Epiphany

Sudden Realization, Insight, A Clear Picture, A Life Goal

I was talking to my brother on the phone just now and it hit me

What do I really want ? What is my goal ? What do i want to do in the future ?

You see, i've always pictured myself in a suit sitting down on the 80th floor of a mega structure. Big mahogany table, large comfortable chair, a panoramic view of the city. As im sitting on the chair, a little voice in me starts talking

" Hey ! Hey ! have you saved the world yet ? "
" Hey ! Hey ! have you made a difference to the people around you ? "
"Hey ! Hey ! did you find your princess yet ? "

The third one was for fun, the first 2 were real though

In life, we sometimes think, i want to do this, i want to do that, i need this, i need that. But in truth, what is it THAT WE REALLY NEED.

Maybe it was just my own self expectation that convinced me that i should be an economist, banker, accountant or all these corporate jobs.

Or maybe is it just the feeling of wanting to stay in the same group as my family.

Well, 30 minutes after, a snack plate and a plate of cheesy wedges. I believe i found my calling

Its not about money, its not about prestige,
ITS ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

I WANT

• to be able to say to myself " I've done my absolute best in life, i've tried to help my fellow man and myself to become the best man i can be "
• to be able to say to my kids " I save people's lives "
• to alleviate the suffering of others
  
• to empower the lives of others so that they inspire a new bacth of people
• to live a fulfilling life

An engineer : An economist with a science degree

and thats what i shall keep in my head

A Confession

As much as i consider myself the product of one of the most craziest and most rewarding institutions this side of Malaysia. I cant help but get nervous about the future.

It seems hard to believe that in a few months time i'll be boarding a plane to god knows where and that'll be my home for the next 4 years.

I know im up for it, but its just so weird. I cant imagine how things will change here. How different will things be there compared to here. I have friends here. What will happen to them ?
What about my own self, What will become of me ?

Looking through some photos of my impending life there

IT JUST SEEMS SO SURREAL

Moving at the speed of light

Okay well not that fast. But close enough I'd say. I have 2 months left before the course ends and around 4 months to finish everything i have here and start anew somewhere else.

My thoughts should be in the present but i cant help but think of the future ahead.
Will I be alone ?
Would I be able to adapt there ?
Would I miss home ?
Would I have become more matured ?

I've realized something. Whenever I've left from one place to another. I've been lucky enough to always have a friend nearby for support. So I guess i probably have never really experienced the true meaning of isolation. The real feeling of looking around and really feeling like there's nobody there to talk to.

I wonder how it'll turn out

Sideshow Bob and The Return of the Sweeper

"Not since Gianfranco Zola popped up on these shores in November 1996 has a single individual made such an instant impact at our club" (Rowe)

He's fast, he's tall, he has curly hair.Dribbles like a Brazilian, Finishes like Ronaldo, Defends like Terry on steroids.

Brazilians are not known for their defensive qualities, they are mostly well known for their forwards and midfielders.

In hindsight, i thought this particular player was just another typical Brazilian defender, agile as a cat on the ball but clumsy like a giant on the tackle.

How wrong was I really

5 games in, with 2 shots and 2 goals and he's looking more sterling than the pound itself.

David Luiz is a defender by line-up, however his abilities far supersede that. He can run, he can pass, he can finish like any other winger, midfielder or striker.

Which brings me to today's post

The Return of the Libero or Modern Sweeper

The game has changed a lot in the last century. In 1940, it was all about catenaccio or park the bus and hit them on the break football. In 1980 it was total football . Now in the 21st century, football again has undergone a massive change. Before, a defender just tackles and clears balls, but now in the modern game, defenders have to offer a more attacking presence while still keeping the back line tight.

This type of player had existed before in the name of Franz Beckenbauer, also known as ' Der Kaiser' for his masterful attacking and defensive displays on the pitch. He's well known for inventing the role of the libero or modern sweeper, whose main duty was to take the ball from opposing forwards running on goal. A keen eye and almost telepathic reading of the game allowed Beckenbauer to literally pocket the ball from forwards. He had an aura about him, with his meticulous close control and dribbling, opposition defenders couldn't touch him on the ball. He had the flexibility of a gymnast, displayed by his last minute clearances. His boot was literally golden as he showed his tact for finishing, ending up with a goal tally of 60 goals in 430 games for Bayern Munich, his hometown club.

Comparing these 2 players, I believe that David Luiz represents the return of the sweeper or libero into modern football. With his last minute interceptions, acrobatic clearances, precision passing and striker's finishing. He is the Brazilian Kaiser.The boy needs to be more cautious in the tackle and possibly wear protection on his legs against those 'accidental' tackles but bearing that in mind, i have no doubt that the young lad is Mr Chelsea in the making

Interesting Links
http://www.cfcnet.co.uk/2011/03/23/i-want-curly-hair-too/

And of course some videos





And finally

Suck it United !

Life of SASER

Education is a big issue in most countries. In Malaysia, the people do not demand excellence, but rather they expect it. And judging by SPM results year after year, ill be politically correct to say yes we have been improving.

And i guess one of the reasons would be the idea of fully-residential schools (SBP) .True, it does contribute to this elitism which does stunt the growth of a standardized education, yet on the other side of the coin, year in and year out, it still produces a good number of talented and bright individuals that will play an important role in the future of our country.

That ends today's political discussion, lets have a flashback

Admittedly, i was a late inductee into Boarding School Life. The majority of SBP students had to endure 5 years of torment while my suffering was a fast tracked 2 year program. Yet I was amazed at how much 2 years in a boarding school can change your life, can change your perspective of things, change you physically and mentally.

Its only when your away from family and relatives, you realize just how important it is to be close to your family.Its only when your away from your old self (old habits and personality when you were in a daily school), that you are actually given a fresh chance to start a new life for yourself. I realized that I was as good as invisible in my old school, for some reason, perceptions of yourself and others have a strong influence in how you view yourself. If you think your useless, then you probably are. I guess this was what motivated me to change my landscape, move on and try something different. And just like how Robert Frost wrote in his poem 'The Road Not Taken' , it had made all the difference.

Being in a boarding school didn't make me lose any friends either, in fact i made a lot more and got a lot closer to some of them. The effect of being surrounded by friends 24/7 was a good thing in boarding school. You were never alone, when there was an exam, you would remember those days of frantic studying till the early morning with your friends.You would also remember the days of staying up late at night, texting, calling other school friends or just have a walk around school grounds at 3 am in the morning.

The camaraderie was the best part. You still remember your friends nicknames and forget their real one once you meet them outside school. The practical jokes and pranks you pull on your friends. Sharing your Dominoes, KFC and other fast food with classmates during the weekends or breaking fast. Screaming joy or crying dejection together during the Champions League Final or crucial top 4 matches in the EPL.

And who can forget the 'friendly' banter between the neighbours (wink wink) HAHA

Lets face it, teenagers will be teenagers. Teenage angst won over reason any day during those days. I bet when were old, this would be the biscuit for our tea or coffee breaks at work one day.

I will cherish these memories. Its already in my " Eddy's file of undeleteable stuff " on my laptop.I remember that time the teacher pouring water on me during class for falling asleep. I remember crying over that Final and a friend comforted me during assembly. And of course, who can forget the day we made our parents and teachers proud, completing a hat-trick of an award. We made history gentlemen. And for that, I shall forever remain thankful to this institution. For all its good and for all its bad. It made me who i am today and hopefully it made Malaysia a much better place :)

SM SAINS SEREMBAN Feb 2002- March 2011
Eddy Arief
7th Batch

I am a SASERIAN, and im proud to be one.

The Importance Of Stupidity

Lately i cant help but notice people keep posting on FB,
"Im so stupid "
"Why am i so stupid " and other stupid related statuses

So I was thinking what's wrong with being stupid ?

If anything, if I wasnt stupid i would not be smart
It is a paradox really

Think about it this way
If you didnt know you were stupid ( didnt know stuff) you would then realize and learn something new wouldnt you ?

Being smart involves being stupid, if Thomas Edison thought he was stupid from failing 1800+ times to design a lightbulb. We would all probably be using candles still.

If Colonel Sanders ( im hungrynow) thought he was stupid after failing countless times to get the perfect mix of spices in his chicken, KFC would not have existed and to some extent, i think everyone would be much healthier but nevermind that

Heres the thing :

Its okay to be stupid. Like seriously, dont be afraid that you dont know something, or you dont know how to solve something, or you dont have a nice pick up line to get chicks. Admit that you dont and start learning instead, dont let these 6 words determine how you think and how you react to things, you are your own captain.

My Wise English Teacher once said,
" Its only when your in the realm of stupidity , in the unknown, thats when you begin to learn new things "


So lets get stupid everyone !
So that we may all become much smarter later


* i learned that you dont need pick up lines to get chicks, hi works just as good too :)

Of Future, Marriage and Children

Im worried

Eventually, there comes a time in everyone's lives where these questions pop out in mind
How will I turn out in the future ?
Will I ever marry ?
If I do, how will I raise my children ?

As said on the last post, my research topic for this year is manliness.What makes Homer J Simpson more of a man than Peter Griffin in terms of parenthood and child rearing ? What makes Atticus Finch the Machoest (you get the idea here) man around compared to somebody like Alfie Elkins, who is not only macho but is also contracting a few veneral diseases ?

As a child born in the late 20th century, im confused with a lot of things. Im confused with people, Im confused with society, heck im even confused whether if its pronounced 'tamato' or 'tomatoe'. In today's times ,its downright hard for people to find themselves.There are just too many voices around

To be a man you must:

Get a girlfriend to prove your mature

Get a scholarship to prove your independent

Conform with these so called "unwritten rules of manliness" created by pretentious celebrities and money driven media monsters which honestly destroy the essence of man itself

(POINT IS)

Its tough to live today already

SO

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW ?

Imagine, the things we take for granted today, food,water, shelter, friends, family, youtube,facebook. basically the necessities of life (im being politically incorrect here).As a realist, the outlook of the world is looking pretty bleak id say . With an ever increasing population, the only way prices are going is UP . Which means, more and more people will have less food, which also means more people will starve. With the threat of global warming, i may have to engineer myself my own habitat to protect my family from UV sunlight and make a floating house to make sure my house doesn't sink during floods.

Also, because of this thing called TV or HDTV and cable if you want to be politically correct, people are losing their minds. well not really, just their thoughts and opinions.As much as it broadens our horizons, it also narrows our thinking, as much as it keeps our time occupied it wastes our time as well, as much as it makes us dream it also makes us procrastinate and not make that dream a reality.

This is just the current outlook of things yeah. I cant imagine how it might turn out in the future. I dont even want to think about failing in my studies or not getting a job. I know now how important the future is, not only for me, but also for my family, society and everybody

I can only sincerely hope my children will live in a better world than me. The current world we live is too much, just too much to handle i think. Too many things going on at once, its like waiting at a T junction on the road and seeing the traffic lights alternate between red, yellow and green at the same time. Its bound to infuriate, confused and even harm others and ourselves.

I will try my absolute best to raise my children in the best way possible. I hope to emulate my dad in some cases, through his patience ,wisdom and financial security. I would also like to adopt an Atticus Finch style of raising children. The quiet, wise yet firm father, who would do anything for the best of his children.Who teaches through examples rather than blanket statements with no mattress underneath.I will try my best to learn as much as i can, so that one day i'll be able to help them in their time of need.I will ensure that they become readers and thinkers before i give them TV or anything else before that.

Sometimes i wonder
What is my real goal in life
To live my dream of being a consultant engineer ?

or

To live for my family ?

decisions.decisions

The Future Really Truly is NOW guys
Carpe Diem