kerplunk, “Android” is a song that you’d only listen if you bought the album. As with most Green Day tracks, it’s about the struggles of teenage life, the future and (surprise, surprise) drugs. Widely regarded as one of Green Day’s “finest moments,” I find it to be one of Green Day’s lyrically superior songs. It seems so frightening/Time passes by like lightning/Before you know it you’re struck down. On the whole, it’s about how life as a teenager is in no way as easy as people imagine it to be (especially in this era)and how drugs and alcohol are a temporary relief—but what will become of us 20 years down the line? A-Voice August 2012

ANDROID PORN by Kraddy Genre: Dubstep There’s been a lot of hype about the new Step Up movie and this is one of the tracks from its OST. I confess: I am not a fan of the movie franchise or anything related to dance—I have two left feet and the balance of a newborn giraffe on a unicycle—but this song is just wicked. According to Kraddy’s logo, the genre is electronic but I find it similar to Labyrinth’s “Earthquake” and Skrillex’s “Bangarang.” So, I’d prefer to label it as dubstep. I know what most of you are thinking, but allow me to clear all doubt: I did not find this song while looking for some messed up “m-android on wom-android” action. I found this gem on Youtube, and as we all know, there is no porn on Youtube.

Zee Avi

ZEE AVI: A VOICE

TO BE HEARD

Davinia Gunasagran reviews our Sarawakian countrymate’s musical endeavours and gives us a little insight into the history of her success.

hen people start making covers of your songs, you know you’ve hit it big. Although I highly doubt that anyone could remotely do justice to Zee Avi’s songs, their various covers are evidence of her increasing fame and followers. Zee Avi is a Malaysian gem. So, if you are a fellow Malaysian who has yet to hear of her, feel free to reprimand yourself for being unpatriotic and above all, musically ignorant. But most of us are probably unaware of this: Zee Avi was one of us—yes, she was a HELP student!—and probably one of the few to have created waves in the international music industry. Her song “Concrete Wall” was recently featured in the Gossip Girl series and her self-titled debut album reached #130 on the US Billboard Hot 200 Chart and #2 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart. While most people are fascinated by her Sarawakian descent, it is her voice that truly captivates. Critics liken her unique sound to big guns such as Billie Holiday and Norah Jones, so it is a no-brainer that she stands out among throngs of doe-eyed, Youtube wannabe stars.

ZEE AVI WAS ONE OF US—YES, SHE WAS A HELP STUDENT!

Zee-ro to Hero! In 2007, Zee Avi posted a Youtube video of herself performing an original song, “Poppy,” for a friend who had missed her gig. Her friend persuaded her to leave it on the web, and voila—the inevitable happened. She was discovered by 36

Patrick Keeler, and signed to Brushfire Records under Monotone Label who manages, among others, the incredible rock duo: The White Stripes. Since then, she has released two albums: Zee Avi, and Ghostbird (a direct translation of Burung Hantu), which consist of songs that are almost entirely written by the talented songbird. Her debut album gave the world a first taste of her distinct voice; her mellow tone pulsates through each track and her supposedly-morose songs like “Bitter Heart” and “Kantoi” actually seem vibrant. Minimal effects are used, and an acoustic feel is maintained throughout the album. I was especially captivated by “Poppy,” which narrates a lover’s drug abuse through simplistic, jazz-inspired melody and emotional lyricism. However, the rest of her songs are interminably cheerful, and the darker undertones of “Let Me In” and “Is This The End” barely cast a shadow on the album. While most of the songs are backed by her guitar, the ukulele is brilliantly used in “Kantoi” whilst the second album heavily depends on percussion. Her second album is less easy to define; she experiments with different elements and it is evident in the playful “The Book Of Morris Johnson,” with its quirky, ethnic touches. “Sibok Kitak Nangis” (Don’t You Cry) reveals the laid-back songstress in her, while “Concrete Wall” is impossibly catchy yet meditative. And then there is “Milestone Moon,” which probably sums up the whole album, because it stays true to her trademark optimism and mesmerises with its ethereal vibe. Although both albums seem to be overly focused on relationships, and thus come off as lyrically jaded at times, she manages to bring a refreshing feel to Ghostbird by breaking the predictability of her first album with more variation. Laden with subtle beats layered over playful chimes and jarring notes, Ghostbird is a sonic snapshot of a nocturnal being immersing itself in the liveliness of a jungle night. Even so, the pandemonium of sounds is cleverly brought together by the mellow undertones in her voice. And as the fascination with her heritage and unexpected rise to fame dies off, we are left with Zee Avi, the maturing singer-songwriter. From the inconspicuous teenager singing in her bedroom to the blossoming international artiste, the evolving nature of her music has fused with the distinctive innocence and sincerity in her voice. It is that down-to-earth individuality that makes her a genuine singer who belongs among us, and not to us. A-Voice August 2012

Let’s Be Famous!

how to be a hit on Step 1 : Get your camera. Step 2: Record yourself. Step 3: Upload on YouTube. by Tan Xin Wen

Step 4: Wait for fame and glory!

YouTube

is a platform for people to share their talents and express their individuality. Few opportunists have relished YouTube’s freedom and reached stardom; but that remains a daunting task for amateur videographers. While many may have the talent, the best must have something more: a sense of uniqueness and a bit of luck. See how some people shot to fame in their own distinctive way:

The Canadian band has stumped everyone and gained over 56 million views with their cover of the song “Somebody that I Used to Know” by Goyte featuring Kimbra. While singing musicians are nothing unusual, the video of the 5-musician band playing on a single acoustic guitar definitely sets them apart from the rest. Their explanation for such a crazy idea? They wanted to film a video, but only had one guitar at that time. However, the idea became such a viral hit that even Russell Crowe, Alyssa Milano and Goyte himself tweeted about it. The band eventually appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, and released two albums: Smooth like Stone on a Beach and My Rock. Nevertheless, fame has not stopped them from producing creative videos dedicated to art and pure entertainment. If you need more inspiration to be the next musically talented YouTube artist, check out Taiwanese Shara Lin Yixin’s (layla19781101) performing Jolin Tsai‘s song “Dancing Diva” by simultaneously playing the piano, violin and Chinese zither!

If makeup was paint and faces were canvases, then Michelle would be Picasso. Showing the right way to slap on makeup might gain you 1 million views; showing how to put on bizarre-makeup-inspired-looks will gain you more than 30 million views—like what happened to Michelle’s Lady Gaga Poker Face tutorial. This Vietnamese-American’s channel has garnered more than 1.8 million subscribers, all eager to learn her tricks of the trade. She draws inspiration from Geishas to Vampires to Chobits and everyday beauty or fashion tutorials. Michelle’s exposure through Youtube has given her the opportunity to be a makeup artist for plenty of runway shows and was subsequently hired as Lancôme’s first video makeup artist. She also has her own skincare line called IQQU.

If you still need a little push to become a YouTube beauty/fashion guru, check out MissChievous by Julia who does celebrityinspired-looks and various makeup concepts.

Will it blend? (Blendtec) With “ordinary” everywhere, people do the most insane things to get a shot in the spotlight. As a marketing campaign for Blendtec’s blenders, founder Tom Dickson decided to record videos of himself blending a range of items; from golf balls to a Rubik’s cube and even an iPad! With his unorthodox method—complemented by curious Youtubers—the channel has quickly attracted more than 188 million views. Since then, Tom has made many television appearances to showcase the strength of his blenders. Such a wacky idea definitely makes an impact on Blendtec’s customer base! If you’re still waiting for innovative ideas to pop up, check out Epic Meal Time (EpicMealTime), a cooking show with cooks figuratively eating their way to cardiac arrest. This might leave you either drooling or losing your meal. A-Voice August 2012

Photos ÂŠ Noel Chia & Low Kian Wee

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