An outbreak of why-didn’t-I-get-the-JPA-scholarship endemic has started few days ago. The influenza biasiswa is known to the nation as being annual, and for reasons unknown, there is still no vaccine available. As history suggests, the virus will linger in the community for a considerable amount of time, inflicting frustration and gloom before vanishing into silence.
It can be seen from the newspapers and TV news that students who did not manage to secure themselves with the scholarship were voicing their protest and dissatisfaction, despite obtaining bunch of A1’s in SPM. Some got the scholarship offer, but it is not what they wanted, e.g. different course or scholarship to study locally instead of overseas.
Such chaos happens every year, and the reasons and causes behind all these were… many. Due to my “identity”, I must not comment in depth. However, I’d still like to provide a few dosages of opinion (just what I think).
I understand that many people are very disappointed. They have worked very hard and getting the scholarship is the best present to compensate whatever they have sacrificed. However, luck was not at their side. Yes, LUCK. It is even more frustrating when a person who got 14A1’s did not get the scholarship while another person with only a dozen got it.
There are plenty of reasons causing the scholarship to slip from their fingers, one of which is the course they applied for. Here, I’ll just talk about medic. The number of applications for medic is more than threefold the number of scholarships actually available. It seems like so many people wanted to become doctor. But are they really ready for it? Are they sure that they will hold no grudges when they are forced to work 36 hours continuously, looking more like patients than the patients?
People may wonder how it feels being a scholar, especially JPA scholar. As such, they will start fantasizing about the glory and money and everything sweet. As time passes, the thought of getting the scholarship rooted deep in their mind, and they get super sad when they don’t have it. It is even more sad to see parents saying things like: “ … all the efforts are wasted…” Is studying really just about getting scholarship?
What I can say is that getting JPA scholarship is just a brief burst of fame. But after that, life goes on. With all eyes on you, you have to work thousand times harder than you were. Also, the scholarship does not guarantee you a flight ticket to study abroad. With greater challenges, harder syllabuses and more competition, can you handle the pressure?
There is also no turning back. If you regret making the decision, you will face the fate of paying back all the money the government spent on you, and it’s a really BIG sum of $$$. Unless you come from a wealthy background, then there should not be a problem. But why taking the scholarship when your parents can afford to send you study overseas?
If you did not get the scholarship, calm down and don’t feel upset. Maybe there’s a blessing in disguise?
OK, it’s time to return to the alphas and betas, sine, cos and tan. Ciao!
It can be seen from the newspapers and TV news that students who did not manage to secure themselves with the scholarship were voicing their protest and dissatisfaction, despite obtaining bunch of A1’s in SPM. Some got the scholarship offer, but it is not what they wanted, e.g. different course or scholarship to study locally instead of overseas.
Such chaos happens every year, and the reasons and causes behind all these were… many. Due to my “identity”, I must not comment in depth. However, I’d still like to provide a few dosages of opinion (just what I think).
I understand that many people are very disappointed. They have worked very hard and getting the scholarship is the best present to compensate whatever they have sacrificed. However, luck was not at their side. Yes, LUCK. It is even more frustrating when a person who got 14A1’s did not get the scholarship while another person with only a dozen got it.
There are plenty of reasons causing the scholarship to slip from their fingers, one of which is the course they applied for. Here, I’ll just talk about medic. The number of applications for medic is more than threefold the number of scholarships actually available. It seems like so many people wanted to become doctor. But are they really ready for it? Are they sure that they will hold no grudges when they are forced to work 36 hours continuously, looking more like patients than the patients?
People may wonder how it feels being a scholar, especially JPA scholar. As such, they will start fantasizing about the glory and money and everything sweet. As time passes, the thought of getting the scholarship rooted deep in their mind, and they get super sad when they don’t have it. It is even more sad to see parents saying things like: “ … all the efforts are wasted…” Is studying really just about getting scholarship?
What I can say is that getting JPA scholarship is just a brief burst of fame. But after that, life goes on. With all eyes on you, you have to work thousand times harder than you were. Also, the scholarship does not guarantee you a flight ticket to study abroad. With greater challenges, harder syllabuses and more competition, can you handle the pressure?
There is also no turning back. If you regret making the decision, you will face the fate of paying back all the money the government spent on you, and it’s a really BIG sum of $$$. Unless you come from a wealthy background, then there should not be a problem. But why taking the scholarship when your parents can afford to send you study overseas?
If you did not get the scholarship, calm down and don’t feel upset. Maybe there’s a blessing in disguise?
OK, it’s time to return to the alphas and betas, sine, cos and tan. Ciao!
11 tippaniyam:
"If you did not get the scholarship, calm down and don’t feel upset. Maybe there’s a blessing in disguise?"
Yup! Totally agree with this! In my case, my 1.5 year of A-level college life in taylor's can't be better.
YA, WAY BETTER THAN WHAT I GOT OK?!!!!
CAN'T EVEN COMPARE!!
well, i do agree. Being offered JPA scholarship sometimes, is not a blessing though it seems to be. Think about post-graduation life before accepting the offer! =)
Ya, there'll be many years serving the government. But this also depends on the course people took.
still, get scholarship has the pros and cons la, at least save lots of money. but the pressure really not everyone can handle.
True! For those ordinary courses (all courses except medicine and dentistry), scholars are asked to serve for 6-7 years, while medic and dentirstry scholars are asked to serve for more or less 12 years, if I am not mistaken.
Different individuals have different perceptions towards the serving period. It may be a piece of good news to the conservatives, thinking to secure a job right after graudation. Don't laugh! It's pragmatic especially for now, when the global economy is bogged down by the finicial crisis and getting a decent job is like getting a BLOCK of GOLD. But to those who are ambitious and adventurous, the serving period is going to be dreadful. The nature of positions in the gov. departments can hardly or have no way to satisfy them. It's not about $$$, but the nature. Also, think about the power of the consumption by the "slow and steady policy" as time passes on. Recognition is another issue, as we are still moving towards the goal of TOTAL INTEGRATION. Will you still stay happy when your idea is not appreciated no matter how brilliant and how good it is? I've heard people saying that there is no point to shine brightly in the Gov department. Most of the time, no one appreciate you though you are shining bright, or if you are just too unfortunate, you might be sent to the COLD STORAGE so that you will never take over your boss.
Gaining an offer from the JPA to study a degree in Medicine or Dentistry overseas is a dream of many students. But, I wonder how many of them are living happily after they have accepted the offer. As far as I know, most of the medic and dentistry candidates think that the serving period is simply too long. Many of them wanted to get rid of the contract ASAP so that they can get involeved in the private services. To their understandings, working in the private medical services is the starting point of a prosperous life. I wonder if their conscience is still alive. The Government has been spending so much fundings and resources on those "SCHOLARS", hoping the scholars to improve and enhance the current local medical services using their knowledge, experience and expertise. What a shame, after obtaining decent medical-degree(s) and speicalty(-ies), they leave for private services without any regret. Worse still, some of them are even disgruntled at the gov, consoling themselves that it's the Gov which is owing them! What a shame indeed.
I humbly as if those JPA medic/dentistry scholars to stop and think before proceeding further. They should ask themselves if they are really ready to serve others. Or, they are just longing to make BIG money. If so, they make themselves no difference than a betrayer."
Although i am not an OFFICIAL JPA scholar, I persoanlly think that pressure is not really an issue. Regardless where you are studying, or, whether you are being sponsored, there exists the pressure. On top of that, shouldn't be the JPA scholars smart and well-qualified? They are chosen from thousands of elites each year, with the lastest scoring average 11 1A's in SPM, I wonder from where the pressure is exerting on them. Maybe, they are aiming for perfect scores.
There are just too many factors which have be taken into account when one is deiciding whether or not to accept the scholarship, indeed. No one can deny that being offered a scholarship by the JPA is really exciting, honourable and applausible. But, FAME can be drowning, taking you the point of no return. It's the best policy to be yourself. You should choose an appropriate course that you really like to do with little concerns about its market value. In accordance to what Njui said, everything has pros and cons, and it depends on how the offer holders to weigh them.
wow...a really good analysis.well done !
the comment by anonymous is really amazing.
i always feel i'm responsible of voicing out my own opinions of being in the same situation like you...jpa scholars.
ppl may think we had it easy after securing it .
but heck, life's not a bed of roses.
and i really think we should be grateful for what we've,boon loey,after all,tears have been shed by many who're not able to secure it.
let's work hard for our future.my friend !
Any idea who is this 'Anonymous'?
Finally, my turn to reply the feedbacks. I have to admit that I'm very surprised to see so many comments here, thousand thanks guys, especially "anonymous", for giving a very detailed analysis. May I know who you are?
To anonymous,
I agree with most of the thing u said. I'd like to add a few here. About the issue of going into private sector, those doctors or dentists can still serve the community. It doens't mean that the only way to serve the people is to stay in gov departments. Think of the hard work they have put in and all those sacrifices they made, don't they deserve something better? In this regard i'm talking about better pay. Working like "cow", sorry for using the word coz i cant think of a better word but only being paid a penny, is that fair to them? Like what u mentioned, working in gov department is dreadful. No matter how hard u work, no one is going to appreciate. As time passes, u get more and more depressed and may eventually join the lambat group.
Talking about pressure. For most of the cases, pressure is not self-inflicted. Like my college, a very high standard is set up to really push the students to the max to conserve it's "reputation". Examples are grade A means 90% above and one has to pass the cut-off points (at least 3 B's) in every exam or else they'll have to report themselves at the library every night. Still, many poeple managed to pass the cut-off points, but pity those not so lucky.
To Ying Fang,
Agree with u. We should be grateful for what we got. No matter how hard the front road is going to be, let's bulldoze the way till the end, and the end means anything good and happy. Gambateh! Let the first batch of seksyen 4's 2 only JPA scholars be the best than the rest of the batch!
Dear O-W:
Nice to read your reply. Here, I have some comments upon your comments,
Quote 1 :"About the issue of going into private sector, those doctors or dentists can still serve the community."
Of course! They can still serve the community, but only PART of it sadly. To be honest, you must consider that how many percent of the population can actually afford the costs of prvate healthcare before you come to the conclusion. (Can you? If you can, you should be thankful) If what you'd mentioned in the reply were true, I am worried. If fellow doctors and dentists were to leave public medical service and be a part of the private practioners after gaining their expertises simply in pursue of "rewards" and "recognitions", i would like to ask, who is going to take care of the poor? Hahaha... fellow housemen? or MO's? since most of the specialists have left for the private sector. A fact that no one can deny is that the poor need better healthcare services than the rich as the poor are living under substandard environments, struglling against adversities.
*Poor poor the poors!
You are destinted to be white mice!
You are destined to be the true sacrificer!
You will never know why there're people regarding your sacrifice value-worthy as it acts as a stepping stone for them to serve a class of citizens who know how to reward and recognise them!!!*
It's just too bad that the recognition bidded by the poors are not appreciated.
Quote 2 "Think of the hard work they have put in and all those sacrifices they made, don't they deserve something better?"
There is a prominent yet strong assumption underlying the statement. You are assuming that the hard work and sacrifices that the fellow medical practitioners (MPs) have made should earn recognitions and rewards. If my perception to the statement is right, the rewards being discussed are measured monetarily.
Honestly, is there any law/rule/principle saying that hard work should be rewarded (monetarily)? If there's, I would name it "materialism". Afterall, aren't patients' recoveries the best recognition, the best reward to MPs?
P.S: All the best in your exams!
Best wishes,
ANNM (anonymous)
To anonymous,
I agree totally what you said. After all it's up to the doctor whether he's going for wealth or he really has the passion to serve the people.
"Afterall, aren't patients' recoveries the best recognition, the best reward to MPs?"
~I like this =)
Before I leave, million thanks for wishing me luck. Same goes to you, if you are a student. Hehe.
Look forward to your future comments. Pls indicate with "ANNM" so that I know it's you who left the message.
Bye!
Post a Comment