Sunday, October 04, 2009

MCKK Scholarship Workshop 2009

The fourth installation of MCKK Scholarship Workshop 2009 took place on 2 August 2009. It was a much better arrangement because we managed to avoid the dreadful prospect of conducting one full day workshop without a break and non-stop talking and walking (and sometimes running) without a single drop of drink during Ramadhan, as was the case in 2007 and 2008.

Even more so, conducting it earlier will have a better impact on the students. When we designed the workshop back in 2006, it was never meant just to give a briefing on the paths available to MCKK boys once they leave the school. It was also meant to shock them of the magnitude of SPM, so that they buck up and put a side whatever that distracts them from focussing on SPM.


My batch did a big mistake with our SPM. We went into SPM with one of the best trial results in MCKK (if not SBP) history – a few of us actually got 9A1s and Fadli got 10A1s (so he was the best candidate to obtain 11A1s together with English 1119). In those days, it was unheard of that a school can produce 4 – 5 straight A1s, at most usually it’s about two. Nationally there were less than 30 people each year getting straight A1s – so you can imagine the euphoria of going into SPM with 4 – 5 candidates who were poised to get straight A1s.

But there’s a thin line between confidence and over-confidence – as a batch who had had a good academic records throughout our years in MCKK, the teachers pretty much left it to our own to manage, because we had managed before. As SPM approached in November 1994, in retrospect we shifted gears – unfortunately we shifted downwards. We slowed down because we began to think SPM was not that dreadful after all – and the time left (about 2 months) was better spent making the best out of our MCKK experience.

So we did enjoy to the maximum. Everyone and anyone tried everything (Note 1) that we slowly descended away and away from SPM.

Throughout all this, there was only one teacher who made a remark about the way we were behaving that I remember forever. On one occasion, Mr Anand (who was and is very close to our batch) said to me that “we (Class of 94) under estimated the magnitude of SPM”. Four months later, when SPM was announced, I then began to understand in entirety the magnitude of the word “magnitude” that Mr Anand had said six months before.

Against everyone’s expectation, we did not get a 100% pass for SPM because one student failed. It was even more mind boggling because he was a new Form 4 intake with a good SRP results before that.

But perhaps what was more damaging to our ego and brought us crashing down to Earth (and earned us the realisation of what it means to be an under achieving batch forever ha ha), was the fact that none of us got straight A1s; when many people from other schools that year managed to get.

It was a lesson in humility at its best – and I somehow vowed that someday, we should never allow those after us repeat the same mistake that we did.

So half of the content of the workshop each year is always meant to shock them, so that they understand the magnitude of SPM (unlike us).

If the boys buck up a few months before SPM, being born clever as they are, at least there’s some hope for salvation.

On another note, I am getting a bit concerned on the succession planning for this – as I don’t think I can afford the time and efforts to do this forever. Originally the idea was for the first few batches to continue once they graduate.

The first experimental batch is Class of 2005 when we selected their best of the best and provided assistance in scholarship and university applications as a foundation for continuing this in the future. By my calculation, 3 or 4 of them should be back by 2010 and they can tag along for one or two years until 2012 before they can take over. Eventually, each batch post 2005 should come back to reinforce the team and by 2014 the tradition would have acquired its inertia to have its own life when all of us are gone doing other things.

We can then take assurance that never again MCKK boys leave the gates without being prepared to face the competition outside.

That was the planning on paper, what actually happens is a different thing. I realised that it takes maturity to appreciate and understand why we are doing this.

On the part of the old boys going back, it is important to understand the bigger picture that with each breath that shortens our tenure on this earth each day, there is an obligation to serve beyond our immediate selfish interest - and serve consistently. We were brought up to serve and if we cannot change the world, we can at least influence the worldview of those younglings after us so that they can do what we could not.

On the part of MCKK present boys who benefit from this each year, they need to understand that it is not their automatic right to be assisted lest it becomes crutches and counter productive in the long run. The attention poured on them today is in return for an obligation in the future to come back and continue; but that deferred payment in the future will remain their debt to the school and society until they pay them off.

While some of them from the Class of 2005 onwards understood the concept of “deferred obligation” vis-à-vis this, most from all the graduating batches did not understand that it takes time to be able to acquire the skills, acumen, respect and confidence to conduct such a workshop effectively each year, so that it would have the required effect on the boys.

After a while, I get the impression that many actually thought it’s an ego trip back to MCKK to boast which overseas universities they are in now – similar to the frequent occurrences of batches who had not even graduated from universities going back to the school to advise the SPM candidates on what to do with their life!

With this thought, many would not want to commit to the arduous process of learning, following, observing and emulating what the generation before them painstakingly put for them to carry on.

With this lesson learnt, I understood now that in all probability, there is a certain age requirement for people who want to conduct this type of program – you are looking at people who have been working for quite a while and have had experience managing people to have the right mix of youth, maturity and energy. As we go back to the drawing board, I guess the plan should seriously consider those of the Class 96 to Class of 99 generations (to last for the period 2012 to 2014 at least).

To Class of 2009, with the rugby team loss to Vajiravudh yerterday, it should push you guys to the wall to do your best for SPM and salvage whatever is left of the year 2009. I have been close to MCKK since 2004 to know most of the big things happening there and 2009 is the only year that we have not won a single thing in anything. All that is left is SPM for you boys to leave some marks.

I wish you all the best.


Note 1:

With the benefit of hindsight, despite the humiliation of SPM (which later on we converted to become a domestic joke among us), I am actually grateful that most of us did take time to understand and appreciate MCKK and what it means to be a part of it and of each other. If we had not had the semi-hedonistic experience leading to SPM weeks in 1994, we wouldn’t have been the close knit under achieving batch that we are today.

POST SCRIPT

1) I come across some blog posting by Class of 2009 on SPM, careers etc. I like to think that we did achieve some of the objectives, especially on the part to shock them of the magnitude of SPM and to orientate their focus towards the life outside MCKK. Read here and here.

2) In retrospect, despite the panic all the time that we are falling behind, to a certain extent we are quite advanced in this area. Read here about a plea by an ex-Head Boy of a neighbouring old SBP for old boys to help present boys on matters of post SPM paths.

3) Thank you to Sdr Affendy Hasni (JPA, Law – UK bound), Sdr Zulikhwan Ayob (Bank Negara, Medicine – UK bound) and Sdr Ahmad Firdaus Arul Hisham (PETRONAS, Accounting – Australia bound) from the Class of 2008 who had assisted throughout the workshop.

Photos here.

18 comments:

  1. What you guys have right now is actually very very very good!

    I definitely give you big applause!

    I agree that we need to pay back and influence the community, in this context, the present boys.

    Can I voice out my opinion/suggestion? Can you give some sort of workshop that taking into account other careers beside engineering?

    Nowadays, too much MCKK boys in engineering field. We need them to be in government service too + doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects etc.

    If you need monetary assistance, Class of 2003 boleh hulur2 sikit mana yang mampu.

    Anything, please e-mail me at ameirulazraie@gmail.com
    or
    text me at
    +60129313180.

    Jae.

    ReplyDelete
  2. kalau budak sc1 boleh kata that pre-spm week as hedonistic, what more yg sc2 to sc6.

    follow the lead, sc1 relax..

    hahah

    ReplyDelete
  3. 90053946:28 PM

    eh tapi aku study apa ??
    tak de lah hedonistic sangat life aku during the weeks leading to SPM maaaaaaaaa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jae:

    Yes, ever since we started we put a lot more emphasis on other than engineering & medic. My first time conducting, bdk koleq either nk jadi docs or engineers je.

    Class of 08 has a very fair balance - abt 20 ppl did accounting/ actuarial science, a few did law, some even did a social science courses to become diplomats.

    Ha ha thanks for the offer for monetary assistance, so far everything ok la - it's just difficult to get the later generation to appreciate the care that must be put in to do this.

    I'll definitely get in touch with u & ur batch once we move on another notch on this one :-)

    You met me once kat Pelita KLCC when u were doing internship kat Hess, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joe:

    Aku ingat smpai sekarang Epit nya comment kat kitorang:

    "orang lain panic nak spm, korang pi picnic"

    ha ha 2 weeks b4 SPM kitorang pi picnic ramai2 kt ulu kenas.

    tp best apa, tak yengko la study gler2 sblum spm kan.

    Aku tahu kau pak gayut masa tu, siang malam bergayut je (whether gayut ngn awek/jambu or homesick nk balik rumah x tahu la kan)

    ReplyDelete
  6. E53:

    Yaaaa haaaaa kau tak hedonistic.

    1) Every day ko keluar town haram masa lunch ngn aku, kena caught ngn Mat Rab kat Rahmaniah (tp dia tolong bayarkan lunch)

    2) Kena sound ngn Gedebe masa announcement DC sbb keluar town haram

    3) Sekali tu aku masuk Dorm 1 (aku lepak satu dorm ngn kau kan masa SPM), kau tengah duduk atas riba Epit ala2 bermanja (demi Allah aku ingat ni)

    4) Tiap2 malam masa SPM week, ko keluar town smpai malam2 buta ngn Hazran, Chamat, aku & the gang.

    Lepas tu ada hati nak dpt straight A1s konon.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9:56 PM

    bagi duit kat Noni buat apa, dia dah kaya raya.

    ni haaa aku fakir miskin ni, ada junior nak menyumbang ke?

    ReplyDelete
  8. curi line telefon masa SPM week best jugak...

    ReplyDelete
  9. apa yang aku ingat semasa SPM makin hampir :
    1. bergambar sana sini yang keterlaluan
    2. berseronok di swimming pool
    3. kuar town haram tak kira masa asalkan ada masa
    4. bermain main bersama budak2 yang tak amik spm tahun tu
    5. dan macam2 lagi yang sumpah tak kena menegena dengan spm

    kerana rasa result trial ok sgt2..spm pun cam tu jugek..apa susah.....serious bodo!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 90053943:40 PM

    itu fitnah semata mata donggg !!!
    aku tak bersalah
    aku study
    aku study
    aku usaha
    tapi apakan daya
    tuhan menentukan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous4:34 PM

    fuyoo!! fadli lap dance utk epit ke? masa spm week lak tu.. gile cerita panas ni..

    ReplyDelete
  12. setinggan overfloor12:27 PM

    hahahaha...HEDONISTIC : after 15 years, baru aku tau the right word to describe our lifestyle in 1994 -hahahahah...

    main rubic's cube masa extension prep pun boleh kira as hedonistic ka?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous2:31 PM

    cheh..nak tunjuk bijak sgt la tu main rubic cube. padahal main declare je.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous10:19 AM

    RANKING SBP SPM 2006

    1.SM SAINS SEREMBAN
    2.SM SAINS SERI PUTERI
    3.KOLEJ ISLAM SULTAN ALAM SHAH
    4.SM SAINS ALAM SHAH
    5.SM SAINS KUALA TERENGGANU
    6.SBP INTEGRASI GOMBAK
    7.SEKOLAH SERI PUTERI
    8.KOLEJ MELAYU KUALA KANGSAR
    9.SM SAINS MUZAFFAR SHAH
    10.SBP INTEGRASI GOPENG
    11.SM SAINS KUALA SELANGOR
    12.SM SAINS MUAR
    13.SEKOLAH TUN FATIMAH
    14.KOLEJ TUNKU KURSHIAH
    15.SM SAINS JOHOR
    16.SM SAINS SULTAN MAHMUD
    17.SM SAINS TENGKU ABDULLAH
    18.SM SAINS SULTAN ISKANDAR
    19.SBP INTEGRASI KUBANG PASU
    20.SM SAINS SELANGOR
    21.SEKOLAH SULTAN ALAM SHAH
    22.SM AGAMA PERSEKUTUAN LABU
    23.SEKOLAH TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN
    24.SEKOLAH DATO’ ABDUL RAZAK
    25.SM AGAMA PERSEKUTUAN KAJANG
    26.SM SAINS TELUK INTAN
    27.SM SAINS KUALA SELANGOR
    28.SM SAINS MACHANG
    29.SBP INTEGRASI SELANDAR
    30.SBP INTEGRASI PEKAN
    31.SM SAINS POKOK SENA
    32.SM SAINS TUN SYED SHEH SHAHABUDIN
    33.SM SAINS PASIR PUTIH
    34.SM SAINS KOTA TINGGI
    35.SM SAINS KUCHING
    36.SBP INTEGRASI RAWANG
    37.SBP INTEGRASI BATU RAKIT
    38.SM SULTAN ABDUL HALIM
    39.SM SAINS TUANKU SYED PUTRA
    40.SM SAINS RAJA AZLAN SHAH
    41.SM SAINS SABAH
    42.SM SAINS LABUAN
    43.SM SAINS TENGKU MUHAMMAD FARIS PETRA
    44.SEKOLAH SAINS SULTAN HAJI AHMAD SHAH
    45.SBP INTEGRASI KUANTAN
    46.SM SAINS SULTAN MOHAMMAD
    47.SM SAINS DUNGUN
    48.SM SAINS TENGKU JA’AFAR
    49.SM SAINS MIRI
    50.SBP INTEGRASI SABAK BERNAM
    51.SBP INTEGRASI TEMERLOH
    52.SM SAINS LAHAD DATU
    53.SBP INTEGRASI JEMPOL
    54.SM SAINS SULTAN HJ AHMAD SHAH

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous10:20 AM

    Ranking SBP-SPM 2007

    1. SM SAINS SEREMBAN (SASER)
    2. Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah (KISAS)
    3. SM Sains Alam Shah (ASIS)
    4. SBP Integrasi Gombak
    5. SM Sains Seri Puteri (SESERI)
    6. SM Sains Kuala Terengganu (SESTER)
    7. SM Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra
    8. SM Sains Muar (SAMURA)
    9. Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF)
    10. SBP Integrasi Kubang Pasu
    11. Kolej Tunku Kurshiah (TKC)
    12. SM Sains Johor
    13. SM Sains Muzaffar Syah (MOZAC)
    14. SM Sains Teluk Intan (SEMESTI)
    15. Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS)
    16. Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar (MCKK)
    17. SM Sains Miri(SAINSRI)
    18. SM Sains Kuala Selangor (KUSSES)
    19. Sekolah Seri Puteri (SSP)
    20. Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak (SDAR)
    21. SM Sains Tengku Abdullah ( SEMESTA)
    22. SM Sains Selangor (SMSS)
    23. SM Sains Machang (SMACH)
    24. SBP Integrasi Rawang
    25. SM Agama Persekutuan Kajang (SMAPK)
    26. SM Sains Hulu Selangor
    27. SBP Integrasi Jempol
    28. SBP Integrasi Sabak Bernam
    29. SM Agama Persekutuan Labu (SMAPL)
    30. SM Sains Tuanku Syed Putra (SAPUTRA)
    31. SM Sains Sultan Mahmud (SESMA)
    32. SM Sains Labuan (SMSL)
    33. SBP Integrasi Gopeng
    34. SM Sains Tuanku Ja’afar (STJ)
    35. SM Sultan Abdul Halim (SMSAH)
    36. SBP Integrasi Batu Rakit
    37. SM Sains Pokok Sena (SAINA)
    38. SM Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin
    39. SM Sains Sultan Iskandar
    40. SM Sains Kuching (SAINSKU)
    41. SBP Integrasi Selandar
    42. SBP Integrasi Temerloh
    43. SM Sains Sabah
    44. SM Sains Kota Tinggi (SAKTI)
    45. SBP Integrasi Kuantan
    46. Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR)
    47. SM Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah (SERATAS)
    48. Sekolah Sains Sultan Hj. Ahmad Syah
    49. SM Sains Dungun
    50. SM Sains Lahad Datu
    51. SM Sains Sultan Mohammad Jiwa
    52. SBP Integrasi Pekan
    53. SM Sains Pasir Puteh (SCIPP)
    54. SM Sains Sultan Hj. Ahmad Shah

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:21 AM

    Ranking SBP - SPM 2008

    SASER 1.612
    KISAS 1.68
    ASIS 1.754
    SAMURA 1.83
    SESTER 1.841
    INTEGOMB 1.883
    SAINS JOHOR 1.906
    TKC 1.930
    SEPINTAR 1.951
    SESERI 1.979
    KUSESS 1.99
    BRAINS 2.004
    SEMASHUR 2.014
    SMSSI 2.005
    SEMESTA 2.059
    MCKK 2.073
    MOZAC 2.084
    SBPI SELANDAR 2.075
    SMAPK 2.11
    SAS 2.108
    FARIS PETRA 2.135
    SESMA 2.142
    ITEM 2.143
    STJ 2.171
    SAINA 2.171
    SMAPL 2.198
    INTERSABER 2.193
    SSP 2.188
    STF 2.221
    SBPI JEMPOL 2.248
    SYTRA 2.266
    SMACH 2.269
    SMSS 2.289
    SMSAH 2.305
    IGOP 2.277
    SMESH 2.321
    SBPI Kubang Pasu 2.307
    SBPI PEKAN 2.355
    INTEK 2.382
    SERATAS 2.409
    SEMSAS 2.406
    SDAR 2.419
    SCIPP 2.437
    SAINS KUCHING 2.438
    SHAH PEKAN 2.434
    SAINS MIRI 2.44
    SEMUJI 2.446
    SEMESTI 2.447
    SAKTI 2.444
    STAR 2.456
    SOKSEK 2.604
    SAINS LAHAD DATU 2.621
    SAINS DUNGUN 2.637
    SAINS LABUAN 2.822

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous10:22 AM

    Keputusan SPM 2009 (ranking sekolah)

    1. SMS Seremban
    2. KISAS
    3. SBPI Gombak
    4. Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF)
    5. SMS Alam Shah
    6. SBPI Rawang
    7. SMS Muar
    8. SBPI Temerloh
    9. SMK Infant Jesus Convent, JB
    10. Kolej Tunku Kurshiah

    ReplyDelete
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