I never really talked about my university experience because when I started this blog I was already on my final exam of semester 4 and that was back in February. And then I deferred a semester, and a semester turned into two, and now, three.
I’ve been home for almost 8 months now and I’m missing university life a lot. So I figured I would talk a bit about my university experience when I did my foundation.
I was a 2012 SPM leaver with 6As, 2B+, and 1B. My 2B+s were Physics and Chemistry and the thing is I was so sure that I would score at least A- on Chemistry so I can apply for MARA scholarship to do medic in the UK (I would be so close to my boyfriend omg).
But God knows best. My B was Additional Mathematics and y’all know how annoying +Maths is. I hated that subject like no other.
So I applied for UPU with my result and I didn’t get into any public universities because I didn’t update my parents’ IC numbers. Apparently something went wrong with their system and we were needed to update our application and I didn’t do it until the due date. So that’s the reason why my application failed.
I had two private universities in mind which were the University of Nottingham (UON) in Semenyih and Management & Science University (MSU) in Shah Alam. My first choice was UON. I applied for it and I even had to write an essay application.
I was accepted for Foundation in Science but my mom said Semenyih is very near to our house and Semenyih is also my mom’s hometown and she wanted me to study somewhere a bit far. So I was left with the option to enrol in MSU.
My mom asked me to ask my dad first because scholarships are not offered for foundation studies. I asked my dad if I can go there and my dad said yes! I was so happy because I’ve already planned to go to MSU since I was 16 but I was distracted by UON and its partner university in the UK. I guess my luck is not in the UK, eh?
I applied for Foundation in Biological/Health Science in MSU. I called the counsellor I was assigned to and we talked on the phone about my studies. I was pumped to start a life as a university student.
I felt like at 18 years old, I was finally going to be an adult! Going to a university in the city of Shah Alam with no one to monitor you, who doesn’t like that? I know I do!
I registered for foundation on Monday, May 20th 2013. We had to come in a week early for orientation before we started our class. The registration went so smoothly.
And then we met the house agent for my accommodation. MSU doesn’t have its own student housing so we had to find the nearest apartment. The apartments near MSU are mostly rented by students.
I asked for a 2-person bedroom because I wasn’t going to share a room with 3 other students. Just, no. I got the key to the apartment so my parents and I brought my stuff from the car to the apartment.
Lo and behold, it was one of the most depressing days of my life!
We went to get lunch after I finished arranging some of my stuff where my mom and I were crying while eating because we have never been apart from each other. The food tasted like dirt and I didn’t want to be alone in Shah Alam!!!! I wanna go home!!!! University sucks!!!! I want my mom!!!!!
Later that night, I IMed my sister on Facebook and I asked her what everyone was doing. She told me at dinner mom said she doesn’t have any appetite to eat thinking of me. I cried like I lost a limb. I didn’t eat that night. I stayed in my detestable bed with my laptop, thinking of home. I hated it there.
I have never gone to boarding school. I have never shared a room with a stranger. I have never been away from my mom for more than 2 days. I have never washed, hang, or fold my clothes (I didn’t even know how to use a washing machine!).
I have never have to find my own food when it’s meal time. Basically, I have never done any household work except ironing and cleaning my own room.
So the thought of having to do everything by myself was terrifying.
When do I wash my clothes?
Do I have to wait until I don’t have any underwear left?
Wait, detergent and softener are different?
Oh, so that fast thing the machine do is spinning?
So automatic and manual machines are different? I thought we only have one type?
WHERE. DO. I. FIND. FOOD. AT. 2. IN. THE. MORNING!!!
I miss mom’s cooking. I miss mom doing my laundry. I miss mom.
What???? Maggi costs almost 6 ringgit??? That’s expensive for a student like me!
Twelve ringgit for an air freshener oh man Tesco you shit I can get KFC snack plate with that money??
Now I have to pay bills just to use the fan, charge my laptop, and shower?
NO.
JUST.
NOOOOOOO!
I was so sad the whole week that all I could do was cry because I got so homesick at night. I made some new friends in my course so I didn’t feel that lonely. My orientation ended on Thursday so I quickly called my dad to pick me up because I couldn’t stand another minute there. I missed home too much 🙁
To be honest, my foundation year was a fun one. I felt homesick only on the first month and weekends because I didn’t have classes to go that can make me forget that I was away from home.
I usually went to the mall after class every week so I always had something to do with my friend. We watched movies, went food hunting, had sleepovers, went for a trip, and so much more.
I finished my foundation on June 2014 and I went home the same day I finished my last paper. It was hard saying goodbye to 3 of my housemates that I had grown to love for months. They were so nice to me and they toned me down when they noticed I was getting wilder (trust me, I can be).
That is all for my first time university experience! Did you go through the same thing I did with the homesickness?
