YOUR MOST LASTING MEMORY…

I have one lasting memory which I would never forget for the rest of my life. Every time it comes to mind, I will smile alone. I never thought that I would have the greatest opportunity to go to that one place which most people in this world can only dream of. Before this, I had never found something that could lift me up and build my confidence whenever I felt sad and down until this happened in my life.
It actually happened last year when my dad announced that we would be going on a holiday. At first, I did not bother about the place because my family used to travel during school holidays. However, I was eager to know when I saw my father started to do research about Paris and London. At last, on one fine day, he told us that we were going to London. I was so excited because I always wanted to go there since I was a kid.
I spent about two weeks in Amsterdam, Paris and London, learning about their cultures, enjoying the beautiful sceneries and also having fun. The best thing that ever happened in my life which would be my lasting memory was when I got to go up the Eiffel Tower at night. From there, I could see the whole of Paris lit by spotlights and decorations because it was Christmas celebration! When I reached at the top, I realized that I should be going to Paris 2 years later after I have completed my IB. But now I got the chance to go there earlier. This encourages me to be strong in IB and strive for infinite excellence!!

Fatin Shazea

When I was 17 years old, the year I sat for my SPM, something happened that will always last forever in my mind. This thing happened a day after my birthday, which was on 8 August 2008. My auntie whom I cared like my own mother passed away. She died because of cancer. What makes me not forget this thing is the regret I felt for not being with her on the day she was buried. During that day, I was sitting for my trial exam so my father did not allow me to return to the kampong.
I still remember on 7 August that year, I was having fun with my friends celebrating my birthday. I called my mother and because at that time my mother was with my auntie, I asked to speak with her. She asked me to study well for my exam that year and to make her proud. I promised her that I would do it. I also asked her to take care of her health so she would recover faster. The next day, after I finished my mathematic papers, I straightaway returned to my room and I checked my phone. I received a message from my brother but I sensed something wasn’t good. He said “Maklong is not with us anymore”. I was speechless, frozen. I straight away called my brother and asked him whether it really happened. I was very shocked and tears wet my checks. I didn’t expect that my conversation with my auntie the day before would be our last conversation.
For my SPM, I kept the promise that I made. I managed to get 10 As for it. 

Mohd Izzuddin Azminuddin

Life is very interesting. A lot of things happen in one’s life. It could be something sweet or something bitter. These experiences play an important role in characterizing a person. Awful situations in the past could result in people behaving badly in the present. However, this cannot be the reason for people to blame solely on experiences. Sometimes, experiences can be a good teacher.  People keep all experiences as memories.
19 years is very long and I have gone through many experiences that I cannot forget. One memory that I would like to share is how I had gone through my secondary school. At the age of 13, I was sent to continue my study at a boarding school. It generally was a pleasant memory. It was there that I had to learn to take care of myself. I had to wake up early to organize myself. Time management was very important as no-one was there to help you. Mistakes were familiar as I was naive. I need to thank my friends for helping me survive that phase. When I was hungry, it was they who offered to share their food. When I was sick, it was their medicines that helped me to recover.  We lived like one big family. Those 5 years flew by very fast.
I will never forget this experience. My friends have helped me to be what I am today. Thank ya!
P.S. Thanks to Hakim who was my senior in my secondary school. Not forgetting, all my IB seniors, and Keat Meng! It is nice to have all of you as my friends.

Firdaus B Roslan

He is just a normal guy, not really smart, or rich but we do understand each other. The first time I met him was at a mosque where we went for religious classes. The first time I was in the class, I felt really lonesome as nobody was affable. In the third class, I saw him and I thought he was a new student. Moreover, he took a seat beside me at the back. I didn’t feel comfortable in the class yet although it was my third class. However, he started our first conservation.
‘’I love cricket too.”
“How do you know I love it?’’
“Your key chain tells me everything.”
He was the first person I spoke with, and I knew that we had a lot in common. He loved playing cricket. He loved Malay literature – pantun. After a month, we became closer. Every time after class, we would hang out at a café nearby and then we would go to a pet shop to look for fish. We both loved fish. It was one day when I didn’t bring money to pay for my food that he paid for me. And he always helped old people around the mosque.
Suddenly, my parents asked me to stop studying there as the mosques was too far from our house. After few days I didn’t go to class and he called me. I tried to explain to him but it seemed couldn’t understand my situation and he wanted me to continue to study there. Yeah, I understood why he forced me as he was lonely. I didn’t understand why all of our classmates were reluctant to be close with him.
I didn’t hear anything from him anymore. I found that he studied around my house.  I tried to trace him but I failed. I asked my friends who studied at the same school with him. But, what a surprise! The friends told me that he was such a jerk! He was nearly kicked out of the school. His discipline record was terrible. He smoked, played truant, etc.
I never expected that he was that terrible. But, I wanted his explanation as to why people talked bad about him. Why? If he is so, he would still be my best friend.
Nearly 8 years I have been waiting for him but I will never give up. He is Muhd Norsyafiq bin Muhd Norhisyam. Hope to meet you one day!

Ahmad Afandi Bin Suhaimi

My most lasting memory happened about a year ago. I went to Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak to be interviewed for the Petronas scholarship. I travelled with two of my best friends and it was the first time for me to travel far without my parents. We took a bus to get there, and we stayed at my aunt’s house for a night, before checking in the University Teknologi Petronas (UTP) where the interview was going to be held the next day.

The next morning started out great with a perfect breakfast. But a great start of a day never tells you that the rest of the day is going to be perfect as well. As soon as I reached UTP, the soles of my shoes were torn, both sides. Till they got really annoying, I decided to rip them off, and I walked around the place with the shoe’s upper part, and only the thin layer of my socks as the base. The worst part was when it got wet. As much as I tried to hide it from everyone, I had to bear with the humiliating condition. I dressed smartly with my Padini shirt, and tailored dark pants, but my feet, they could see my toes stuck out from the shoes. Embarrassing much?
It was very demotivating. I could not concentrate on the preparation for the interview. And to see the other snobbish-looking candidates made me lose my self-esteem. Completely. However, I managed to distract myself from the embarrassment. I was even interviewed by the officers and lecturers with my toes stuck out from the shoes. But that did not matter, as I ended up being chosen as one of the few to get the Petronas scholarship to go overseas. Forest Gump says, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You will never know what you are going to get”.

Azlan Bin Latif