By Aliff Nazrin
This is my first and final message as a student here in IIUM.
After some meaningful four years studying in this beloved International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), here I am ending my final year. Amid fluctuations of my feelings towards the university, I have started to reflect on my days in campus.
During my final year, I was told that I have been looked up by juniors, even my batch mates. They perceived me as one of the best students in the batch, when ironically I feel the other way round. And having people admiring you in any aspect would make you feel big and confident – until you get out of the bubbles.
In ending my journey as an undergraduate, I was placed on a 10-week internship attachment which had, in fact, changed my perspective of the world. To be honest, when one enters the industry, especially a government-linked company (GLC), surrounded by senior executives and those personalities who are often in the news because of their achievements, can be really humbling.
Quite understandably, internship has always been seen as scary and intimidating given the uncertainty it carries. Nevertheless, it was also such a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of what life would be like as part of an undergraduate study and how graduating students would have to face and overcome it.
After enduring the pre, during and post internship processes, I felt like it’s not as difficult as many of us have presumed. Just like studying in the university, internship is also a learning process, but more of practical application. Mistakes are bound to happen during the attachment, but we should take those as a challenge to quickly move on and improve ourselves.
I remember my head of unit once said:
“We make mistakes everyday – no doubt. It’s just how you bounce back that make you who you are today. So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, it’s better to make mistakes during your internship rather than when you’re an employee since you’re still learning.”
First time experiences can make you feel small. When I stepped into the office for the first time and was given some tasks, and asked to join meetings, it made me feel like I was so small compared to them. True enough, surrounded by people with expertise in the field made me think “I am nothing compared to them” even though I might have been a top student. Communicating with them can be fearsome since the industry people are no-nonsense kind of workers, unlike lecturers whom students are more familiar with and much easier to talk to. It takes a lot of guts really to speak to superiors.
Good communication skill is the best way to improve oneself. Getting feedback is necessary to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses. No communication means no improvement, and no improvement means our goal is not achieved, and that is not a good sign for our career start-up.
Trust me, when our lecturers gave specific tasks and assignments, they wanted to see whether or not we can excel within the goals that they have set up for us. From there, they can see how we could deliver based on our performance and quality of work, the same goes to our supervisors during internship.
The tasks given to me during internship were pretty doable. At times, my colleagues told me that they thought I was an executive. That goes to show that whatever knowledge and skills we have acquired in the university through presentations, projects, assignments, and public relations and event management, among others, have in one way or another prepared us for the working world. So, one has no right to say, “I can’t do that” instead, we should be saying, “yes, I will try and explore”.
Now, it’s time to embark on another phase of my life.
Hence, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have helped me along the way. Special thanks goes to Dr. Zeti Azreen, my Internship coordinator and a ‘mother’ who have been very supportive and motivational all along. And to Dr. Tengku Aisha, whom I always regarded her as a sister and have been so caring, I thank you for being supportive of me through thick and thin.
I would like to record my sincere thanks to all my lecturers whom I regarded as a big family – Sir Aznan, Dr. Aini, Dr. Rizalawati, Dr. Nerawi, Dr. Mahzan, Dr. Shafizan, Madam Mazni, Sir Amran, Sir Roslan, Sir Helmi, Dr. Baiduri, Prof. Saodah and Dr. Aida. You have all taught me every single detail about life. I appreciate the knowledge, advice and the laughter that we shared during these four wonderful years. God knows how much I am so grateful to all of you.
My advice to all students currently on internship attachment and joining the industry soon: “Do what you can to reach your goal and do it with the ones you love. No matter how hard it is, it will always be easy having your loved ones around, supporting you all the way.”
This is where our relationship with our loved ones plays a significant role to achieve success. We can never be successful without their support. “Whatever tasks they give you, do it with dedication and commitment, plan your way and make sure that it is the best that you can give.” Show not only the quality of your work but your quality as an individual who would contribute to the world community.
To sum up, I must admit that the four years as an undergraduate student in the university was the best part of my life. Thank you everyone for the life experience and a journey worth treasuring and telling to my children (and grandchildren) in later years to come. ***