Even though it has been quite some years since I finished my studies in a local Uni, I still am not able to forget my experiences. I hope what I am about to tell you may help some other out there. 

Most of my school life was spent with one burning ambition; to get into University. This was my one and only thought. Nothing else. I simply wanted to graduate. It was a thought imprinted in my head I guess, since even before I was born, by my parents. So determined was I, that I competed tooth and nail with my Chinese friends to get through SRP, SPM and eventually STPM. I did not do that badly in STPM, even though I never wanted to be there in the first place (I thought I could escape through SPM to Uni, which later I found out is just a day dream for many). My results in STPM got me into a good engineering course, though, and off I went to my most favorite place on earth - University. Wow.

However, I came across the biggest stumbling block in my very first week. MSIAN INDIAN MENTALITY. The first one month was spent solely trying to please the senior Indian students; studying and courses were the LAST priority. Here are some of the most important concerns at that time:

 1. Girls to wear punjabi suits and pottu.

2. Every day, we must meet our seniors for their fun.

3. The typical question must be answered; Are you Tamil? What are you? Tamil pessa theriuma? Oohh..ni kunjem kunjem thamilla? Boyfriend iruka? 

4. Dance practise for Freshie Night…for a month at least…every evening…   

Looking back, I still do not mind these activities. They were fun, after all. But what I did not realize is that while we Indians were dancing and dating and orientating, the Chinese students have been given educational advice, motivation and materials from day ONE by their own seniors! They forged ahead like they were soldiers, while we were lazying around like Time itself will wait forever for our convenience.

What "education" related advice did I get from my seniors?

You get CGPA 3.0 means you are damnnnnnn clever. It is soooo difficult to obtain. Very few Indians have gotten above 3.0…

Bloody Indians. 

And I, in my innocence (more like ignorance), bought it hook, line and sinker! The first year was spent going to clubs, parties, dinners, ronda ronda. Morning classes…skip!…evening classes…escaaape!

Stupid me.

My first semester results was 3.000. Wow. All my Indian friends were at awe…wow…can get 3.0 meeeh for a girl in engineering…pandai la luu…therrerrr….Then my next semester result. 2.6xxx. That was a slap on the face. It wasn’t that my other Indians friends were doing much better. It was the fact for the first time, I realized that most of the Chinese students got more than 3.0! See, I have always competed with my Chinese friends back in school days, and I was always within the the top three in class. What the hell happened in University??? 

I had stopped competing. I was comparing myself within the narrow Indian community.

Stupid stupid me.

That was the first day I felt like shit in University. Here I was, being given a precious gift, a University seat, and instead of treating it with care, I was on the fast lane towards Second Class Lower with eyes wide open. I still did not think that this was too bad, see. I thought I should only reach towards 3.0, to get a Second Class Upper. 

Anyway, to cut the long story shorter, I got serious. Reduced my parties. Serious studying (although it was done mostly at the last few weeks before the exams). The third semester result was much better. Deans List. Now, call it what you want, but I called it a mental UNblocker. My seniors had told me vehemently how difficult 3.000 was. So, as a freshie, I only aimed towards 3.000. NO ONE told me to aim for Deans List. NO ONE advised me to try for First Class. Only 3.00000000000! Yes, it was my fault for listening to them, for living a life in University where studies is second priority, and everything else is FIRST. 

Sadly, even though the rest of my semesters I received Dean List, I could never make up for the results of the first two semesters. First Class was out of the question. I graduated with second class upper. Nothing special there. But I made sure that I gave the right advice to my brother when he started his first year. 

Don’t you bloody waste your life in University. Don’t you bloody listen to your Indian seniors who have their priorities wrong. You aim for FIRST CLASS!

Good for him, he took my advice, and received a First Class. The moral? He did not have to pay for PTPTN, while I am still sitting here, paying for my mistakes. Literally! 

I hope if any University student read this, they will work their butt off in University. You will not know this now, but the QUALITY of your entire future may depend on those grades you get when you graduate. Unblock your mind from whatever barriers people and you yourself have instilled. Why aim for Second class when you can get First?

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