theinkSlingersThursday, 1 October 2015 • IS#29:011015(1) • For internal circulation only

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NewsVictory for Taylorians Shi Ma

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TU Students Donate Books to PupilsBy LEE TING

SUBANG JAYA: Seven School of Education (SOED) students are organising a book donation drive for SK Kampung Lindungan pupils until 8 October. Diploma in Education (Primary) student Lye Shu Zhen, 19, and her team decided that they would collect books and donate them to the children as part of their Community Service Initiative work.  “The group of children I worked with could not even spell or do simple calculation properly at nine years old,” Lye said. She added that Literacy and Numerical Screening (LINUS) children are those who fall below a certain grade after taking the LINUS test which identifies their level of literacy and numeracy skills. “Despite what level they are at, they are hopeful and have big dreams,” Lye said. Lye added that this book donation initiative is one step towards helping these children in achieving their dreams. SOED students have previously carried out literacy workshops with the pupils, the most recent one being ‘My Big Book Project’.  Lye said, “The workshop helps build children’s confidence in their

abilities, teaches them to enjoy learning and also increases their literacy and numeracy abilities in Bahasa Malaysia and English.”  SOED Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean of Postgraduate, Research and Innovation Dr Cheah Swi Ee commended her students’

effort for working within their limited resources to run the project. “I am positive that the project will create meaning to my students, both as a person and a student teacher,” Dr Cheah said. Dr Cheah added that SOED is currently responding to the

school’s request for on a long-term programme to help develop literacy skills among the children.  “Future plans are discussed to ensure that these children will continue to benefit from SOED students’ involvement,” she said.

SOED students Lim Kai Shuen, 19 (left), and Lye documenting the books that have been donated.

Architecture Exhibition Gives TU Students Time to Pause

SUBANG JAYA: School of Architecture, Building and Design (SABD) final-year students encouraged Taylor’s University community to pause and reflect on their lives by writing messages to their past or future selves. “We want to remind visitors to look at what they have achieved and think of what they aspire to be next,” said Pause: An Architecture Exhibition organising chairman Muhammad Haziq Ariffin, 21.

 Muhammad said, “I have always been taught by my favourite teachers that self-reflection is one of the most essential steps in the learning process.” The message-writing on the installation board activity was the highlight of the exhibition, which attracted over 400 visitors.  A total of 345 messages have been written and hung onto the installation board during the exhibition from 4 to 9 September.

 School of Education student Lum Kit May, 21, said, “It is definitely crucial to pause and reflect on our journey because one would need to think about how far one has travelled and what one had ‘picked up’ along the way. “If I do not take the time to ponder on the happenings in my life, then I would have been going through the motions of life without learning anything new at all.”

 When Lum was asked about the message she wrote on the installation board, she said, “Life does not travel in a straight line and you build the paths by yourself. Enjoy the journey and when we live our lives, the journey we pursue should be the one we’re excited about.”  Held at Centre of Design and Architecture Gallery, the exhibition also showcased SABD final semester students’ final-year project.

By OW JI JING

2 October 2015NEWS

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Students Underuse TU’s JomPAY By TEH WOON YASUBANG JAYA: JomPAY, an innovative Internet and mobile banking payment service in Taylor’s University (TU), received only about 160 transactions from students since its announcement on the student portal in August. Taylor’s Business School student Tey Ying Ying, 18, said, “I decided not to utilise JomPAY due to my uncertainty towards the security and stability of this system since it is still new.”  Most students prefer to make their payment using previous methods such as direct bank-in, online banking, interbank transfer, over the counter and cheque drop-off.  “My parents prefer to pay my tuition fees by cheque drop-off as they are used to it and felt that it is safe and efficient,” said School of Architecture, Building and Design student Lim Su Ying, 21.  “I think the management could issue a letter or send an email to students and parents explaining how this system works in detail,” she added.

 TU Chief Cashier Lim Pei Ean encouraged more students to utilise JomPAY as there are some limitations to the previous payment methods.  “Only certain banks are allowed in the previous online banking system; while making payment over the counter requires students to wait in a long queue,” Pei Ean said.  According to Pei Ean, students will be able to benefit from this new payment method as it would standardise all payment systems and

reduce congestion at the payment counter in Student Central.  “The management does not plan to further promote the use of JomPAY as it was well-explained on the student portal, and it is not environmentally friendly to issue letters to students,” Pei Ean said.  JomPAY is initiated by Bank Negara using current or saving account of 42 banks, which allows students to pay their tuition fees securely through eight simple steps.

New MC Club Opens its Doors to StudentsBy LAW CHENG JINGSUBANG JAYA: School of Communication has established the MC Club to address the declining number of emcees in Taylor’s University.  “The club was formed with the main objective of training potential members into well-rounded and capable event  emcees,” said club president and co-founder Christopher Wong Poh Fai, 20.  He said the club will look into improving soft skills and instilling confidence in members to unlock their true potential.

members are placed in actual events and workshops to gain experience.  “Members that have undergone training with us will be placed in charity or NGO events to train themselves in front of a crowd,” Wong said. “Emceeing is not only about having the ability to speak, but also the skills to present yourself in front of a large crowd,” he added. Membership is free and no specific skills in emceeing is required. The club is open for registration until 11 November.

 “This is also the first SOC club to collaborate with the Shine Award Centre (SAC),” Wong said.  He said SAC will work together with the club in providing free emceeing training for members.  “SAC is currently trying to invite people from different sectors to assist in training and carrying out workshops for members,” Wong said. He added that students who join the club will be able to benefit greatly through the developed structured programme where

Su Ying checking out JomPAY website for the first time.

TU Students Advised Not to Skip BreakfastBy TEH WOON YA

 “HSC staff requested my friend to buy me some bread as they suspected that the dizziness was caused by lack of energy,” Loh said.  Sime Darby Medical Centre diagnostician Tee Ser Ee agreed that breakfast is important. Tee said, “Breakfast is crucial in breaking the overnight starving period in our bodies, as our stomach is expecting to burn calories stored to maintain energy.”  “Our body absorbs more effectively in the morning, thus having breakfast could reduce the risk of illness,” Tee added.  However, students stated that they are not eating breakfast for

reasons, such as lack of time, reduced expenses and weight management.  In response, Wu recommended students to always prepare biscuits, energy bar or bread in their bags which are affordable and convenient.  Besides that, Wu said, “To be slim, students should reduce the amount of food instead of not eating at all.”  She added, “Students are adults, thus it depends on whether they want to look after their health or continue skipping breakfast.”  HSC offers free professional medical and health care services such as health education and illness prevention to the Taylor’s community.

SUBANG JAYA: Increased number of ill students visited the Health Services Centre (HSC) due to not having breakfast.  HSC nurse Jenny Wu Su Mei said students, who were sent to the centre recently, were experiencing dizziness or have fainted because they skipped breakfast.  Wu said students should never skip their first meal as it allows them to carry out their daily routines and to kick start their body system.  Taylor’s Business School student Loh You Chin, 21, was one of the students who was brought to HSC when he complained of dizziness in the midst of class.

3October 2015 NEWS

Taylor’s University Debaters Host First ChampionshipBy YEONG XIU HUI

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) Debaters hosted their first high school debate championship since the formation of the club in 2013. TU played host to 40 teams from various schools in Malaysia as they competed to be crowned champions of Taylor’s University Interschool Debating Championship (TUIDC) from 28 to 30 August.  “We plan to make TUIDC a yearly event,” said outbound President Elisha Yeo Hui Shien, 21. Yeo added, “It was a tiring process but our effort felt worthwhile when I saw the smiles and passion on the participants’ faces.”

 According to Yeo, the debate club hoped to have more activities that could positively impact the TU environment. The debate club also co-hosted last year’s Malaysian National Intervarsity Debating Championship held in TU.  Hosting championships allowed TU to promote its Integrated Debating Excellence and Achievement Scholarship (IDEAS), an initiative started by Life Skills Development (LSD). TU Debaters’ club advisor Alinder Kaur Chall said IDEAS allowed for outstanding debaters to be

supported and to achieve more in their tertiary education. “Debating not only helps to improve communication skills but also helps students to think on their feet and use their analytical skills to frame their arguments,” Alinder added. Alinder also shared her pride in TU Debaters for having grown and shown great potential. “As a team, they have come together to become a cohesive and determined group,” said Alinder, adding that the team would one day become one of the nation’s strongest debate team.

New TUSC President Plans to Bring Universities Together By DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG

SUBANG JAYA: Newly elected Taylor’s University Student Council (TUSC) President Kenny Lew Tze Hao, 21, wants TU to work together with Monash University and Sunway University. “We are so near each other and I believe with this advantage, better and stronger plans can be made between the three,” Lew said. Lew also added, “The Campus Relations team throughout the years had been doing a great job in forming an alliance with Monash and Sunway and I would want this team to further work on the alliance to strengthen the bond.” Lew will also focus on ensuring solidarity of the council itself.  “Everyone in the council is equally important and I believe that each of them has the potential to contribute back to Taylor’s,” Lew added.

Lew giving his speech as TUSC President 2015/2016. Photo Credit: Ben Lau

 He also said he sees himself with the role to move the council along the right path and bring the council closer as a family.  Former TUSC President Desmond Chiah Thong Ling, 22, thanked his fellow council members and TU management for giving him the experience throughout the past year. “I was privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead and serve alongside passionate and dedicated comrades, improving the life of Taylorians,” he said.  He said he was grateful for the friendships forged and memories made throughout the year with the team.  “They are a group of people who are not afraid to break the limits and we were able to achieve a rate of 95.2% of students’ satisfaction,” Chiah said.

Mental Welllness Campaign 2015 toTake Place SoonBy LAW CHENG JING

TU Chess Club Revives Outdoor Chess SessionBy TAN YONG LOKE

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University Chess Club (TUCC) has revived their free-for-all outdoor chess sessions outside Taylor’s Library. The session is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm. “This is our strategy to bring in chess players from our university to join our club,” said TUCC President Jonathan Augustine, 20. Jonathan said the first outdoor chess session was held on 3 September last year.  “The idea came from lecturers of School of Engineering Mohammad Taghi Hajibei and Dr Abdulkareem Shafiq who are passionate about chess,” he added.

 According to Jonathan, TUCC received much support from passersby in last year’s sessions and was able to identify many skillful players, some even represented the university. “This activity is beneficial because I usually only play chess on my phone which is against a bot,” said School of Engineering student Bae Keon Woo, 18. Bae added, “Playing a physical game with people also helps improve my gameplay.” School of Architecture Building and Design student Enoch Wong Shen Han, 20, said, “It is a good way to spend our break-time.”

Taylor’s University students enjoying a round of chess outside Taylor’s Library.

Student Kuberan Hasrajh, 12, in action during TUIDC finals.

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University Counselling and Psychological Services Centre will organise the annual Mental Wellness Campaign with the theme of ‘Fear Limits You’. The event will take place on 13 October at the Student Life Centre Foyer from 10am to 3pm.  The aim is to create awareness amongst TU students and staff that anxiety can prevent people from moving forward and may impede their capability to achieve.  There will be several booths set up such as advertising, promotions and games during the campaign. “We intent to print bookmarks that have words of encouragement on how to manage and alleviate anxiety,” said Campaign Coordinator Ching Bee Gaik.

4 October 2015NEWS

TU’s League of Legends Team Claims WinBy YEONG XIU HUI

SUBANG JAYA: Taylorians Shi Ma took three consecutive wins in a best of five to emerge champions of Garena’s Malaysia Campus League.  At the finals held on 5 September at Orange eSports Stadium, TU’s League of Legends team played against Chung Ling High School’s Become The Dust. The team, consisting of captain Matthew Chan Kuok-Han, Chan Ziyang, Emmanuel Lim Sze Hau, Joseph Saw and Justin Tung Zhun Xian prepared extensively before the finals, but were met with little resistance in clinching the title. “The finals were straightforward and (they) were the easiest team to beat,” said School of Communications student Matthew, 20, who added that the biggest scare was during the qualifier matches in July. Matthew noted the team’s overconfidence which led to them underestimating their opponents, but the team rallied themselves to reach the finals. Despite winning RM2,000 and five iPad Mini 2s, Matthew commented on the lack of acknowledgement when it comes to eSports achievements.

 “Gaming is not well accepted, and the perception is so negative,” said Matthew, who has had people question him on the existence of his social life upon realising he was a gamer. “People only tend to realise (potential) when someone gets good at it,” added Matthew who believed that the increase in tournaments being hosted would lead to gamers receiving recognition for eSports.

Nagarajah said it was possible for eSports to become a recognised achievement if it added value to students’ learning process. “If eSports can be a platform where players learn teamwork, coordination, interpersonal skills and such, then why not?” said Janaronson, who clarified that eSports had to be proven as a means of enhancing students’ soft skillls first.

 “The overseas competitive scene is huge, and Malaysia’s is also growing,” said Matthew, adding that he hoped eSports will become a recognisable achievement. Taylor’s Business School student Lim, 20, said he was reluctant to join the tournament due to his parents’ disapproval, a result of eSports’ negative perception. However, TU Life Skills Development Manager Janaronson

Latest Fashion Trend Matches TU Dress Code Policy

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University female students have been abiding by the dress code due to the latest fashion trend of jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. Previous trends had students wearing crop tops and shorts, which violates the dress code policy. Taylor’s Business School student Elisa Thang Xinyi, 21, said casual tees and jeans would never get old. “Loose t-shirts definitely trump crop tops as they are comfortable yet simple, so why not?” Thang said. Student Central Executive Edna Ruran Purait said, “I see more students putting on cardigans, and that is okay with us.” Edna said TU would not want inappropriate dressing to attract unwanted attention towards students.  “Limiting skin exposure of female students would also help to protect them from harm,” she added.  To know more about TU’s dress code policy, refer to the student handbook which can be found on

the front desk of Student Central at Block A, Level 2 or downloaded through the Taylor’s Online portals.

By TIFFANY MAREE LIM HUEY MIN

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University management plans to release an app for Taylor’s Integrated Moodle e-Learning System (TIMeS) to increase its efficiency for lecturers and students.  Yun Mei Ling, Learning Management Administrator of eLearning Academy (eLA), said, “There are plans to release a TIMeS app in the near future but it’s still in the testing phase and it’s important that we get feedback from students to cater their needs.”  “However, we cannot add our own features because TIMeS is based on an open education platform called Moodle,” she said.  Yun said there is an alternative way for students to receive new announcements from their lecturers.  “Lecturers can send notifications to students in TIMeS through news forum and students can change the default Taylor’s email to their personal one for easier notification purposes,” Yun added.

 There are also other features that lecturers wished TIMeS could add.  Dr Nor Shaipah Abdul Wahab, lecturer of Taylor’s Business School said, “TIMeS is lacking in volume space during submission and when files get too huge they need to find other methods of uploading.” She added that she would use Facebook groups but they are informal therefore she prefers using TIMeS due to its formality as a university platform, which is easier to track and record students’ work. School of Architecture, Building and Design student, Amanda Lee Chia Shan, 20, said, “A TIMeS app would be easier to get announcements and uploads from lecturers.”  Lee added that the layout for TIMeS could be improved for better user-friendliness in the near future.  However, Taylor’s Business School student Tee Wei Keat, 22, said, “I still prefer Facebook groups for communication, as TIMeS is used for information only.”

TU Plans to Release TIMeS Phone AppBy DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG

The current trend of long jeans and casual t-shirts caters to TU’s dress code policy.

Taylorians Shi Ma are crowned champions of Malaysian Campus League. Photo Credit: Garena League of Legends

5October 2015 FEATURES

Experience Sharing through Global Exchange Today’s society demands us to be better than our peers. Obtaining just a degree is not enough to get you that dream job anymore.  One of the ways students can increase their sellability is by learning more about the world outside their comfort zones. What better way to achieve this than to join exchange programmes? Taylor’s University School of Engineering student Yim Hoe Yen, 22, went to Taiwan for an internship programme with AIESEC. “I worked in a power distribution company called CHEM,” Yim said. “I was the youngest person there at the time.” One of the biggest things he had to overcome was the language barrier.  “They speak Taiwanese Chinese, which is a mix of Hokkien and Mandarin,” said Yim. “I only spoke broken Mandarin but I took it as a challenge to learn the new language.” Yim was able to speak and understand many idioms and native sayings because of the kindness shown by the people there.  Yim has become more aware of his surroundings now.  “In a local company, I would not need much time to adapt to the

 School of Biosciences student Choo Hang Jie, 21, went for a six-week global community development programme to Thailand in January. The Province of Sisaket is a rural town southeast of Thailand and a nine-hour bus ride from Bangkok. Choo’s job, along with 26 other participants, was to teach rural primary and secondary school students to read and write in English. To prepare themselves, they attended a seminar that gave them an idea of what to expect on their journey and also a few useful Thai phrases for their daily usage.  Choo said, “The memories from this experience are things that I will hold on to forever.”

environment,” Yim said. “But in an entirely new country, the office culture is very different so I made it a point to observe everything around me very closely.” The exchange also allowed him to experience Taiwan like no other. “On weekends and holidays, my hosts would take me to interesting places that a foreigner would never learn of over the internet,” Yim said, citing examples like the Dragon Boat Festival that happens during summer, and a cross country trip through various small towns. Yim experienced much more than he bargained for when he signed up for this internship programme abroad.

By SACHA MALLI GERARD CHRISTOPHER

Yim (right) in Taiwan with his hosts. Photo Credit: Yim Hoe Yen

 Choo lived with a local Thai family and was treated just like their own son. They went out of their way to make him feel welcomed within their household and made sure he was comfortable at all times.  According to Choo, teaching primary students is very much different from teaching secondary students. But they taught him the value of selflessness and kindness, despite the language barrier.  On weekends, Choo travelled to neighbouring small towns with his host family and sometimes with other exchange participants. “These are places normal tourists would not see,” said Choo.  Choo is inspired by his experience in Thailand as he quotes an old Chinese proverb that says ‘To give is a hundredfold better than to receive’.  “I hope to go back there one day to see my students and how much they have grown,” Choo said. “Maybe within the next two years, by then they should be out of school.” Exchanges help build character too. Like Yim and Choo, we should all aspire to be able to one day leave our comfort zones and venture out into the world, making new paths for the people who come after us.

Holistic Learning Through VolunteerismBy KELLY CHENG CHIALI

AYVP volunteers explaining to a Cambodian villager on how to use a ceramic water filter.

 Volunteerism is often associated to be a noble act. On hindsight, volunteers are perceived to be self-sacrificial individuals who hold up the ethos of ‘service above oneself’. This is true, but there is also another side to volunteerism that not many are aware of. Volunteerism is an important and increasingly popular mechanism for young people to bring about positive change in their community and society as a whole. Youths can be the key agents for social change and are capable of providing the energy, creative ideas and determination to drive innovation and ideological reformation forward. Youths long to be part of the society and to be respected for their contributions. They also want to be given a platform to play an active role in improving their countries. Volunteerism can be a good platform for youths to play an active role in improving their countries. It complements formal education in

teaching soft skills that are hard to be imparted in classroom learning such as leadership, negotiation and communication skills.  You might wonder why bother with volunteering when you can just apply for paid internships to sharpen the so-called highly sought after soft skills.  The truth is, the very notion of working just as hard as paid workers without a salary is what makes volunteers desirable employees.  Volunteers get to improve their professionalism, under sometimes harsh conditions, while championing a social cause. This is something unique that only can be offered by volunteering.  ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) Facilitator Ket Monny Vathna, 23, said, “Volunteering is difficult. To get a job done within a tight deadline is tough, and to do it without pay, that is even more difficult. But I choose to do it anyway.” Ket said he is able to sharpen his skills as a communications officer in

the field he is passionate in, which is environmental conservation.   In May, Ket volunteered to be a press coordinator in the Wild Honey Festival which aims

to raise awareness  about the importance of wild bees. “It is through the service for others that we can truly find ourselves,” Ket said.

6 October 2015FEATURES

Depression - Do Not Let It Consume Your MindBy FARAH NADHIRAH MUHAMMAD KHAIRUN

Depression is a serious matter and people who are suffering from it should not feel embarrassed of what they are going through. The advancement of technology has taken its toll on the true meaning of depression.  Self-diagnosis has become common amongst students.  According to Taylor’s University Counselling and Psychological Services Centre (CPSC) counsellor, Sutha Balakrishnan, the symptoms of depression differ depending on the person.  The most common symptoms of depression would be: Changes in daily habits  Sleeping pattern changes drastically, either insomnia or hypersomnia is experienced. Another change in daily habits is a severe change in eating pattern, with sharp gain or loss in appetite.

 Fatigue The feeling of extreme tiredness takes over, turning your hobbies into something dreadful. Your hobbies no longer calm you down. Changes in your physique  Time spent to manage yourself will be reduced. Sarah Wong Yi Wen, 20, suffered from depression in 2013. She started becoming more conscious about her weight and developed a bad eating habit. Because of this, she experienced drastic weight loss.  Loss of self-esteem From someone who had high confidence, those who suffer from depression might lose it and not be able to speak to people normally. School of Architecture, Building and Design student Hakim Abdullah, 22, suffered from depression at the age of 19. He thought it was just a passing phase but he was wrong.

 The pressure of trying to fit in was getting to him and he felt like he just did not belong.  “I was so lost. That was until I told my parents about how I felt. They brought me to the hospital to seek help,” Hakim said. The overwhelming need to cry  The need to cry over the smallest things becomes inevitable and beyond your control.  Guys may have the tendency of becoming aggressive such as punching a wall or raging at someone.  The solution? Wong described depression as, “losing the mental ability to differentiate between the lies and the truth. The worse part is that the lies come from your own head and in your head, you are all alone”.  What helped her was music and the support of others. Wong’s friend

taught her to stand on her own two feet and reminded her that only she has the power to get herself out of her depression. Thereafter, things started to turn around for Wong. She did voluntary work and realised that the ‘darkness’ was gone. Hakim said to get help immediately is extremely imperative.  “It‘s not something that can be solved on your own, all it takes is for you to speak to someone who understands your situation,” he added.  If you find it hard to speak to a friend, or even your parents, the CPSC offers help at Block A, Level 2, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Oops! Did Not Know That Makes You Uneasy!

Have you ever encountered a situation where people make you feel uncomfortable but you never had the chance to tell him or her?  At times it is those small gestures that allow people to remember you. Here are some examples of unintentional uneasiness:  Voicing out opinions boldly  They are the ones who just need to express their thoughts boldly without even thinking about how it might affect those around them.  This causes peers with different point of view to feel uneasy.  Unconsciously cutting off others who are speaking at the moment Imagine when you are telling your friend an exciting story and someone interrupted and started telling theirs instead.  This shows a person’s upbringing, whether lack of it or not.  This will also leave the the interupted person in an awkward situation.  Hence, we should listen and allow others to finish their story before we start to tell ours. Speaking in native languages in multicultural group  This happens frequently in an intercultural environment.  School Of Communication student Pranjal Jain, 23, said, “I understand that my friends are very comfortable

 This has now become a common practice - we can see it anytime at anywhere.  If you really need to answer a phone call or reply messages quickly, do excuse yourself. Being unintentionally racists  There was once when I saw a local student who was studying in the library.  Three Nigerians then came and sat at a table next to the student. He

talking to their other friends in their mother tongue.” “However, sometimes it does make me feel left out, because I could not participate in the conversation,” Pranjal added. When one starts playing with phone while having a meal Have you ever been in a group dinner where everyone is just glued to their phones and no one is speaking?

quickly packed his bags and moved to another table at far end. Does any of the things mentioned above sound familiar? If so, you probably should be more aware of how these actions can actually lead to one’s unpleasantness. To avoid any unnessary misunderstandings, you should remind any of your friends who behaves in any of these manner.

School of Architecture, Building and Design student Chia Sue Hwa, 19, playing on her phone while having her meal.

By OW JI JING

Contact CPSC at: 03- 5629 5022/5024/5025/6791Email: counsellor.lsc@taylors.edu.my

7October 2015 FEATURES

Daredevil Life Lessons to LearnBy LEE TING The Marvel universe is a vast and interesting one. With over 7,000 characters, we are bored of the mainstream characters - the rich, the intelligent, the enhanced and the Gods. So why not put the spotlight on someone new, someone like a blind vigilante? On 10 April, an entire season of Daredevil was released on Netflix which have had Marvel fans roaring in delight.  Despite practicing law and ensuring justice by the criminal justice system in the day, Matt Murdock’s night time endeavours makes him a man with no laws as he takes matters into his own hands. His lack of sight has heightened his other senses, something that sets him apart from his more well-known counterparts.  Now, we would like to say that we have learned something through all the shows that we have watched be it patriotism, perseverance, humility, patience or loyalty.  So what else can Daredevil teach us that we have yet to learn in the past Marvel movies and series?

 “It is the clever man who plays the fool.” – Madame Gao  Let us start with Madame Gao. She is what you would personify as a crocodile in still water. She may appear calm on the surface, but underneath it all lies one dangerous woman. A master in trading illegal substances, Madame Gao’s statement shows that in order for you to succeed, sometimes you need to withhold yourself. Why? As it is, a clever man who openly flaunts the fact that he is clever will be an easy target. Fools, on the other hand, are generally underestimated and left to their own devices. “You’ve got to feel what’s not there as much as what is.” - Matt Murdock The Daredevil himself shows us that we need to stop and listen to our surroundings every once in a while. His heightened sense of hearing allows him to ‘see’ everything around him like sonar. In this day and age, we tend to look and not see the world we live in. We keep searching for perfection, even if it is in front of us.

 “A woman who can be bought is not worth having at all.” – Wilson Fisk  Fisk is a highly troubled Kingpin with well-set principles. Though he may be ruthless to the people who betrayed him, he has no problem showing his affections to those he keeps in his company.  His quote is so straightforward that you cannot even begin to argue the basis of it.  If the one you like can be bought with material possessions, then who is to say that they would not jump

ship the next time someone buys them something bigger and better? “Some fights just get you bloody.” – Silvio, mobster Another mobster in the Daredevil world, Silvio reminds us that we ought to choose our battles wisely. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. The key is to make the battle worth the effort.  Though there are many other life lessons in Daredevil, these are the few that stood out the most. Perhaps the new season next year will have more lessons in store for us.

Personality - A Complex MechanismBy FOONG KAH MEI “Every personality is a spectrum that acts as a scale to measure extroversion and introversion,” said Taylor’s University Counselling and Psychological Services Centre Counsellor Evan Kok Choon Foong. I am sure many are familiar with extroversion and introversion but did you know that another category exists for individuals who fall in the middle of the spectrum?  Many of us lean towards one way or the other but there are some of us who are quite balanced with these  two traits.  “These middle ground people are the ambiverts,” Kok added. Each personality has their own set of traits that sets them apart from one another.  Introverts listen carefully and think of the right words to say before speaking. They do not appreciate being pushed to meet new people and may have difficulties expressing themselves.  Extroverts recharge their energy by interacting with as many individuals as they can, ideally in a large group. They are able to express their thoughts freely but may sometimes come off as lacking of substance.

Personality is a personal perspective and no two are the same. Photo Credit: agsalesworks

 Ambiverts however possess characteristics that are able to balance out the weaknesses of these two extremes.  They are more intuitive than extroverts in knowing when their input is required, and more approachable than introverts in social situations.  These people are able to connect and communicate with ease as well as take the time to listen to what others have to say.  Kok added that ambiverts are the jack of all trades but master of none due of their flexibility in adapting

to different environments. The way these people function in their daily lives is different in that they recharge their energy levels with a mixture of solitude and social interaction.  The downside of it is that it creates a disturbance within the ambiverts themselves. They feel conflicted that even though they may be categorised as either an introvert or an extrovert in a test, they don’t quite relate to the set of traits mentioned by the category that they belong to. However, Kok believes that the human personality is not a clear

black-and-white matter. It is a complex mechanism that cannot be measured with just a test to determine who you are.  Kok said we have to take into account that the human personality is affected by multiple factors. This includes different upbringing, the way you look at things and the words that are being said to you. “We wear different hats in different situations,” he said. The willingness to engage with another person can be situational.  A stressful setting can make even extreme extroverts uncomfortable. This aspect can vary a person’s personality from time to time.  It can be unfair to label someone as an introvert just because they are being quiet. There is a possibility that the person might be having a rough day and is not in the mood to talk to anyone. Ambiversion is just one of many personality traits. Regardless of which tendency you exhibit more, we  should highlight its strengths and  apply  the benefits. If we are  able to embrace the differences between these personality traits, effective communication can be achieved easily.

Daredevil is one of the best TV series’ in 2015 as listed by The Rolling Stones magazine. Photo Credit: ET Online

8 October 2015FEATURES

Healthier Lives Begin With A Race What do you think of when you hear health and fitness?  Eating bland food? Going to the gym for hours every day?  For me, it is just a matter of eating moderately and incorporating little exercises into my daily routines.  I am far from the typical gym junkie or a health freak. I dislike running to the core and I have a soft spot for French fries. So it came as a surprise to my friends and family when I signed up for Viper Challenges’ King of the Mountain obstacle race.  The Instigator After watching previous after-movies I wanted to feel how the participants felt when they crossed the finishing line. I wanted to challenge myself in ways that I normally would not. The thing with the Viper Challenge was that preparation for the race itself is supposed to be vigorous. I am supposed to be running, doing reps of chin ups and work my core muscles every day.  Instead, I carried on with my life thinking, ‘Well, the race is in September. I still have time before I really need to get moving.’ Time passed and suddenly, the race was in two months.  I needed to step up my game.  Having a Balance The first step to making my life easier was having meal preps.

 Not only is it much healthier; it also saves you money and time.  In meal preps, you control the quantity of food intake and quality of the food.  Counting calories is foreign to me, so I kept to stuff I knew such as pasta, baked chicken, roasted or blanched vegetables and even mashed cauliflower!  The key of it all is to set an amount you will eat at each meal so that you do not overeat. If I have the need to munch, I go for nuts or honey glazed berries.  The best part of meal preps is that you only need to spend a maximum of five hours a week to do groceries,

prepare the food and individually pack them.  Then you do not even need to touch the stove or oven and do heavy kitchen cleaning until the next week!  To be fair, I do not believe that you should be so hard on yourself. Yes, you have a particular diet to follow, but that does not mean you cannot try new cafes once in a while. It is all about the balance.  The Work Just eating healthy was not enough for me, so I began some light exercises.  I believe that gyms can be rather unnecessary when it comes to working out.

 As long as you have the basic equipment, you can work out anywhere.  Have you tried stir frying almost six cups of rice on top of the other ingredients? That itself is an arm work out on its own! I would do a few dumbbell curls or sit-ups while watching TV instead of munching.  This way, the arms are getting a work out, you are getting your daily dose of TV and your mind is far from getting that bag of chips in the cupboard.  These are the little steps that can bring you further.  You will not end up doing this on your own. Keep it up and your friends will be motivated as well. As of today, two of my friends have sought my help in preparing their meal prep.  Trust me when I say this: it gets easier.  Soon enough you will automatically reject food that you know is bad for you. There is no need to slave yourself over machines at gyms that you cannot afford. There is no starving yourself in the process either.  You are at the beginning. You just want to be healthy.  All I am saying is that eating healthy and doing mini exercises is just a start towards a healthier life.  I know it was for me.

The writer slicing potatoes, carrots and capsicums for a vegetable roast that makes for a healthy snack or side dish. Photo Credit: Bashirul Khan

By LEE TING

 Recently, I stumbled upon a self-help book called Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.  In it, Eker explained how complaining does not help you or the people around you, except making yourself feel better temporarily. He challenges readers not to complain for seven days and see how it would transform their lives.  Thousands of people have tried this challenge and the outcome has been extremely positive. So, I decided to try it out to see how it could change mine too!  On the first day, I reminded myself to avoid complaining so I wrote ‘No complaints, thank God instead’ on the palm of my hand.  For the next few days, it was quite manageable. I did not complain about anything, even in my mind. There were a few occasions where my friends would complain about the

heavy traffic, tedious assignments and tight deadlines, but I resisted. When that happened, I just smiled and listened to them without adding more negativity to the conversation. There were also times when gossip-y conversations made me feel uncomfortable, I just walked away from them. After a few days, I became more aware of my own emotions. Besides that, I also realised what are the things that would affect my emotions the most, such as tiredness, stress and hunger. Thus, I strived to adjust my lifestyle to avoid feeling these emotions. This definitely made it easier to go through with the challenge.  Things were still under control until the fifth day, when various areas of my commitments - studies, work, family and extracurricular activities - required my attention

simultaneously. To add on to that, I was extremely tired after a 10km jog. I felt annoyed and was about to lose my temper. Fortunately, my friend showed up at the right moment by sending me a much needed motivational message.

 I wrote that message on a paper and placed it by my laptop. It helped to keep myself together until I finished the assignments at hand. After a week of not complaining, my friends said I have become more approachable and cheerful, someone they preferred to hang out with. On the other hand, I felt more peaceful and happy.  I realised that even when unfortunate incidents were to happen to me, I would not get affected easily. I sincerely think this challenge is beneficial to everyone.  It does not only allow you to have a positive outlook in life, but it also helps you become a happier person who would bring positivity to the people around you. I strongly encourage all of you to take up this challenge and watch this experience transform your whole life.

My Experience Surviving No-Complain WeekBy OW JI JING

Say no to complaining. Photo Credit: free-stock-illustration.com