Sunday, February 28, 2010

Spirit & Pride









Picture above: University keepsakes from various American and Australian universities

Showing off your alma mater’s logo on any merchandize is one good way of telling the world how proud you are of the college/university where you used to study in. From T-shirts to ear-rings, mugs, wallets and even watches, the logos embellished onto these items reflect the college/university spirit and pride that you feel so honoured to let people see. Good publicity from a proud graduate, isn’t it?

It’s that kind of situation where your eyes just well with tears of joy and heart go aflutter with all kinds of wonderfully warm, fuzzy feelings each time you think about the college/university where you once studied in…













…and you’ll vow to forever ensure that your alma mater gets your fullest support in any way possible once you’re capable enough of financially giving back to your beloved college/university for old time's sake: “Here, take my money and do what you can to help make the institution bigger and better!”

It's almost like loving someone so much you just want to stand in any public place or on a high-up mountain to shout out your love for that one person... sort of...










Statements from the proud graduates of The University of Chicago (The Law School) for the “Why I Give Back” alumni programme:

Gail Peek, '84: I found The Law School an amazing experience. I learned so much from the faculty and my peers. Some of these lessons were not always pleasant or positive, but they were all life lessons that helped me. The legal education I received at the Law School enabled me to handle many legal issues I encountered. I recall surprising my colleagues with my ability to utilize legal reasoning and research techniques to assist clients with complex issues. I want others, especially minority students, to have the same opportunity I had. I also want the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic to continue to break new ground in representing those less fortunate than me. Thus, supporting the Law School is a very easy decision. How could I not?

Greg Coules, '95: Quite simply, having gone to both the College and the Law School I have a quite a fondness for the U of C. Having come from modest means, the University was extremely generous with scholarships and other financial aid during my entire career there.









Sigh. Just imagine yourself as one of the highest-ranking employees of that university- either as a chancellor, dean or president. How would you have felt? You’d probably feel just like a really proud parent with successful and grateful kids who can now give you lots of money and attention in return for all the love and care you’ve once shown to them.

Unfortunately, over here in many Malaysian private higher education institutions, students who haven’t even graduated from their programmes just feel like desecrating their chosen colleges into the ground. Just before they could even complete their studies, a whole lot of these students would already be wishing for huge asteroids to hit the college and destroy the whole building when nobody is around- or simply any tragedy of Armageddon proportions.










Asteroids hitting APIIT-UCTI? Even better if Anthony’s the only person in the building.

Once these students complete their studies, they wouldn’t even want to associate themselves with the colleges they once studied in. Many, just like me, wouldn’t even dare to brandish any object that could somehow reveal the identity of our alma mater (especially APIIT-UCTI), unless when totally unavoidable during situations such as job applications and job interviews.

Many, just like me, would express our anger through online student forums, form online college hate groups to tear the college image apart, and upload pictures of terrible-looking college facilities on public websites. Why? What has gone wrong? Don’t these students and graduates feel any sense of belonging and love for the college where they are spending and have spent so much money on?







Princeton Pride



Why so much unnecessary anger from so many students towards just any one Malaysian college that has failed to instill this simple sense of pride and belonging into these students’ minds?










Use your brain, Anthony. Use your brain… If you have one.










Picture above: What I'd give back to APIIT-UCTI should this place ever miraculously come up with an "Alumni Give Back" programme... topped with a little name label. At least it's still kinda heart-shaped.

* I promise not to come up with another demented blog entry somehow connected to APIIT-UCTI for now. This blogger is gonna go on a little vacation for a little while.

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Previous related posts:

1. Let’s Send the APIIT-UCTI Monster(s) to HELL!

2. APIIT-pUCTI’s Perpetual Parking Problem

8 comments:

yc said...

u shouldn't compare those USA and Aussie universities with this apiit ucti. it'd be an insult to those foreign universities haha!
learn ur lesson & don't go back to that place la.

j_yenn said...

OF COURSE NOT!!!!!!

Never ever want to go near that place again!

zewt said...

why dont you blog... about the thought you mentioned in my blog? haha!

j_yenn said...

zewt: which thought? the random thought? the forbidden fruit thought? oh well :P

zewt said...

why kenny sia is more famous than ...

j_yenn said...

..... :P

Anonymous said...

i share your sentiments. glad that i only have a couple of weeks left in that stupid place.

there really must be something wrong when 98% of students feel disappointed and ashamed of the institution..

(98% is an estimate.. just like how they claim that 98% of graduates are employed before graduation)

thank you for voicing out for those of us who can't voice it out yet.

j_yenn said...

LOL. You can also blog about your experience once you leave.

Of course 98% of the students from any higher education institution would be employed BEFORE graduation. No sane person would want to remain stuck at home doing nothing unless they've decided to continue with studies, get married and stay at home, go travelling, or commit suicide...... hmm...