10 Lessons in 3 Years

Soon, I cannot call myself a university student anymore. My 3 years as a university student have been an amazing journey of ups and downs for me.

3 years is not long. I still remember what I told myself 3 years ago. I said, "Jessica Loi. Enter uni with an open mind to learn. Go into uni with an open heart to accept and love. Most of all, learn to appreciate yourself, gain confidence and graduate as a stronger more confident Jessica Loi."

I made a promise to myself to go on no matter how difficult my uni life turn out to be.

My university life was more physically, mentally and emotionally draining than I expected it to be but I do not regret any moment of it. Not even the low moments. Truth is, the low moments are what made me the stronger woman I am today.

So, I just wanna share (random) 10 of the many things I learnt while in uni.

1. Small things matter.

#1.

It's normal for us to ignore what an effect a smile, a simple hello or just a random note can have on someone else. When I was in uni, I found out that a smile is able to make someone's day. A simple hello can change someone's life and a random note can help a person make a life-changing decision.

I am not a very strong girl. I have given up on so many things in my life just cause I do not have the courage to step out of the little shell I enclosed myself in. When I was in uni, I, again and again, have people tell me how strong I have grown to be, that I've inspired them or that I helped them. Those small little words have kept me going. At times when I wanted to give everything up, these words came again and made me change my mind.

It was then I realised that, the small actions we make might mean the world to someone else. So, don't push them aside.

Smile, for it might brighten someone's day.

Tell someone they're amazing when they are. Who knows, your words might be hat pushed a person to greater heights.

2.Uncertainties are OK.

#2.

I used to be terrified of uncertainties.

No, correction. I am still terrified of uncertainties. I've just learned how to accept them as part of life and that uncertainties are necessary.

Imagine now, life all planned out. Nothing is gonna change. Everything follows what you plan for with no obstacles. Then that, my darlings, is not life. It's not reality.

The reality is. Shit happens. Things you plan out for might not go like how you want it to. Fearing uncertainties, like me, stops you from taking action. It stops you from doing anything.

Because I was afraid to take risks. I was afraid of not knowing what will happen, I forgo many opportunities and many things I've wanted to do.

It was only in uni that I learned. Uncertainties is what makes life. It's ok to be scared but you must be able to overlook that fear and still move on with your life. Do what you have always wanted to do.

What happens in the future? Well, you'll find out tomorrow isn't it? So, keep your eye on the present.

3. Jump as high as I can.

#3.

I guess this says it all. In anything I do, I need to aim high, and believe I can achieve it. Only then, I know that, one day, I will achieve success.

4. Choose health over body size.

#4.

I've lost a considerable amount of weight in these 3 years. I have always been a skinny girl to begin with. But my weight loss was obvious.

In uni, I never took care of what I eat (or don't eat). I started losing weight, slowly. Since I am skinny, it wasn't noticable, until last year. I looked so unhealthy. Haggard. My head (which is pretty big in size) now looks too big for my body. All my pants are falling off my waist. My t-shirts that once fit so snugly now are too big for me.

Loads of people rejoiced for my lweight loss. They were saying that I am lucky. They've been trying SO HARD to lose weight. I was like, "Really? But you just tweeted about eating 20 bars of chocolate".

You cannot imagine how much I want to gain weight right now. How much I want my old body back. The time when my ass was, to some people, fat. The time when I had a double chin. The time when I shook hands, my underarms's flabs would wobble.

It made me wonder. How can these healthy looking people, these people who claim they are fat (who are not) have a no eatin diet or cut down on their food so blindly? I did that (with no intention to diet) and it sucks.

Along with my weight and flabby arms, I lost something far more important. My health. I have been falling sick so often, the doctors probably knows me by now. Falling sick really affected everything I did. I hate my body now. I hate how I tired I feel all the time. I hate how sick I have become. I hate how I look pale all the time. I miss my pink cheeks.

If you really wanna diet, diet healthily. Being and feeling healthy is way more important.When you're healthy, your body will be in its right shape. When you're healthy, that's when you look your best.

5. When you're a teacher, you're a student too.

#5.

Being in an organisation, leading a team, one of my key role was to educate and develop the members in my team. After all, we all joined AIESEC to learn and grow.

I learned something that is very important. To me at least. When you are a teacher, you are a student as well. This is something I will never forget.

As my role is to ensure the members do develop through various opportunities and task provided, little did I know, I was being taught many lessons too.

Take these 2 girls in the photo for example. They are my team members, my darlings babies. While all I did was give them tasks and responsibilities, they learned and develop. What most people don't know is, I learned a lot from them too.

I always treasure their insights, their opinions. They're effort and determination taught me that with the 2 qualities, you can do a lot. They showed me that if I wanted to, I can do anything I want.

Sometimes, the roles are so vague. I don't know anymore who the 'teacher' is, but that's what the point is. Learning is a two-way process.

6. You're nothing special, until you decide to be.

#6.

When I graduate, I am graduating with thousands other in Malaysia, millions more around the world. Truth is, I am nothing special.

So, do I sit around and cry about it? I rather save my tears for sob movies.

Being in uni, I have met extraordinary people. I learned that these extraordinary people are special, not because they were born that way but because they chose to be.

They're like me. They are average students. Graduated with millions of others but yet they are doing amazing now. How? They never gave up. They insisted to be special, they did all they could to stand out and they did.

So, before I leave my dear university, I will promise myself. I promise to make myself special. To stand out and do my best in what I pursue.

7. Friends come in all shapes and sizes.

#7.

Friends do come in unexpected ways.

We always are too quick to judge. When we learn to stop doing that, we'll see how amazing each individual is. Then you'll gain some new amazing friends who you'd never thought you 'll be friends with.

I did =)

8. You don't need wings to touch the sky.

#8.

I learned that I do not need wings to fly. All I need are dreams and the will to make them happen.

9. Being almost there, but never quite there yet.

#9.

Everytime something ends, I always look forward to it because I always want to see the outcome of my work. But I forget one important thing to remember.

The end marks the beggining of something new. Because we fail to embrace the beggining of something new, we are cautious towards change. We are skeptical.

When we fail to embrace the beggining of a new journey, we also get lost in between. We're neither at the old path we used to follow nor are we in a new one, cause we don't want to start something new.

I've learn to embrace that 'something new'. It helps me anticipate my new journey. Makes me think about what I want to do. It makes me excited :)

So, I am almost there. Almost a graduate. Almost a degree holder. I am excited for two things - my graduation and what lies ahead.

10. Penang is awesome!

#10.

Last but not least, the undeniable lesson.

Penang is actually an awesome place. Love Penang Island x)