Society Service

Yesterday evening, I met my dear neighbour's son, Ah Kit again. He was sweeping the floor outside his house. Upon seeing me, he tried to stop but I saw first and said, " Wow,, Ah Kit you're very hadrworking ah, help mother to seep the floor. " I really meant to praised him.

"Aiyah, Boh Tah Chek, mother forced me to do, one. No maid-mah, so help her a bitlah. Don't make me shylah." Ah Kit said in moodless tone.

"Isn't this sweeping good for you. Can exercise while you sweep. Help to mother , pity herlah, she has to cook dinner now. Some more your house will be cleaner, good for health. No need to be shy about sweeping the floor." I said.

"You don't knowlah. Wait my friends see get, the whole school knows. Damn embarassing one, you know." Ah Kit tried to tell me why he detested sweeping the floor. If memory does not fail me, Ah KIt is the School Computer Club president. He is also the prefect. So I read his mind that his present school status does not warrant him to sweep the floor. "Teng kang mo mien kin yan " And most of his friends' parents have Indon maids to do this "low-class" work. I really feel sorry for him, but he has to learn to face the reality of the world.

So I told him this, " Ah Kit, you are still young and now you already want to talk about 'mo mien or yau mien'. Let me tell you some 'kisah benar', if you don't mind."

Ah Kit took this opportunity to talk to me and stopped sweeping the floor. Got excusemah if his mum asked why he didn't continue his 'work'. "I knowlah you always got so many kisah benar..."

"I know one of my client who live in a bungalow in Bkt Damansara. His son is a top straight A's student up to A level. He wanted to study medicine in Cambridge (UK) or Harvard (US) and parents can afford as they are successful business people in their own fields. But when he applied last year, his application was rejected and was given Bristol instead. His mum was quite happy as her sister was staying there. The boy felt dejected as he couldn't get his desired varsity despite the straight A's and went for a counselling period. You see, in the top varsities, you're not the only top guys who apply. There are many more others applying and you have to make yourself an exception. Normally you have to write something about yourself, verified by referees."

"This guy is also active in his school but only at school level. The counsellor said that what have you done for society since you said that you are the president of this club. What the boy mentioned are within expectation of what a society president would or should do, like participate in gotong-royong, painting the school compound, participate in inter-school quizes, helping drive to get new members, raising funds for the society and sort of the things at school level. That is NOT enough if you want to study in premier varsities, the counsellor told him."

"You see, in US or in certain UK schools, the students are requested to participate in society activities for a certain period of time before they apply to college. They are told to exposed to from the very bottom, some even mentioned toilet-cleaning, helping the elders, something like those participants for the Miss Malaysia contest, having to expose in the most humble way."

Ah Kit chipped in to ask, " But the rich guy needs not do this-mah. Even he studies in Bristol he'll graduate as a doctor what. Same-lah. Graduate from Harvard as doctor , also a doctor; graduate from UKM here, also doctor. Now study in unregconized varsity , also can be doctor via a qualifying exam after graduating.So why this guy so stupid one , some more say got straight A's."

"Well sometimes, when a person feels that he ought to get the best and parents have no objection, then goes for it. Afterall, there is still a chance for him to get into Harvard or Cambridge. So the cousellor asked him to get involved in societal activities, and do it well. He then went to Laos for 6 weeks to help the urchins with the volunteer groups which the varsities approved. All the expenses would have to be paid by the parents. Then have to go to Inner Mongolia to help the sick and needy there for another 8 weeks in harsh environment. When he returned, his parents were shocked at his shacky looks. He said he has to clean the urchins, washing the clothes for the olds as there is no washing machines there , clean the compound and all those were noted by an accompanying welfare officer who will keep a record and report. You must understand that he is not the only one but 15 of them all over the world and all are top students. His parents were amazed what transformation the child have gone through and he now makes his own bed, does his own washing of clothes and sweep his own room, despite back home with maids around. He has changed into a very disciplined and independent guy and more positive, outgoing and helpful according to his mum."

Ah Kit then said," I wouldn't want to go through all these. If I get the straight A's , I could easily qualify for UM for medicine. And if lucky can get PSD scholarship and guaranteed to be a doctor. Why go susah-susah and pay so much money to get into Cambridge. This one wants to show off onlylah. Okay say this guy gets into Cambridge this coming September, there is still no guarantee he ends up as a doctor? He may change his course halfway. I hear my dad said that many students overseas change their course halfway. I'm afraid if I am a top student, go to study medicine and come back a divinity graduate."

"Most students think like you and this have become so COMMON. You have to be different so that you want to outshine the rest. There are now 60,000 unemployed graduates as they think alike. Those who get the jobs first is because they are different. They think differently, they have 'value-added' materials in them and they can be fitted into different situations. We know all graduates study about the same thing. A doctor from Cambridge still have to study the same medical basics as one is in UKM or UM. But why the Cambridge med graduate is in demand and wanted , while a say UKM med graduate would find difficulty in being recognised by the West. See if you study in Crimea Med School, here also doesn't want to recognise it soon. Don't tell me a Crimean student don't study medical basics." I invited Ah Kit to the scenario.

Ah Kit then said, "People are really people. Still hold the bias, thinking Cambridge is GOOD, still think Harvard GREAT. Maybe they should think like what you said just now, we must think differently, so think Cambridge is not that good. UKM is Better. Then our graduates will be employedmah. Stop those companies from giving preference to those returning from overseas varsities, but employ local graduates. The unemployment matter would be solved fast. Stop having the prejudice that anything foreign is good-lah."

I was about to retort his statement when his mum called him. Ah Kit quickly excused himself and told me, "maybe one day, I would like to have a Teh Boh tarik session at the nearby mamak restaurant and we have more on this matter. Mum is calling me. Nice talking to you."