2nd Stage
So I applied to all and every possible scholarships. (doesn't hurt to try. haha)
I first got shortlisted my Yayasan Khazanah. I was so surprised and happy, because most of the others haven't replied me yet.
Got through the first stage (5 type of IQ tests) and got an email a week later for 2nd stage. omgomgomgomgomogmogmg
Read online that it consists of some group presentation and individual interview.
Asked my sifu (Hong Ken) bout his past experience, and he told me to read up about YK's recent investments and company history (which turns out to be a false info =__=).
Didn't bothered too much about the preparation because I've always thought you can't really prepare for this kind of stuff (which is technically true). But got slightly anxious and nervous the night before the big day because i simply couldn't answer myself, "why the hell did you choose to study Mechanical Engineering?". Kept getting tongue tied and out of ideas. D:
I know bout how little chance I have in getting this scholarship. So I went with an open heart. I mean, no pressure right? haha. I have got no stake in hand and have nothing to lose. Wanted to enjoy this selection process as much as possible.
So for Yayasan Khazanah 2014 potential candidates that might be reading this a year later, I'll briefly bring you through the day chronologically.
Despite me being really chillax and everything, I had a tough time falling asleep the previous night. So i barely sneaked in 3 hours of sleep before i woke up at 6am and got ready.
Took LRT to KL sentral and a mere 5 minutes walk to the building. Mercu UEM.
8.00am. Took a seat among other candidates and started a conversation with a malay girl. #tip 1: you don't want to sit alone there and keep quiet cause you will seem socially awkward. And socialising will help you later in the day.
8.30am. Entered the hall. 2 groups randomly chosen to start the assessment first. The other 2 will start the interview first. Thank goodness i started the group assessment first, a warm up before the real thinggg.
First they'll ask to priorities some reasons that drives you to success.
2nd, they'll give your team (I'm pink team, spot the pink dot on my name card) a topic to discuss on and make a 5 minute powerpoint presentation out of it. You take your stand, For or against.
You're only given 30 minutes to discuss, no less no more. So you can imagine how chaotic it turned out to be. Ppl scrambling around giving opinions and voting to select our stand. Considering this is a scholarship assessment, I tried to voice out as much as I can ofc. ( I'm normally more of an introvert when it comes to this sort of situation) Mana tau, I was suddenly chosen to be one of the presenter. *wide eyed* My brain instantly thought 'Oh gosh, must I?' to present among all these over achievers, feeling pressured was inevitable. But there's no way to say ' nonono, I cant do this'. Luckily no one noticed I was slightly trembling and my leg felt like it would give me away, or cold sweat permeating my palms. :O
But i merely talked for 30 seconds i guess? on 2 points. Got tongue tied a bit but it was okay. haha.
Somehow I know i should go out and talk, because i know I won't get this kind of chance often. I don't like to regret. I don't wanna think 'aiya, should have volunteered to go out' at the end of the day. Plus, THEY chose me to speak, they(my teammates) must have think I'm eligible and capable to handle it. So that thought is indeed comforting.
After that, you're further divided into a 8 ppl group to have a face-to-face "chat" with 2 assessors. You were given minimum time to take a stand (again) and give 3 points to support it. I was 2nd up, pitied the 1st, he had barely enough time to think and jot down his point. I think i did okay. The session was really enjoyable. I really like the assessors. She's very inspiring.
Fourth up, you're given a situation and you're asked to choose between 2 not favourable solution. I really don't think there's a right or wrong when it comes to this kind of things.
Fifth (also the last), you're asked to critically give your opinion on the suitability of a few pages of questionnaire. This really bugged me a bit cause for some ques i don't know what they want me to answer. *faints*
*lunch break*
It's like you're back to kindergarten all over again, you can talk to anyone freely like you've been knowing them since forever. haha. and you don't even need to remember their name. XD
Barely had any appetite to eat but had to because you don't want to be hungry later.
Sat down in a big big table with the pink team.
(Oh i met 2 of my high school friends, they are STPM high achievers :D )
What I was really surprised was how easily we were able to chit chat and laugh heartily. I mean, I imagined everyone would be talking bout how good they are and giving some heads up to tackle the interview later, something more formal i guess? But no, we talked crap. =___= things that has absolutely no connection to the events today. It was tiring to keep laughing LOL, but i'm glad i have them around.
2.30pm. We were brought to a small theater to watch 'Percy Jackson' LOL. didn't want to watch so went out of the room with some other friends. more and more of them came up, and then we started talking.. again. We never ran out of topic. It was just talk laugh talk laugh all the way. I could have forgotten that we're in midst of an interview.
5.00pm. My turn. It was quick. I couldn't wait for my turn cause i was terribly tired already. With a swift move i left my seat and headed to the interview room. It was nerve wrecking to wait for your turn cause it's by random order, someone would just come inside and call your name, so you have nil mental preparation.
I was honestly surprised by my own fluency in the room. I just kept talking without pausing much. It's as though I've been practicing my answer for quite a while already. It wasn't a very tensed up atmosphere. More lay back style of chatting. Questions were typical.
I felt good about it. At least i didn't leave the room thinking how could have performed better and what more i should have said. Well.. fingers crossed. hopefully i convinced my interviewers as well.
*The end*
So that's the end of it. You'll leave the place bidding your goodbyes to friends you've just met, coming from all over Malaysia. Exchanging Facebook names *chuckles* and that's it.
Personally, I love meeting new people. Especially by meeting all these top talents, it makes me humble and realise I've still got so much to learn.
I can't believe I'd say this but.. I really had fun. :')
Hope to get into 3rd stage *Fingers crossed* please please please.
will update you guys in this post if i do, wish me luck. ;) ♥
update: I didn't make it into the 3rd round. :'(
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