Malaysian Indian – Private College
Written by rujjcoomarh on July 29, 2008 – 8:41 am
Greetings. Since everyone has shared their experience in Universities, I would like to take this opportunity to share my piece studying in private college (now its University-College). Before I could start I would like to clarify that my write up here does not reflect 100% of the happenings or attitude of every individuals in a private college. This is merely my own experience.
I graduated from APIIT a.k.a UCTI. Immediately after SPM I told my dad that I want to do audio engineering, he just showed me his middle finger and asked to study something where I can make easy money. So there I was, first year APIIT. I am someone who always wanted to go to public universities and I don’t know why. It’s more like a fascination. End of the day I have no choice; I got no balls to do STPM, so I decided to go to private college.
Along the years I was in APIIT, all I could see was arrogance among the students. Especially Indians. Not all, most of them. I am not really sure why that was the reason but essentially my seniors looked like educated gangsters and they do not want to talk or see your damn face in college. So I had this ragging phobia, which didn’t happen to me, each time we walk pass our seniors, they will give this c***-stare. As time passes by, my friends and me manage to cope up with all this nonsense.
The real situation started when I was in second and third year. I would like to specifically talk about Indian students. There were few types of Indians in my college. The first type of course the nerds. They don’t talk to anyone; they come to college as though they go to school with that slacks that is not long enough, glasses and school bad and big water bottle. Of course this person will not be bothered by anyone at any point of time. The only time we noticed him/her was when they got the best student award, gold award, this award and that award. Followed by second type of Indian students. They are the party animals, they party like hell, come to class (sometimes) with swollen eyes, could be because of hangover or fight. Not missing a single weekend you can see them in all the clubs in Bangsar. Have so much money at a very young age, sports car and a hot chick. What else can college student do? The third type would be the one who don’t like other Indians. Always belong to the Chinese group, in every aspect. Can speak fluent Chinese/mandarin/hokkien. Well I had a friend like that. They wont even smile at other Indians, because for them Indians are stupid.
The fourth type of course the one’s who don’t belong to any of these 3 types. They can be slotted in any categories according to situation. Mostly the Indian students there were like that. We were in big groups and we move together. Fortunately we are accepted in all the 3 categories above, so that made my life in college much more easier. When I need to do my programming project I just head straight to the India guys or the nerdo’s. Well typically this is private college from my perspective.
They are always in groups, they always move together. I was lucky enough because I knew 70% of the students in my college when I was in final year, which actually helped me a lot when I contested for the Student Council presidents post. That was one fun voting and campaigning period. My friends made a fool out of themselves, at times me. Carrying banners, walking around asking and bullying other Indians, juniors asking them to vote. I felt more like in a Tamil movie college election. I had amazing time in college but if I have an option to turn the clock around, I wouldn’t want to do that. I rather turn to my schooling days. I never felt the bonding between other Indians in college. That is one of the reasons why I always wanted to go local universities. I have seen a lots of local university students, living together like one family, but of course I don’t know if this is true. In my college we had no Indian society or any functions like deepavali night, ponggal nite etc. So we have to organize one of our own. We never really had an outing like camping, hiking, templing, and social services. The only outing that we had among our Indians was ‘beer-ing and alcohol-ing’ 
Every student will have his or her fair share of experience during college or university but I feel that should not be used to judge an individual or a community.
Nandri / Thank you.
Rujjcoomarh.
Posted in Culture, Education, Social |
July 29th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I was thinking about posting this but Rujj did it. Just missed!
Nvm..lets discuss.
Despite the short-coming, I would say public uni are the best in terms of relationship between Indian students. It definitely be a better place if the students get the priority right. Besides that, its a lovely experience to study in one.
Right now I am in a private uni. To be exact, an off-shore campus of an Australian uni. I certainly won’t be here if not for the scholarship but that’s another story for another day. Indians here? Well, I don’t know if I should be addressing them as Indians or no. I had huge culture shock when I first came here (right from public uni)- I just can’t believe my eyes! Right from the clothes, culture, mannerism, talks and to-everything-you-can-think-of was totally different from public uni. When I brought my juniors from my previous uni to temporarily work in a project, they are equally shocked. So I know I was not ‘abnormal’! Hahaha..
Generally here, the so-called Indian students do not speak Tamil. At times, you may find them in tunic blouses (ala kurti)but most of the time in low-hip jeans and baby-tee. Entering the campus, you will first find the students puffing away at the entrance (smoking prohibitted inside campus) and its no exception when it comes to our students. Of course, there is certainly no Indian festivals celebrated here unlike public uni. I could go on and on but the fact remains that the Indian students here do not behave like one!
Yes, the education standard is higher here (top 50 uni in the world & it’s medical school is the best in Australia) but I felt very much at home in my previous uni though the issues like we discuss in tzarina’s post exist there.
Whenever I go back to the uni, I will feel as if I am going back to my mommy’s place. In fact, I’m going back there today in few hours time!
I love my green campus!!
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July 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am
“he just showed me his middle finger”
- that’s an interesting father indeed. Did you show him the posting?
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July 30th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I left tertiary education nearly 10 years ago. Yeah, that means I’m so totally out of touch with the youths now
But, I have plenty of friends who are in colleges and university - as academicians. Heck, perhaps some of them might have taught you guys and gals too. Perhaps we should see what they have to say about Indian students.
Let me share with you some comment:
1. Indian boys talk like there’s no tomorrow, but when lecturer ask questions, they kind of become invisible. En kodumai saar ithe?
2. Indians are more interesting in coupling (getting a partner) than preparing for class. However, there are those that really focused and know their limits.
3. After having a disaster in their college/uni life (like failing a subject), the students show remorse and become emotional (scenes of flashback - ala Autograph). “If I could have done this, or that” thoughts will come into their minds. Some do “repent” while other slide back into the same pattern after the initial momentum.
4. Indians very interested to establish cliques and gangs. Then its time to establish territory.
5. Some students seem to forget their mother tongue after pass through college gate/door.
6. As mentioned by Tzarina in her posting, there seems to be a mental block among many students that they cannot get good results. But seriously, if you look at the syllabus being taught nowadays and the mark allocation, it is a miracle if a student does not get at least CGPA 3.00.
That’s what I tell the students that I meet. In private colleges where business is the key word, it is mainly the students fault if he/she does not get As and Bs. In public universities, we can cite discrimination and what-nots, but not in most private colleges. You do your assignments well, you ace your test, be good (attentive) in class, have good attendance history, and prepare well for projects/presentations - sure can get good results. So, what stops you?
But, our students talk about which pub to visit/how to spend time on weekends - main topics on Friday class.
One way to break the mental block is to get the academicians to initiate a session at beginning of the session. In all those ragging/orientation” sessions, why not get a lecturer or management staff to brief the students for about two hours or so, especially in the indian context? Orientate all you want, but let the academicians join in the fun too
BTW, some caveats: The above points can also be extended to others races. It does not imply ALL indians students are like that.
Reading all the postings on university life made me nostalgic. Well, I’ll try to write my historical flashback if time permits.
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July 30th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
yes indeed. He read my posting.. and he gave a look which until now im trying to figure out the meaning of it
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