aut viam inveniam aut faciam

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam is a Latin motto that if were directly translated would mean, ‘I will either find a way or make one’. Generally, the motto is expressing that if there’s a will, there’s always a way. I’ve been holding to this motto for a long time. Coincidently, it’s also my school’s motto.

Why I hold on to such motto? Well, I believe, will is a very strong word. When you have a will, if Allah allows it, nothing could stand on your way. When doing something, will is very important. If you need to study for your exam but you hesitate, you will find many ways to not study. But if you have the will for it, nothing could distract you from doing it. Even if you came from a poor family and couldn’t afford to buy books, with the will you have, you wouldn’t mind going to the library to borrow some books for you studies.

Someone who is handicapped could do the same thing that the normal people do. If they don’t have any hands, the paint with their legs. If they don’t have any legs, they walk using their wheelchairs. If they don’t have any eyes, they see with their hearts. They play sports, they become people’s friend, they do craftwork, they do basically whatever we’re doing. And what do you think helps them overcome their weaknesses? It’s their will. Their will to be normal, to do things they’ve always wanted to do. And what we should have is the will to help them.

When you have the will, there’s also no room for giving up. People who are really willing and determined in doing something would never give up. They will find all the possible ways so that they can succeed in what they’re doing. Cause if there’s a will, there’s always a way. And when they have tried they’re very best, the outcome doesn’t matter anymore. Cause if they succeed, congratulations! But if they don’t, they’ll always try again.

By holding on to this motto, I have done much in improving myself. I like to do charity works, cause I like to put a smile on someone’s faces. There’s one time, I joined an event organized by my university. It’s a homestay program where we live with the villagers and help them with their daily chores that was held during the past Ramadan. I’m a city kid who’s very close to my family. I couldn’t stand being far apart from my family for so long. But for this event, I had to come back early, and can’t go home for more than a month (which is a long time for me as I usually go home every two weeks or so). But with the will I have to join this event, I put all of these aside. And it went well. I really enjoyed the event and never regret my decision.

Remember that I’ve told you about how bad I wanted the DVD that I’ve been looking for so long? I’ve been trying to buy it since a few years ago but I’ve never found it in the DVD stores. But my will to have the DVD is so strong, I didn’t given up looking for it till know. And hey, I’m only a few steps away from obtaining it. I took the barcode from a local DVD store website and gave it to the store’s worker. And he’ll order it for me. Yeay! I just don’t know why I haven’t thought of it before this. Huh!

Then again, aut viam inveniam aut faciam. If there’s a will, there’s always a way. Till then. Tata!

Read my original post for Real Voices here.

Salam Aidil Adha

to all muslims. May your Aidil Adha be blessed by Allah S.W.T. Enjoy the feast!

what's cool? what's hot? what's not?

What’s cool? Hard to define right? Cool is a subjective matter. Definition of cool would be different if it were asked to different people. Generally, cool would mean great, the best, up to date and stuff like that. Someone who’s cool would be someone who’s up to date, knowing today’s trend and is very likeable by other youths around him. “That’s a cool band!” would mean that the band is playing great and the audiences fancy them.

So what’s the trend today? What’s considered cool? Well, from what I see, in terms of fashion, a cool guy would have short spiky hair or sometimes messy, wearing a simple t-shirt with a jeans or some baggy slack, a pair of snickers or a flip-flop and have some leather or beads bangle as their accessories. A cool girl would be wearing anything matching, with high heels or wedges or sometimes just some simple flip-flop with some accessories of their own. That’s what youths today are wearing. Come to think of it, would someone sporty look cool to a group of gothic? Would a mohawk look cool to some rich guy in a suit? Of course not! So, you should dress according to what you are. Then, you’re cool!

Youth’s today can never be separated with gadgets. What’s cool today is to have your own laptop which allows you to surf anywhere. I bet, a youth without a handphone would surely not be considered as cool. Cause handphone is like a necessity to youths today. With the fast growing of technology, a lot of gadgets are made available and affordable. Sometimes, someone with a Wii is always way cooler than someone with a PS2. Another trend today is having a DSLR. You’re not cool without one. But then again, who are you to judge who’s cool and who’s not cause cool can be judge from many different perspectives.

Another cool thing today is to have a friendster profile, or a facebook or a myspace or hi5 and the list goes on. Who doesn’t have those today? Even someone who doesn’t have internet connection in their home would have their own profile cause it’s ‘the thing’. It’s the trend, everybody is doing it and we should follow. Well, I believe it’s a good thing. Cause it’s one way that you can get connected with friends, old or new. Even the grown ups are having their own profile now.

Youths today spend most of their time on the internet. They blog, they chat, they play games. These are some cool stuff to do. They also spend their time with their friends in cinemas, karaoke box, or in futsal courts. These are some healthy stuff that are also cool. Some would consider smoking as cool. Don’t want to cause any spark here but is it cool to be a slave to the cigarette?

Using short forms like LOL and BFF while typing sms and chatting is cool. If you spell the words one by one, you’re not cool. Youths today have even developed their own language. They have they own slang that only they (or sometimes their parents) would understand. Some examples of slang have been discussed in our previous chapter which is Chapter 5. Click here to read Chapter 5.

Cool youth watch cool movies and series. Some of the movies and series considered cool to these youths are Heroes, Transformers, Twilight and other movies and series with the same genre. If a guy watches some cheesy romantic movies and cries after watching it, he’s not cool. And if a girl watches a horror movie without ever closing her eyes with her hands, she’s cool. Reality shows are another today’s ‘in thing’. If you don’t know what is Malaysian Idol, The Apprentice, Explore Race or One In A Million, you’re really not up to date. Believe me, even small kids would know who comes from which reality show.

Appearance is a crucial thing for youth these days. Appearance for them is everything. They believe in “you’ll never have second chance to make a first impression” so the first must be good. If you’re all covered up with brands, you’re cool. Adidas, Gucci, Nike, and Chanel would always attract people. And if you’re using them, you would obviously become people’s attraction too. Indie brands are also cool these days. Indie brands are simple yet are really attractive. However, brands are not that important. If you know how to mix and match and look cool, you’re still cool.

Another today’s trend is there’s no such thing as only for girls, or only for guys. Some stuff that are previously made only for girls are also now made available for the guys too. For example, men’s face washer, face cream, hair cream, as well as masker. Previously, it will be weird if guys pampered themselves with these stuff but nowadays, it’s no longer like that. Sometimes, these guys care for their appearance more than girls do. Today, jerseys and boots that are previously only for guys are also made for the girls. They even have baby-t jerseys nowadays. Girls who watch football till 3 am in the morning is cool. Girls who plays football are also cool.

Then again, being cool is subjective. Every people have their own definitions and perspectives on being cool. If A says you’re cool doesn’t mean that B would say the same thing. What’s important is to be yourself. If you’re being you, YOU’RE COOL!! and sometimes, NOT BEING COOL IS COOL!!

Read my original post for Real Voices here.

the tens that top my chart

I've been tag by Youthsays' Today's Top Ten. Let’s have a look at my chart, shall we?

Top 10 things I can’t live without

• Handphone: I need it to call my family, take pictures, etc.
• Mp3 Player: my day will be dull without the sound of music
• Laptop: I can’t sit still without my laptop
• My external hard disk: cause it has a lot of movies and important stuff in it
• Internet connection: I’ll start itching when my gtalk says “Failed to connect”
• TV & Movies: I need entertainment, duh?
• Selected novels: what else to do at night before you go to sleep?
• Car: It keeps me moving.
• Money: I hate to need this but who can live without money these days?
• House: I wouldn’t want to crash at my friends’ place all the time

Top 10 must haves

1. Luerd Kattiya a.k.a. The Princess Box Set: I’ve been looking for it about few years already
2. My own car: Can give back daddy’s car
3. A bigger gig and RAM on my laptop
4. Sony Cybershot: I like taking pictures and be in pictures as well =p
5. A pair of Nike: To replace the one being stolen during the exam week. Huhu
6. An iPod: If my bro have one, I should have one too. Right? Haha
7. New handphone maybe
8. More and more clothes and apparels: Fashion never dies. Haha
9. Another PSP for myself: Tired of quarrelling about who gets to play with it
10. An all expenses paid around the world trip: Ya right! Like that could happen.

Top 10 favourite movies of all time

1. A walk to remember: English
2. Heart: Indonesia
3. Love Story: English
4. Sydney White: English
5. Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 1 & 2: Malay
6. Transformers: English
7. Saw I till V: English
8. High School Musical 1 till 3: English
9. Gol & Gincu: Malay
10. Tentang Dia: Indonesia

Top 10 favourite music of all time (or should it be Top 10 favourite band of all time ?? )

1. The Beatles
2. KRU
3. Westlife
4. The Police
5. Peterpan
6. Backstreet Boys
7. Duets: I really like to listen to duets. Don’t know why.
8. Aerosmith
9. The 80’s and 90’s song: English or Malay, any will do.
10. When I’m crazy or wanted to release my tension, I listen to dangduts and songs in foreign language like Spanish, Thai, Korean though I didn’t understand. Haha.

Top 10 favourite hang out places

1. Queensbay Mall, Penang
2. Golden Screen Cinemas, anywhere
3. Gurney Plaza, Penang
4. Mamak Stall, anywhere
5. Sunway Carnival Mall, Seberang Prai City
6. Sunshine Square, Penang
7. Jaya Jusco, Ipoh
8. Any food stalls will do
9. McD Medan Gopeng, Ipoh: That’s the best McD nearest to UTP.
10. A friend’s house: What?? It’s free, the food’s free too.

Top 10 brands (In terms of apparels)

1. Diesel
2. Adidas
3. Nike
4. Wild Channel
5. Reebok
6. Tropicana Life
7. Levi’s
8. Goggles
9. Body Glove
10. Fila

Top 10 junk foods I love

1. Burgers: Especially the ‘tepi jalan’ one, with the stalls and the long haired bro cooking it.
2. Maggi Mee and those in the same category
3. Instant Cucur, Paratha, etc.: All this instant stuff makes me look like a good cook =p
4. Potato Chips: Doritos, Mr. Potato, Chipster and the list goes on.
5. Ice Creams: Baskin Robbins and all but my favourite is the 50 cent ice cream the apek sells on his bicycle
6. Sweets: I eat sweets after every meal
7. Lot’s of chocolate
8. Soda’s: What’t junk food without soda right?
9. Fries: but very lazy to fry it la
10. Bubble Ice Blended

Read my original post for Real Voices here.