Diary Writing...

Question:

Today, while having tea with my mother, I decided to talk about teenagers of today who seemed to be uncertain about who should control of their lives when they reached eighteen years old. Write in your diary reflecting on the conversation.

Written by: Actuaries A07B, Andi Rizal Bin Za’ba

Dear diary,

Reminiscing the great old days we’ve been together, with all the emotional supports you had given to me, it would be rather devastating if I didn’t share with you my recent happenings.

People say being eighteen is the sweetest part of our life where we could be free from our parents’ reins and stand on our very own feet but I guess I will never get the chance to taste it. My prerogative to be autonomous has not been granted just yet. My distraught over this matter was made worst by receiving my beau’s invitation for a date at his hometown; Kuala Lumpur (KL). Before this, as you were clearly noticed that it has always been him who comes over here to visit me. Therefore, I’m compelled to reciprocate him with at least a single visit lest he will think that I don’t love him. I can’t lose my other better half over this parental control absurdity right?

As a solution, in order to confer this matter behind closed doors, I’d decided to have a tete-a-tete with my mother during tea time. When I found the best time to speak, I asked her on what terms that she don’t allow me to drive the car to KL and meet my love. She really needs to give me some space and stop controlling me right? Most of my friends drove their cars to everywhere and why is it only me who stuck here? I kept telling her that I’m eighteen and I have my rights to go everywhere just anywhere that I like without having to report to her, legally. It is clearly part of my sovereignty when I reach eighteen.

By turning a deaf ear to me, she simply replied that we both are still living under the same roof and my safety is her uttermost responsibility. Therefore, she doesn’t want to risk my safety to an ordinary man. The moment she said that my beau is a man-in-the-street; oh, my feelings were in tatters! It was truly a kick to my feelings and contempt towards my mother swelled up badly. I told her that my boyfriend, whom I fondly call as Dd, is a decent man and I can assure her that I will be safe the moment I’m around him. His love towards me is so divine and I’m cock sure that he won’t do anything dissolute that will put me in a messy situation. From his innocent look together with his personality as a very principled person, I told my mom that he’s definitely not a snake in the grass and she can stop worrying about me.

Despite all the persuasive details, my mother was still reluctant to let go off my hands and said to me:

“My dear Maria, I know how beautiful you described him as and how reassured you are that you are going to be safe, but darling, we are all fallible beings. When emotions were indulged too much, your chastity could be compromised. I don’t want that to happen to you. I don’t want to see you sad. You are my only blossoming flower, my only daughter; I just can’t take the risk. I’m sorry.”

She still doesn’t like the idea of me meeting him up alone without any close next to kin accompanying me. I kept telling her that I’m an impeccably genteel unmarried lady and I know my limits but again to no avail. She kept denying the permission to leave the house for him. She even pointed out that I’m a green horn in driving. Given the high congestion in the city, the likelihood for collision to happen is undeniably very high. Again, she won’t tolerate to any risks.

Putting my hopes up high, I kept pleading her and this time I deliberately say that it’s really important for me to meet him up since today is his birthday and it’s vital for me to be around him on this special day of his life. I hated so much to lie but sometimes lie is the way it should be. Like manna from heaven, she buys it! She agreed to let me go but on one condition, which is she’ll be sending me. Fine! I’m already in cloud nine.

From that conversation, indirectly I realized that teenagers should not have full control of their lives when they reached so called ‘independent age’; eighteen years old. This is because they, which include me myself, are not matured enough since we lack the experiences compared to our parents. Parents should be our guiding stars to lead us to the right path and to keep us far from committing any glaring blunders. Even though at first I was quite angry with my mom but after considering back about all the things she mentioned with all the precautions taken seriously, I was moved by her affection.

Some people might say, “Show your kids some love by letting them do what they wanted to do”, but to me parents’ love are more evident when they tell us the things that we should not do. Even though I got the chance to go for a date with my beau, from the conversation I had, I’ve become someone who thinks about the possible outcomes for every of my doings. The profound change in me is that I have become more careful in making decisions and to me adolescents should still be under the wings of their parents until they were married; then only they could set sail of their own lives.

I will always remember my mother’s advice which is, ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ and whatever decisions that we want to make, ‘think twice, and be wise’. I guess I’m at the end of my tether. I will tell you about my date with Dd tomorrow okay! I just can’t wait to see him! Love you both!

With fondest regards,

Maria

Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 1

Written by Actuarial A07B Andi Rizal

In Collaboration With Nik Ahmad Amin & Abdul Hafiz

Dear Diary,

It has been a long time since I wrote to you. Here I am again with a new story that will certainly thrill you. The day went just well followed by a marvelous surprise in the end. I never expect this would happen to me, but our world is just full of surprises. I will always remember Kumar-the person who has brought back my faith in the human race which has long gone after my best friend betrayed me.

It was Friday afternoon and that day should be a happy day for us since we were going home for semester break! I’m at my highest excitement and my heart exploded in joy whenever I think of ‘Red Alert’-a computer game, that awaits me in the computer which stood stationary in my room, waiting patiently for every second until I get home to touch it. Yes, computer games are everything for me now. Neither friends nor foes can give me the special brew of feelings better than computer games even though people might say that revenge is sweet. I have pledged to myself that I will never trust anybody at all except my beloved, affectionate mother and father yet non-living things too just like you! My faith towards human race has been stripped off my soul violently by my ex-best friend who fondly called as Rika. He whom I trusted so much have been stabbing my back for all this while by saying bad things about me and divulge my secrets to my other friends. He loves tittle-tattle so much. I hated him for who he has been. He is a heart-break for a serene friendship. From that moment, I never believe in human race anymore, humans are just one of Mother Nature’s failure creations.

I didn’t realize that my mind have been sailing that far. So far away that I have completely forgotten the reality that surrounds me. Reality that is full of ostensibly honest people. Like a bolt from the blue, I was awaken by ear-piercing noise; the horn of a bus signifying that the bus has departed. I was taken aback when the rickety, old bus left me alone, alone filled with another one hour of despair as the next bus is due in one hour time. I tried shouting at it to stop. Either it was already filled to capacity or the conductor failed to notice me. For one reason or the other I missed the bus. The sky was streaked with red, orange and gold through the cloudless sky. I began to perspire and it makes me very uneasy and so uncomfortable. From that very moment I knew that I only have 2 choices; hitchhiking a ride or be drenched in filthy sweat for one more hour. Oh, I tell you, it was really exhausting. In that extreme circumstance, I just forgot all about my hatred and suspiciousness towards the public and all in my mind is just to keep surviving through the blazing sun and to be home before dark. I decided to hitchhike and just for once, I deny my principle which is not to trust strangers.

After one another, no vehicle stops by to offer me a ride. Not even one. I was so sad and could no longer hold my composure up high. Thinking about me left alone in the secluded area with bus due in one hour time, worsened by intense glare, and undesirable thoughts of my recollection of my past, my eyes became watery, obscuring my sight, and tears rolled down drop by drop. I tried to keeps my lips closed tight to avoid an outburst of crying, and I tried to stop shaking. Mixed with spots of sweat, little droplets of liquid kept dripping down, I wished my mom could fetch me the next time for semester break.

Like manna from heaven, I heard a splutter of an engine at my back. I turned around with sky-high hope and I gasp in disbelieve. A car actually stops to offer me a ride. It was a sleek, black, medium-sized car. I was so overwhelm that I feel like wrapping the driver tightly in my arms. The driver smiled and exclaimed, “Come on in kid!”

I got in his car and we shake hands. In his car, there was a little girl. From her baby face look, I can tell that she is around two to three years old because I have a sister just at her age. We chatted for a while and he introduced himself as Kumar. He even created a joke telling that he is going to kidnap me. We both giggled. Since his action is really conflicting with my personal beliefs, I muttered him a question, “Sir, why did you look so confident that there’s nothing going to happen when you offer me a ride? Don’t you feel worried that I might be a thug? There’s even your small daughter in here you brought with. Don’t you think that I would harm her or maybe stole your car? What drives you to help others?”

He gently answered me with an inspiring tone, “Kid, soon you will learn to accept that not all around us are of good people. Yet, don’t simply judge a book by its cover. We live as a community and we have to help others. What’s the purpose of us being here as a caring citizen in this beautiful and tranquil country if we don’t actually concern about our fellow friends? Is our life is just about working and stare at the computer all day long? Yes people might have made mistakes. As you asked, am I not worried whether you are a juvenile delinquent or not, let me ask you back, why crimes do happen? Actually, people do bad things not because they are willing to do so. It is either they are in extreme pressure or accidently-happen-actions like a slip of tongue which leads to problems. How this pressure did happen? It is because they are suffering alone and no one turns to their aid yet left them without any choices but to take drastic actions that might harm or upset others. So, who’s the real criminal now? Is it the one who give others no choice or the person who is left without choice? I’ll let you do the thinking. Anyway I can obviously see that you are a student as you are still clad in your school uniform. What a fool I am if I would think you are going to cause any mishap to me.”

Through his broad explanations, I have changed my perspective towards my fellow species, the Homo sapiens. From now onwards, I will change my attitude of being cold to everyone with having a smile on my face every time I passed by an individual. There’s no point of hating everyone, like Kumar mentioned, not all of us are of bad intentions towards others, and in actual fact there are a lot of friendly people out there that are waiting to help each other up sincerely. It is my own fault that I didn’t believe in them. How could they possibly trust me if I didn’t trust them? Effective life lives with effective communication. Effective communication exists when two parties respond to each other.

Lastly, after Kumar dropped me at Rawang Komuter station, I thanked him for everything, especially in restoring my faith in the human race. Soon when I reached home, I’m a new person, a person that is not putting computer games as a priority in life. I greeted my parents with all smiles and then made a bee line to the house phone and I rang Rika up. We chatted for about an hour and discussed about several things, and guess what, we’re friends again! And not just that, we were getting so much closer! It seems not bad at all, and now I feel like I’m in seventh heaven. It feels so good when you trust somebody but one thing for sure, “once bitten, twice shy”. Even though my faith has been restored, I still shouldn’t be so sure towards others being good to me at all times, I will always be prepared for any unfortunate events. As for now, you my diary will witness a difference in my style of writing in the future. It is true, world are full of surprises. That’s all for now till we meet again! Bye.

Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 2

Written by Actuarial A07B Alisya, Ayu, Syafiqah

Monday, 7^th January 2008

Dear diary,

It’s been awhile since I last wrote in here. I’ve been busy studying for the exams. I am glad it’s finally over and now I have plenty of time for myself.

This morning, I was browsing the newspaper when I spotted a headline that was a bolt from the blue. It was about a child named Nurin Jazli Jazimin who had been raped and then murdered. How could an innocent child like her be killed in such a way without any empathy?

I can’t believe such things could ever happen to a child that young. In fact, there are plenty of similar cases like this in the papers and on the news these days. I put my heart in my mouth looking at the headlines and watching the news at the numerous raping cases and incestuous acts of people happening. My ears burn from listening to it, my eyes melt from looking at it, my heart shatters knowing it and my brain is suffering from the knowledge of such possibilities. I mean, what is happening with people nowadays? Have the modern lifestyle made us into such monsters? Is there any hope in humanity? Who can we trust completely?

Luckily, I also found out that humanity still exists among us. Many had used their time and energy to sacrifice for the search of Nurin Jazli Jazimin that has been missing. People had tried their best to help. Lots of posters had been pasted all over the place. There were advertisements about the case available for viewers nation widely. I also read in newspaper, a suggestion from a nice guy. He said if the telcos can help in finding missing kids. Perhaps they can send images of those kids via Multimedia Message System (MMS) to their customers. This will brings lots of advantages as everyone will carry their hand phone anywhere they go. With the help of these kindred souls, Nurin Jazli Jazimin was found in the end.

Thank God for them. I am glad to know that such acts of compassion that are rare among the human race still exists. I hope people will continue caring and helping each other especially if issues like this ever arise again. In truth, even now, there is another case of a missing child: Shalinie. Just as a case ended and solved another case similar to it appears. I can’t believe how people could do such disgraceful acts. I hope this girl will be safe and I pray that God save us all and protect us from the evils of the world.

Well, I guess I will be seeing you another time my dear diary as time has not been kind with me. Goodbye.

Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 3

Written by A07B Actuarial Raja Arina Safra, Wahidah, Sharifah Sakinah

16^th January 2008

Dear tattoo,

This past week has been a very hectic week for me. Tight exam’s schedule and deadline for my Theory of Knowledge essay and extended essay left me with Hobson’s choice but to burn the midnight oil almost every night. Thank God it was over now. I am in pleasure time right now, leaving me with ample time to resume with my forgotten hobby in favour of examination preparation; reading stories. Last night, I borrowed a book from my sister, made a drink and retired to my room for a quiet reading.

It is a very interesting book, I must say. I was very touched by its storyline; I did not even realise that I was crying! No book ever had me crying like that before. It was a story of two girls who were best friends since they know how to spell word ‘best friend’, to say the least. Their names were Lily and Vanessa. Even they are best friends, they are quite different in personality. Lily was more of a meticulous person and wanting to pursue her dream as a doctor, majoring in ophthalmology while Vanessa was a very gifted artist. She really liked to paint. Life seems like a bed of roses until one day Vanessa received the news that she was dying from cancer. She refused to sadden her best friend with the news of her illness. She guarded it well as if it was a skeleton in a cupboard. To add to her grief, Lily was involved in accident which rips her ability to see. Lily was devastated; her dream to become world greatest physician seemed to be gone, along with her ability to see.

A month after that, Lily received a good news from the doctor. She was told that there was a doctor that was willing to donate her cornea to her but the operation must be done at once. She went through the surgery, hoping she will be able to see her best friend smiling to her again. But, happiness is never there to stay; Lily was shocked to hear that Vanessa had left her forever. She received a letter from her best friend a day after she regained her ability to see, ending with Vanessa’s final words; “see the world through my eyes, and I will see right through yours. Always here with you, Vanessa.”

This story is really touching and it succeeds in making me realise that compassion will never cease in this world. I learnt many new things from the story; one of them is how important a supportive figure is in one’s life. It makes me more grateful of whom I have, standing right behind me through thick and thin. Maybe I am not blessed with having a best friend like Vanessa, but I got my mother and father, along with my family that love me unconditionally and that is all that matters. I know they will always be with me no matter how I screw up.

Also, this story has helped me restore my faith in other people. As my diary, you know how many supposed-to-be-friends betrayed me right? She’s like a snake in the grass. Because of what she did to me, I kind of losing my faith in other people. It’s hard not to, you know and to be frank, even me myself is not aware of it. But after reading this great story, I learn that life is not always perfect. It is more of a ‘flawed perfection’. Sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you do not. But that does not necessarily mean that you are not good, it just that maybe you need to work more or improve yourself a little bit harder than you are right now. Therefore, I will strive to be a better person than before as I know I will always have the support of my parents, my family and not forgotten, my friends!

A Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 4

Written By Actuarial A07B Izzudin, Shahir,Tafzani



AL-QUDS DAY

13^th October 2007

Dear diary,

I received an email from Islamic Human Rights Commission which located in United Kingdom about a report on Al-Quds Day which had been held at London on 7^th October 2007. A few days before, I got the invitation to join the gathering through an email. Honestly, I was wondering why did I received that email, since I am still a student who is studying in Malaysia and I never had a contact with the organization in my life. I opened the email and was fascinated by what is shown in the report.

The Al-Quds day had been well-participated by muslims and non-muslims organizations. These include Crescent International, FOSIS, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Innovative Minds, Islamic Centre of England, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Muslim Association of Britain, Neturei Karta, Palestine Internationalist, Palestine Return Centre, Respect Party and the 1990 Trust.

It seemed that calls against oppression and for justice always bring together the best of people. There were the Muslims - from all schools of thought, Jews - both secular and ultra-orthodox, Christians, socialists, secularists. There were also mothers with babies, young children, and the elderly - some in wheelchairs. The writer of the report said that it was a very wonderful atmosphere, people from very different backgrounds mingling together exchanging experiences, sharing their perspectives, shattering prejudice, all united with the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression and occupation.

This world-wide scenario had deeply touched me. It is amazing to see people sincerely put aside their background differences and unite against Israeli immoral acts. The world community compassion towards Palestinian agonies proved to me that there is still people out there who care and concern about others. It had also restored my faith towards human races. I used to believe that mankind nowadays is more selfish; ignoring the dolorous truths about the injustice reality.

And there is a quotation that caught my attention. It is from Che Guevara words - "We tremble with indignation at injustice against any people anywhere... there are no frontiers in this struggle... an injustice to one is an injustice to all… a defeat by imperialism in one place is a defeat for all of us… and a victory against imperialism in any place is a victory to us all"

A Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 5

Written by Actuarial A07B Muhammad Faris

In Collaboration with Ammar & Ahmad Redzuan

15^th January 2008

Today, I finish watching a sci-fi trilogy movie entitled ‘The Matrix’ casted by Keanu Reeves, whom holds the role as the main character, Thomas A. Anderson, and other A-class Hollywood actors. The star-studded avant-garde movie is full of twists and turns, arguing about the concept of truth and reality. The intricate ideas are derived from the brilliant heads of two Japanese brothers. The trilogy becomes a great success in recent times. Millions of original copies of the triumphant trilogy have been sold around the world. Warner Bros, the multi-millionaire co-producer, has become more affluent than ever.

The basic idea that I try to centre here is the heroic characteristic of Thomas A. Anderson, renowned as Neo, whom was prophesied as ‘The One’ and the only one to save the real world and humanity from the reign of intelligent machines. A devastating war has occurred between humans and human-creation robots. The humankind seems doomed to losing and is brought to the very brink of extinction. Then ‘The One’ is born to the world and is destined to salvage the mankind. He has to infiltrate through to the Matrix world in order to do so. The other free humans, who stay alive and living in a refuge deep underground, can do nothing to save those who have been incarcerated in the illusory Matrix world. Why? It’s simply because they are not ‘The One’. They can only hope for the best of him, and prepare for the worst.

I feel touched watching a scene when Neo starts to believe that he is ‘The One’ and do his best to end the war. Prophecy denoted that ‘The One’ has limitless control over The Matrix. His belief on that makes a huge impact in the history of mankind. He endangers himself and fights the thugs in the fantasy world with all his guts, because he knows that all the hopes of human races are put on his shoulders.

These heroic acts raise my sense of realization in every part of my life, comprehensively. Firstly, the humane values consisted in the movie teach me to appreciate my life. We are given only one chance to live, so we have to take a good care of it. It’s the most priceless asset in my life. I cannot afford to lose it. We can’t take our lives for granted. Once we are dead, there will be no second opportunity for us to live our lives again. We have to live our current lives blissfully and filled with faith.

Neo’s attempt to salvage the humankind in The Matrix should be emulated by us as the mortal, disdainful slaves of God. We should help our friends, colleagues, and races, in every aspect, if we are capable of doing it. We should feed the poor, help the rest as erudite individuals, sympathise the innocent victims of massacres and say prayers for them. These acts may lift our natural compassion towards those unfortunate folks. It’s necessary for us to have such humane feelings, as it affects our personalities and appearances.

Another lesson that should be followed is the desire to do or have what we want. It’s very poignant to watch Neo jeopardising himself from his tranquil life in The Matrix to save the humanity. He’d rather struggle as ‘The One’ than to breathe serenely in fake paradise. This illustrates that if we want something to happen; we have to strive for it, even though it’s against our norms. Put your best effort in pursuing it. Don’t just let your dreams and reveries entombed in your idleness. We are the ones that can make it become reality, not anyone else.

Of all that things, faith is very paramount. Yes, it’s faith that we have to possess first, before we can make any change. Watching this astonishing movie has restored my faith in the human races. I’ve become a new individual since watching it, with additional valour deep inside myself. Now I’m much braver than ever in dealing with my life. With support from my restored faith, I’m confident in my lifetime attempt to be ‘The Man’ that still kneels down to my Creator.

A Restoration Of Faith In Human Race 6

Written By Actuarial A07B Amir Aiman,Safwan

07 July 2007

Dear diary,

Its been a long time since I last wrote to you. Recently, I have read a book about a girl who were diagnosed with a vary cruel disease. This book, entitled One Litre Of Tears, have inspired me continue my diary entry.

One Litre of Tears is about a girl named Aya Ikeuchi,born in Kamakura,a suburb of Osaka.It was a poor village yet filled with a harmonious community.She was a daughter of Tada Ikeuchi,a tofu seller and his wife Yoshida Rei,a housewife.Aya was very healthy and lively. She joined the basketball team in her junior high school as well as in her senior high school.

But at 15, she realized something weird was going on with her body. Not only Aya, but her mother noticed it as well. So one day, when Aya fell again right on her face, her mother brought her to the hospital to cure her injury and also to have a general check-up. He found that Aya is suffering from an incurable disease called Spinocerebellar Atrophy.

Speaking through experience I would have never imagined that such acts of compassion still existed. Just reading how Ikeuchi’s friends were so willing to aid her in school was really touching. Even though helping her meant that her friends would be late for their classes and miss out in their studies, it didn’t come as a problem to them. Honestly if one of my friends were to be in the same condition as Ikeuchi, I don’t think that I would be as helpful to him or her as how Ikeuchi’s friends were. It has made me realize the colossal power that is friendship and that with it any challenge or drawback can be resolved.

I’m so amazed at the amount of love that is being showed to Ikeuchi and her family by everyone around her. Ikeuchi’s father, who is a tofu seller doesn’t really earn that much for a living but he tries his best nonetheless to support his family, including Ikeuchi and he medical bills. As Ikeuchi’s condition became known by the community around her, people did their part to assist the Ikeuchi’s anyway they can. Ikeuchi’s dad was able to sell his tofu to the local supermarket as the owner of the supermarket was sympathetic towards their struggles.

Aya’s story has made me realize that humans are still compassionate beings. My faith towards my fellow man have now been restored. Despite of the cases that happened to the late Nurin Jazlin, Sharlinie and hundreds of others, There is still some good in people in the world today. And for that I am gratefull. Till the next time for now I bid to you good bye and take care.