Surprised achievement/Remembrance

From left: Adrian from EcoWorld Group Branding department, me, Japhia, Norlyana, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Taylor's University Professor Dr. Pardeep Nair, EcoWorld CEO Dato' Chang Khim Wah, School of Communication Dean Ms. Josephine, Melissa, Yvonne and Sharmine

Photo Credit: Summer 

A big shoutout to my wonderful group mates for being so patient with me, an annoying blurhead, and accommodating my shortcomings. Couldn't have done achieve this without you all. THANK YOU! Thank you, also, to our lecturer Mr. Justin for guiding and teaching us all the way. 

A photo with the lecturers that made this happened!

From left: Dr. Roslina, me, Yvonne, Melissa, Mr. Justin (my lecturer), Sharmine, Japhia, Norlyana, Mr. Terence

Photo Credit: Dr. Roslina

Thank you:

Japhia for being patient with me and guiding me all the way. 

Norlyana for being understanding, forgiving and also patient with me. 

Melissa for pulling me into this group and encouraging me. (You can say "I told you so" for as long as you want. I give you that. xD)

Yvonne for liaising with EcoWorld and making sure our shoot goes smoothly.

Sharmine for being our driver and helping out in the every way you can.

I have thought long and hard on how to title this post. Eventually I settled on the title you see now. I never expected this to happen. Really, I didn't. Neither did my group mates. Despite all the drama I went through on my part, I was really glad to have worked with these bunch of classmates. They are the best and I couldn't ask for more. So, it all started as a class assignment/competition. 

When it was announced that one of our assignment was tied with a corporate competition, we didn't really think much about winning the competition. At least, I didn't. Truth to be told, I wanted to join another group. I have never worked with my current group mates before and I am a person that likes to be in my comfort zone. Especially when it comes to group assignments. On the other hand, my best friend Melissa wanted to work with this bunch of people. One thing lead to another and eventually we join this group.

I will not bore you all about the drama I personally went through. Let's just say I was being a bit too sensitive, overreacting and overthinking a bit too much and generally being stupid. I mean, it's my first time working with this group of people! There are bound to be insecurities! Right? At least, this is the case for me. But slowly, I warmed up to them and we had fun shooting this video.

Why fun? First, I was asked, no wait, TOLD to be exact, to be the director of photography. Which means, I am the one handling the camera. I have absolutely NO experience at handling the camera. See, usually I am in charge of writing the script, finding cast, doing props or appearing IN FRONT of the camera, not BEHIND the camera. So, as a first timer, I was absolutely terrified and have no idea what I am doing. Thank God for my director, Japhia. She is really patient with me and guide me every step of the way. So did my producer, Norlyana. THANK YOU!

Second, we brave through haze and rain to get our video done. Well, most of our shoot was indoors anyway. So it was okay for us. But for other groups, some of their shoot was outdoors. So, kudos to you all! 

After we pass up the assignment, we thought it was over. Well, I thought it was over. I moved on. Then came the first surprise. Our of 25 videos, our video was selected as one of the top 10. We are to present our idea in front of a group of judges. Some from EcoWorld, some from Taylor's. All high ranking people. When I saw the date of the presentation and realised I have to give up attending a wedding, I was instantly upset. It was a Saturday. WEEKEND. I think my group mates were pretty upset too, for having part of the weekend taken away.

A little input here, this competition doesn't only involve my batch. It also involved our seniors (a semester ahead of us) and our juniors, the foundation and diploma students. 

This was taken at Eco Sanctuary, where we present our video and idea to a group of high ranking judges from EcoWorld and Taylor's.

From left: Melissa, Japhia, Norlyana, me, Sharmine and Yvonne

Photo Credit: Razz and Japhia

Fast forward a little. Came the day they announced the winner. Which was yesterday. And we were surprised. All of us never expected it. One second, we were 1 among many. The next, we were...well, THE one. After the whole event, people we know and don't know came up to congratulate us. The press that were present at the event asked for our names and wanted to take our photos and interview us. We got a chance to work with FOREFRONT International, the company in charge of producing all of EcoWorld's videos and advertisings. When we went onstage to accept the mock check, so many cameras were pointed at us, taking our photos. We were also invited to lunch with the VIPs.

Photo Credit: Summer

Honestly, I was awkward and ill at ease. I am so seldom in the limelight. I am always at the sideline, being ordinary and anonymous. Suddenly, being in the center of everyone's attention...it was just too much. I am really glad and happy I wasn't alone. I have 5 other people to share it with and I am more than happy to share it with them.

What now? We be happy. We celebrate. Then we move on. There are still many things to be done. Life doesn't just stop at winning this competition. Yes, we won. We gain a little bit of reputation. So what? Life still goes on. People will talk about it for another 1 more day, maybe? Then it will be old news. It will be the past. We move on to make more achievements. We live for the future. 

As Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Pardeep Nair says, "Everyone in this room is a winner!" Yes, indeed. Everyone that participated the competition is a winner. We took up the challenge and we did it. To me, it isn't about the RM5,000. It is the experience and the friendship built during the whole project. No money can buy that for me. 

Of course, some might say it is easy for me to say all these because I won. Wrong. I lost a lot of competition before this. Sure, I was sad and disappointed, as all human beings with emotions would. But, in the end, I would come to realise that it is the process that mattered. How the whole competition taught me priceless and valuable lessons and gaining experiences. 

Photo Credit: Norlyana

So, here I am. Holding a huge mock check of RM5,000. We are all going to share our prize money, of course. A big hooray to my group and all my fellow course mates that participated in this competition! We all did great and we are all winners! =D

 Each one of us taking turns with the mock check.

From top left: Norlyana, Sharmine, Melissa

From bottom left: Yvonne, Japhia, me

Photo Credit: Melissa

Before I end this post, I would like to remember a special someone that was briefly in my life and has played a role in bringing me to where I am today. This couldn't have happen if this person hadn't sow the seed in my secondary school life.

Hello, Tan Wei! Happy belated 21st birthday! What a coincident your birthday was yesterday. Bet you are laughing your ass off. Remember how I said I am so not into video and softwares and technology stuff? Technically, still true. I still never like post-production work and still very awkward with the camera. But you started it all. You introduced me into this world. Now, I am in this world and, of all the things to do, winning a video competition. LOL.

Hope you are doing okay up there. I still think of you from time to time. Whenever I think of you, I will send up a little prayer for you and your family. It is still hard for some of us to let you go. Miss you, my friend. Rest well.