THE HAPPIEST DAY IN MY LIFE

I'm lying on my back underneath a chair with tears falling down my cheeks. I've been laying here for what feels like hours, but in reality are probably only a handful of minutes. I am weeping because I desperately want a rabbit and my parents, or mainly my Dad, won't allow it.  I'm in the middle of demonstrating my sadness, hoping my parents will see how much I'm hurting and that it will make them change their minds. I'm 6 years old, and have already understood that standing up for your beliefs (or, just trying to get things your way) by chaining yourself to a tree, or crying underneath a chair, is one tactic of negotiating in this world.

My Greenpeace inspired strategy unfortunately didn't work and I had to wait 5 more years before getting that rabbit (I did get a puppy at the age of 7 that I loved very much, and my brother got a rabbit, but those were never really the same thing as a rabbit of my own).

Maxy the rabbit entered my life at age 11(my dad finally gave in because I made a deal that if I got the highest mark in class,he have to grant me anything I want and yeahhh,I succeed), which coincidentally is my luck number, and reality has been exactly as good, if not even better, as all those childhood fantasies of having a cute rabbit as my best friend were. There's so many things in life that you can have very high expectations towards only to end up getting a bit disappointed with when they finally happen, so getting a rabbit has been a strong antidote for any cynicism or bitterness that might creep into life. And to be fair, with this one the risk of disappointment was pretty epic. I've basically built up my expectations since the age of 4, that's when I thought I got a rabbit for my birthday, but it turned out later that it was just a hand puppet that my Mom was manipulating to. Learning to deal with shattered illusions started early for me.

The whole process of searching for a rabbit, finding one, then going to visit it before it moved to our home was exciting and time consuming, but all worth it and I would absolutely do it again. Maxy comes hopping and his cute tiny nose wobbles whenever I played with him. His cute figure and white fluffy fur made him looks a lot like snow. Every time I think of it makes me smile.

I love the feeling of being needed and getting to take care of someone who always wants my affection and attention. Everytime we let him enter the house, he enters as if it's the first time, he carefully smells the walls and the edges of the carpets, he scans the rooms for any changes and makes sure that his bowl with water is still in the same place as it was the evening before. It's a daily reminder to not take things for granted and live life to the fullest.

The story of the girl who finally got her rabbit is maybe not a movie that would sell out at the theaters, but it's the little story of my life that keeps bringing me joy everyday.

Remember, be committed and be consistent in everything you do. See you in the next exciting entry!^^

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO PURSUE MY DREAMS LATELY?

           

Photo taken by me(FYI)

Hi guys! In my last entry, I’ve been writing about what I want to achieve in life and my goals. So, in order to achieve them, these are the steps that I take to make it all come true.(At the very least, I tried. HAHA)

Personalize my life plan

I develop a life plan that symbolizes the life I want to live and the steps I need to take to get there. By developing a concrete life plan that’s unique to me and my goals, I’ll prevent myself from reaching burn-out and losing sight of the end-game I have in mind throughout my day-to-day life. I can also review my plan on a weekly basis to remind myself of the steps I need to take today towards my dreams, as this will help me visualize my own future success and keep me on track.

Embrace the power of baby steps

I don’t get consumed by doubt and lose sight of my plan by focusing on the larger scope of my dreams. Instead I refine my path and always move forward in whatever ways I can every day, no matter what. My dreams don’t have to become unwieldy and untouchable, no matter how big they are. Little steps can help me reach my goals regardless of how small they may seem at the time.

Always show gratitude

I’ll never forget the precious gift of life, and the possibilities that it presents to all of us every day of our lives. I always need to stay positive and remain thankful for myself and others around me. This will help me keep a positive outlook when the going gets tough and it can prevent me from losing sight of my goal when I’d rather quit.

  

   So...that's the thing I have been doing and will keep doing it until something impactful happen. I'm sure my future self will thank me for these. Just remember guys(and gals), be committed and be consistent in everything you do. PEACE!

WHAT I FEAR

Hello wonderful people!^^ My name is Cristy Arnica and what I'm about to share will left you hanging because it will be so boringgg. No, just kidding(hehe). This is yet going to be the most exciting things you want to know about me. Yeah, you read the title correctly. These are the things I find most terrifying and intimidating in my life. No, you are wrong. I'm not afraid of insects or mice. These are in fact, a real talk. Keep reading...;D

      This is one of my greatest fear- accidental loss of the beloved ones. This is the terror that haunts me every single time my parents ever go out. I fear that all of a sudden, while I was enjoying myself eating Maggi, someone called to tell that my family was involved in an accident. Argghhh, that feelings. Perhaps this fear has ripened-up with time, coming across all those newspapers and news channels flooded with death news due to accidents. Perhaps this fear has developed due to all those accidental deaths of many known people. Deaths, as a result of accidents, shatter me to the core. Because it’s never the victim’s fault, and yet it costs him his life. I agree life is unpredictable, but perhaps I might never be ready to face such a situation. But then, having this fear, I’m becoming more closer to my family, and I tried and really enjoying every moment I spent with them because I know, at any moment, people you love will passes away and you wouldn’t even have the chance to say goodbye. So, I guess this is the beauty of having this kind of fear. You tend to appreciate people more.

      Another thing that I dread so much is not to be able to deliver to the expectations of my parents. What if I don't become as good as they want me to be or what if I ended not being so good in what I do than what I had expected from myself? It's scary sometimes. My parents are simple people who just want to see me doing my best, because they believe in me and my potential which I fail to understand at times. They have been supportive throughout without complaints and hesitation, ready to make things easier and better for me to be successful.  It scares me when they have been doing so much for me, they must be expecting something, which they don't mention but it's something that I can understood. And this is why I try never giving up on things or leaving things unfinished. When people who put in so much effort for you to be able to do well in life are with you, you get the courage from them to stand up after failure and fight back, no matter how hard it seems to be. I love my parents and I don’t want to break their hearts. That is the reason why I strive to be a better person than who I was yesterday and never limit myself from doing anything. This is what gets me through the tough phases and has taught me to stay calm and work in peace. I know I could make them proud of myself someday.

     Also, functional dependence, especially in old age. Functional dependence is the inability to perform daily activities. I fear that when I gotten way older, like 70 years from now, I cannot depend on myself anymore. I fear being bedridden. Basic activities, such as bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, feeding or helping an elderly person to move around or be transferred or positioned can be very stressful for the caregiver. I know this because we used to take care of my grandfather before he went to the afterlife. I don't want to put my family through the messy toileting. The impact of having someone in the family with functional dependence is massive. I can’t imagine to having someone to take care of me rather than me myself,and that’s what I fear.

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune

     All in all, what we can do right now is...just face our fears. They are not the boss of us. Don't be so overthinking, don't get stressed out just because you fear something bad about to happen. This will not do us any good. You can't change anything by freaking out. Let's just do what we can do and God will do what we cannot do.
    Pheww...That's a preach. Stay tuned for the next entries, guys. Remember, be committed and be consistent in everything you do!

MY DREAM

  

                      Everyone wants to be successful and rich. I also dream of becoming successful in the field I choose although I am still indecisive about the career path I will choose. I mean at this point, it is still not crystal-clear. Well, I guess it's because I have so many dreams that I can't quite decide what I want. Nevertheless, deep down in my heart, I know I want to be a teacher. But I know whatever I choose I will work hard, love what I’m doing, stay focused and make it big.

                     Talking about being an educator, I've been dreaming to choose this field because I want to be a part of the learning experience, and to help students understand that with knowledge comes power. It’s incredibly hard work but I think teaching is the most rewarding job out there and every day is different. That's what makes teaching not boring because every day is a new day with the students. Moreover, I want to inspire others to reach their fullest potential and most importantly, to learn from them in the process.


                     Other than that, I also dream of doing something for my country. There are so many problems in the country such as poverty and illiteracy to name a few.


                      The crime rate in the country is at an all time rise and so are various other issues. While there are a lot of loopholes in the Malaysia political system that has led to these problems however we cannot blame it all on the government.


                       Each one of us should contribute our bit towards our country’s development. For instance, becoming a fundraiser or volunteer with a charity, As for me,as I grow up, I aim to join an NGO to help the poor and needy. I dream of eradicating poverty and social inequality from our country and will do my best in this direction.

                        All in all, to achieve our dreams and to be successful, it is no accident. The important ingredients to make it all come true are hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all love what you are doing. Oooh yeah, I'm going to make my family and myself proud.


                        Don't forget to pray for God's guidance and strength to face the obstacles to reach our dreams. Remember, be committed and be consistent in everything you do! See ya guys.

INTRODUCING MYSELF 

       Hello reader! As good manners indicate, I’ll  introduce myself before anything else. My name is Cristy  Arnica Clarence and I’m currently in my first semester, Science student at the Labuan Matriculation College, about to embark on one of the scariest, yet exciting adventures of my life.


      I am  from Kota Belud, Sabah and was raised there. I'm now 18 years old. I was born on 10 December 1999 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. My family consist of four members including me. Actually, I used to have a younger brother but he passed away in 2013(God love him more,bless his soul).


      My dad's name is Clarence Mongudal. He is now 46 years old and was born at Hospital Kudat, Sabah. My mom's name is Rose Timbangan. She is now 53 years old and was born at Hospital Kota Belud, Sabah. Now, now..I know what you're thinking right now "WHAT!Your mom are older than your dad???". Well guys, see that's what people said about "Love knows no age". For you lovers out there, if you get this kind of reaction sometimes,take my parents as an example. Who knows,this could motivate you that things will work itself out.(Note to self;since when did I became a love expert? HEHE)


       Meanwhile, my elder brother's name is Cray Maxwell. He is 21 years-old this year. He's an interesting fella. I used to adore him, mostly because he have so many talent. He can play all sorts of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, drum, bass guitar and ukulele. He is also talented at making music, writing lyrics and producing songs. Other than that, he loves vlogging.


       As for me(shaking my head),none of my brother's talent were inherited by me. I mean, I do love music but I can't play any musical instrument as good as him. Well, I did have an effort in achieving it. For instance, I went to music classes to dig up my inner talent in that area. First, I went to guitar lesson, but until this moment, I had only remember the C chord and the one where two fingers are in between the1st and 2nd  line from tuning part,on the 2nd and 3rd string from the top...(Haha. Confused? I'm more confused.) After trying guitar, I've tried piano and drum and those were also..well let's just say they were better than the first. Fine...I'm hopeless at musical instrument.


       Anyway, my favourite colors are black and white. I think they are so cool because they can go along well with any color. My favourite foods are murtabak and 'buntut ayam'. My strength is positive thinking. I enjoyed watching documentaries, listening to music, doing outdoor activities such as hiking, and reading in my free times.

 

      Voilà, meet my family!

Alright,that's all for now,guys. Stay tuned for the next entries. Remember, be committed and be consistent in everything you do!

FIRST DAY IN LABUAN MATRICULATION COLLEGE(KML)

HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!(Yes you)

My name is Cristy Arnica and today I'm going to share about my first-day experience in Labuan Matriculation College.

 

      A few months ago, as new student in Labuan Matriculation College (LMC), the first thing that’s appealing to me was that we received such a big and warm welcome. As soon as we arrived at the ferry terminal, there were many seniors waiting for us and leading us the way to the college’s buses that will took us to LMC.

      55% of the college’s students were from Sabah, 30% were from Sarawak, and 15% were from Labuan. This means that one of the first things I learnt on my first day at LMC is that I’m not alone. I spoke to myself, “There’s nothing to fear”.

      My first day at college is totally nerve-racking but when I showed up and saw that my fellow students were every bit as excited and nervous as I were, I soon felt at ease. It definitely helps to know that I’m in a good company. It’s not just nervousness that we had in common; it’s excitement for the adventure and opportunities that lie ahead.

      Next, another thing I’d noticed on my first day, we were introduced to the tutors and lecturers we’ll be working with throughout our courses. Their collective experience not only ensures we’ll have a warm welcome, wherever we come from, but also means that staff truly understand the challenges we face and can do everything they can to help students along the way.

      Also, it’s a known fact that the weather in Labuan are hotter than Sabah and Sarawak, however it’s not permanently not going to rain either! When I first arrived there, gosh it was so hot that the feeling of ice-cream in my mouth sounds so luring. On the other hand, when it rains, oh let’s hope you got a jacket on because, yeah it can be so cold, it’s freezing.

      Anyway, that day I queued up with the others as I’m officially registering as a student and filling in a lot of forms. They took my pictures so I could be issued with an official student ID card too. I needn’t worry because I was shown exactly where to go, with plenty of signposts and friendly staff and students on hand, helping me find my way.

     I had a lot of fun exploring the campus and the accommodation with my friends. I honestly thought I would miss home like crazy and cry my eyes out. But I don’t. Guess I’m too busy having fun and experiencing new things.
 

                                               This is me and my ex-schoolmates.Yayyy!!!

           This is one of the breathtaking views in LMC.(my friend took this picture, I kinda copy it hehehe)

Alright,that's all for now,guys. Stay tuned for the next entries. Remember, be committed and be consistent in everything you do!