Kijang Academy Experience

Assalamualaikum and hello everyone! I'll be talking about my experience participating in Kijang Academy, hosted by Bank Negara for around 150 shortlisted students that later they will be again shortlist to receive the Bank Negara scholarship. When applying for it, there's a choice between Kijang Emas (for straight A+ SPM results) where you can pursue any field of studies and Kijang (minimum 8As with mixture of A+ and A) where you have to choose between the likes of Actuarial Science, Law, Economics, Finance, Accounting etc. I applied for Kijang of course, although honestly speaking, none of the field of studies were of my interest yet I applied for Law (because of my lawyer brother) and Economics with my mum's advice.

I was just back from the MARA office after wanting to cancel my JPA-MARA application to apply for MARA instead and was chatting with Adeebah. Then this happened:

She got invited to Kijang Academy for the Kijang Emas scholarship!!!! I was so happy for her! Then later as the chat continued I checked my e-mail for fun and JENGJENGJENG:

Then for the next few days I was at crossroads, because those were really fields of study I have never thought of pursuing before. But my mum made me research about economics, and it was okay I guess, so I asked my friends Dania and Aynn about it, and had a temporary mental breakdown when I found out that a lot of Mathematics/Add Maths will be studied in Econs. THE INTERNET LIED TO ME D: 

Fast forward to the day I went to Lanai Kijang, the place we're all staying. It was definitely a very luxurious hotel. There were already so many people in the lobby, just standing in the middle socializing and talking with each other like they already know each other for ages. The sight was really intimidating. After registering and getting my room key, my parents and I went up to my room, where my roommate was already there with her mum. Going back to the lobby, I attempted to get to know some people, there were so many of them I could barely manage to remember everyone's names. And yes, they're all high-achievers and debaters, if you're a SA-ian just imagine everyone is like Afaf/Chandra/Cayssey/Syed Saddiq hahahahaha. And that bit about everyone seeming like they know everyone? Well, that part is partially true, as some were school leaders who were chosen for this Yayasan Tun Razak programme before this, and most of them knew Cayssey. Plus, the SBP students knew each other from debating competitions etc. There were also familiar people from SAEYLS and YEBS. Students from schools all over Malaysia were there, from Sri Hartamas, MCKK, MRSM (even all the way from Sandakan!), TKC, STF, SASER, MOZAC just to name a few.  

Later we had dinner. A scholar who received the Kijang scholarship last year sat together with the people in my table and talked to us. He knew my senior, Andria, who is also a Kijang scholar. Then we all went to the hall where we sat according to our groups. I was in the same group as my primary schoolmate Vythi HAHAHAHHAHA (if you backtrack this blog to when it was first started you'll see his name being mentioned quite a number of times). The BNM people explained to us about this scholarship, the assessment that will be carried out the next day, the bond with BNM after we finish studying etc. and it was open to Q&A at the end. I remember the head girl of TKC (I forgot her name) asking, "Is it true that before this there were people who applied for Kijang scholarship being upgraded to Kijang Emas?" to which Cik Aireen replied, "Urban legend!" There was also another girl in front of me who asked, "What happens if we apply to study in the US but then later on Donald Trump wins the election and us Muslims are banned from going there?" to which everyone in the hall laughed and clapped at. Afterwards, we are supposed to make a group name and create a group cheer. My group was called the Kijang Warriors and the cheer included us screaming out our roles one by one "I'M THE CHARISMATIC ONE!!!" ahahahahhhah and later on together, "KIJANG WARRIORS, WE ARE ONE!!" yes i suggested the last bit from a k-pop group shhh. I found out that one of my groupmates, Imran, is bestfriends and debate teammates with an intern friend of mine, Raziq so he kirim salam. Such a small world. 

The next day, we had breakfast and were transported to Sasana Kijang, about two minutes away from Lanai Kijang. I was the first one from my group so I had to wait alone holding my group number K5. Then, each group moved to different rooms in different levels where we will be assessed by three assessors who will be watching and taking note of all our movements jk but yes. While we waited for the assessors to arrive, we practiced our group cheer and just talked about ourselves. In K5 there were Vythi, Andrew, Imran, Miza, Huda, Shan and me. So, our ice-breaking group activity was to think of 4Cs : Cartoon character, Car, Colour and Cuisine that defines us and we had to pair up (or in my case, tripled up) and introduce our friend using those 4Cs in just 3 minutes? Because of the time constraint, I stuttered a lot while introducing Huda's car IM SORRY D: Mine was Naruto (TO BECOME THE BEST NINJA EVEN WHEN FACING HARDSHIPS AND ALWAYS BE SEEN AS SECOND), Proton Perdana (patriotic, make country proud, same level as other high quality cars from other countries, Brown (not too calm or fierce, warm color that resembles chocolate or autumn), and Rojak (mixed talents, can be good at anything). 

For the official first group activity, we were given 30 minutes to observe a case study and do a presentation. I brought my crayons along hehehe just in case the marker pens were insufficient. So it was about this Pak Ali who owns 4 stationery shops and basically we have to help him. In the papers we were given, it was stated the revenue, expenditure and profit gained by all the four shops in all four quarters of the year, the specific problems faced by each shop etc. We had to improve it in the aspects of finance, inventory management, business management/change/development, and project management. Plus, we also had to propose our business goals, what kind of risks that might happen, what actions could be taken to solve it. It was kind of hectic and later as we presented, I didn't talk much because everyone were such good speakers @_@ Although later when one of the assessors commented specifically in what others were lacking, she mentioned about others having to speak out or less hair touching but she said I was ok?? But yeah when we were done, the assessor said we shouldn't straight away jump into the task and look at the bigger picture first and explain the whole concept to the assessors in the introduction.

In the second group activity, we were in the same room as another group with their own set of assessors, who would also be assessing us at the same time. This time, in 35 minutes, we had to plan out a three-day convocation carnival for a college to appreciate the students accomplishments and promote local entrepreneurship. It was stated there we had 25,000 kupang (like RM) and 15,000 square feet (sq ft) of space. We had to design the carnival, create a concept for it (that will also be suitable for young children as a lot of them will be coming with their families), and appropriately place the main stage, parking lot, vendors, facilities and common rooms. It was very complicated as each of them were in a table with the sq ft area for each of them and the pricings, and there was a limit for the amount of sq ft and kupangs that can be used for specific items. It was more complicated that the vendors are separated into other subgroups like flowers & gifts, games, telecommunication services etc with the average amount of money made per customer, and it being either 10' 10' or 20' 20' sq ft and with different pricing etc. The aim is also to make a lot of profit by the end of it. Again, it was very hectic in the beginning. 

As the others calculated the sq ft and vendors, Imran and I designed the carnival and I came up with the concept Colors Of Success which would be exciting for the kids too ahahaha. I was imagining the Hari Guru carnival I went to last year plus Amzar's convocation day. I felt like an architect drawing the plan and I subtlely used colorful crayon colors to fit in the theme. We even put colorful mascots at the entrance lul. I had to make sure the sq ft and details for everything did not cross the limit and was realistic, cooperating with my group members who managed the pricing of the facilities. As I secretly glanced at the other group's design, I was a bit satisfied that they didn't put seats as it wasn't stated in the paper (so evil of me I know) BUT COMMON SENSE???? The presentation went well, although the assessor pointed out a miscalculation in the area of the seats so I immediately apologized and changed it (which the assessor said was good because I wasn't trying to be defensive or trying to cover up). The concept too kononnya nak celebrate the diversity of success, with different courses and races semua. Plus, the finance team did well, we made a profit of 52%!! Later, as the other group presented theirs, my group asked them why there were no seats for the waiting parents, graduates and to cater the elderlies. I think we did well because of the previous activity comments by our assessors about seeing the whole picture first, as when we were asked how we started off this project and what our main goal is, we answered that it is to appreciate the student's accomplishment (thus more number of flower & gifts vendors although others were more profitable) plus to entertain the guests especially the kids with the game vendors while the other group just answered to get the highest profit. Our assessors were secretly winking at us hahaha.

During lunch, we sat with other assessors who were working in Bank Negara in the Economics and Risk Management segment. We were allowed to ask them a lot of questions to prepare ourselves for the next segment and for tomorrow's interview. I sat beside the one who was in Risk Management, and although it was interesting, I wanted to listen to what those in the Economic segment was saying. I asked my groupmates about it and they said that in their perspective, Malaysia is actually doing well economically, and yes, there are a few economists in Malaysia. There's around 100 economists in Bank Negara. In comparison, there's only 5 economists in Maybank. Later, for the 3rd group activity, we were in the same room as another group, and this time, we had to present our preferred field of study (mixed with the people from other groups) and make others want to study it too! I was struggling in the Economics group because well, I didn't have much confidence in it. I didn't have much confidence in my presenting skills tbh although my friends who were placed in groups with differing fields of study that were not their first choice could still speak and convince everyone pretty well. After each group presented, the different group of assessors asked really challenging questions. 

For the fourth and last group activity, we were placed in the same room as two other groups. We were given instructions to build a 50 cm tower (minimum) that is kononnya a launching tower to send a rocket to space, with a 20 cm tower (minimum) as a communication tower beside it. The materials were inside this envelope, and when we opened it, it only contained a pack of cards. No glue, strings or staplers were allowed at all. And we had to do a presentation on a mahjong paper about the towers with the team member roles. All in 30 minutes. At first we were like ?????? but later with all the geniuses in our group thankfully, our group was the fastest to build the towers by cutting the cards using double slits and connecting it, and I was adding in the cut cards at the bottom for stability as later on each group's towers would be going through a stability test with other groups slamming the table the towers were on hahhahaha. It was a fun activity, and in the presentation, I was mentioned as the actuarist, and my role was hitting the table to test its stability lul. We toppled down another group's tower ahahahaha and our group's towers were the only one that remained standing, both of it. 

"This is our Towers of Success, inspired by KLCC which is our Malaysian pride, using the cutting-edge technology of slits. Simple physics really." 

The assessments ended and we went back to Lanai Kijang for dinner and for the announcement of the shortlisted candidates for tomorrow's interview. Those whose names were called were to go to another level in another room, and my name was called. But seeing all the top presenters and other amazing people's names not being called, I was sure that I was one of those who didn't make it. And it was true. So in that other room we were told why we didn't make it generally and later we could go to our assessors who were there to know our specific weaknesses based on their assessments. Andrew and I were the only ones in our group who didn't make it, so we went to our assessor and she brought us to sit outside. Her explanation was really kind, although she did laughed and slapped my shoulder when I said I felt lega / relieved ahahhahahaha. She said my reason was that I was energetic in the morning but my momentum went down later on. She also said I was confident but maybe I could articulate myself better. She also complimented our group saying that we had one of the best teamwork she had ever seen in years, and I couldn't deny that hahaha.

this is adeebah whom i met after going back down alone to take my bag after everyone left although she said she was going for a walk i like to think that she was waiting for me ohooo and she passed it to the next stage

Of course, it didn't go like an Akademi Fantasia elimination where the Percaya pada mimpi dengan harapan dan keyakinan song suddenly came out or like America's Next Top Model elimination where I had to pack my bags immediately and leave that night terus, THAT WOULD BE TOO CRUEL. I could actually sleep another night there and have breakfast before checking out of the hotel. I was feeling very sad, but not sad as in rejected-sad, but sad as in SAEYLS 2014 sad, like ahhh it's over I'll miss everyone I'll miss this place I'll miss the experience T_T Of course I can say that felt relieved, but now after a day has passed THE SADNESS AND INSECURITY JUST HITS IN like gaaahhhhhh why is everyone so great why can't I speak better how do I lead others how do I socialize more why can't I be more confident??!!??? Ok that is an example of overreaction by me. Anyways. I've learnt a lot this weekend, especially on what I need to improve about myself. I hope this experience will be helpful, as I have also been called for the Petronas YoungStars Day and MARA interview. 

Assalamualaikum and bye.

The Beatles - Hey Jude

very fitting song now. note that when the beatles mention 'her' i am referring to scholarships ahhahahaa

update: adeebah was one of the THREE recipients in the whole malaysia getting the kijang emas scholarship!!! she did great really she deserved it!!

For more post-SPM scholarships/assessments experience: MARA, Petronas, Yayasan Khazanah + Asasipintar UKM .