Recently the college celebrated its 7th milestone. It was a modest affair, but exciting and well organized nevertheless, considering exams were right around the corner.

The event left a lingering sensation in me. Especially in my tummy. I think it must've been the million slices of domino's pizzas. Oh, and the secret recipe cakes. yum. =)

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It got me thinking, "WOW!" You're already 7 years old, dear college. You have seen so much. The teachers who came and went (and those that have stayed since the beginning: the "pioneers"), the many different batches of students, each one having been shaped and moulded by you; and the metamorphosis of your physical self, KMYSaad, KMYSatu, KYUEM, whichever.

Having been here for almost two years, its hard not to notice the footprints left by the previous people who have (forgive the cliche) walked through your hallowed halls. No, scratch that. Let me try again.

Having been here for almost two years, its hard not to notice the footprints left by the previous people who have lived, learnt and and grown to love you. Like the many little artifacts (Ecotrip 3d map, drawings, batch photos) they have in the RC (I just saw some scribblings behind a picture frame in the RC the other day. Pretty sweet. Note: I am not condoning vandalism); To the many traditions of the houses; And the oral legends, anecdotes passed down from batch to batch about "the super senior who did this", "the teacher who was like that.." and "there was this one time a long way back..".

Its things like these that make you feel really really insignificant. That you don't really measure up. Especially if one prominent super trooper senior writes : "There's this perception among the older batches - which is natural - that the newer batches of KMYS / KYUEM students do not fit the bill of well rounded individuals the way the older ones are."

Alas! Fear not, my fellow seniors. As we are facing our own milestones: the final no-chance-to-resit its-now-or-never A levels, and the completion of two whole years of bittersweet memories in these Outlands, perhaps its time for a change of perspective. We're going to be inducted into the alumni soon. We're going to be super-seniors to a new batch of students. We, my friends, are going to the other side. We, and I say this with every bit of ego-restraint, have pretty much left our own set of footprints. We have already proven our worth. And we're going to be legends in our own right.

Now its up to the juniors who are soon to be seniors, to prove themselves.
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A note to the KMYS alumni that will be accepting us into their fold : Us now. We have it good. We've got Astro in the cafe which opens 7 days a week (closed half day on Sundays), we've got and almost always working Wi-Fi connection on our new chalet computers. Plus, we've got something else you didn't have back then: fame throughout the land (thanks to the college's intensive advertising. you may have come across it.)

Which reminds me of a quote I read from the "Pioneer yearbook": "When we got here, it was like a wasteland (albeit one with an almost resort-like look to it) - there were barely any trees, you could count the number of books in the Resource Centre with one hand, and - worst of all- no TV or Internet!" - Editor, Yearbook 1998/1999

Kinda makes you drop to your knees and count your blessings, doesn't it?
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Rumours abound of a truckload of milestones heading our way soon: an inevitable major change in the college structure. That student intake numbers are increasing beyond the 220 mark set by the current junior batch. That the college is building a new wing (or a whole new block) to facilitate its introduction of AUSMAT sometime in the near future. With this, comes new teachers, new chalets, and probably a more commercialised and saturated educational institution.

What, you didn't think they're advertising the college just to help you explain to your friends where you're studying, did you?
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I can only hope that all these changes are for the best.

Here's a toast to you, My 7-year-old KYUEM.

From all those whose hearts and minds you have touched.

Last week, the college was very honoured to have Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, a visiting professor from Oxford University, to give a short talk on her field of expertise : Astrophysics.

Now, my dear friends, this living legend is no ordinary guest speaker. (to be fair, none of the last few guest speakers were ordinary. There was that 9 language speaking gentleman who's current fascination was with lion conservation; and then there was the Irish Ambassador to Malaysia). This scientist helped discover pulsars! Pulsars, for the uninitiated or too bothered to click the wikipedia link, are "rotating neutron stars that are observable as sources of electromagnetic radiation." She discovered them while doing her thesis work at Cambridge in the 60's. Groovy, baby!

The talk was very informative and lovely, and she is definitely a master educator from the way she was able to express all her ideas clearly to the GH audience (which included non-science stream students as well as people who scored very low for their astrophysics A2 option.)

And sidestepping into the realms of astrology, it was probably no coincidence that she came on the third day of the week, and gave a talk during block three (which was incidentally cancelled college-wide, to allow every student to attend the talk.)

Professor Jocelyn came with an entourage comprising of the reps from the British Council along with some students from KTJ, and others. After the brief talk, students with actual interest, guests and nosy people in general had a more technical session with her in the lecture theatre.

She ended her session by declaring that "We're all made of stars!" What a nice thing to say =)

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Many more master educators were stars in their own right last Friday. I'm talking about the wonderful teachers in KYUEM, and the Teachers' Day Celebrations.

Now, I'm not sure when Teacher's Day was first celebrated in college, but I can safely say that this year's was among the best in recent memory. I judge this on the basis of having shifted through all the college yearbooks. Beg to differ? mail me.

In any case, I certainly had a great time. Kudos to the SC members! =)

There were some performances from seniors and juniors. The juniors came up with a radio drama (which had some sentiments of college bashing. oh I think inserting the phrase "college sucks!" was no mere artistic decision. but since it was done by lit students, it probably had a deeper level of satire altogether. hehe), a choral speaking performance, and a nasyid. The seniors presented a wonderful medley comprising of kompangs, sajak-poem and some talented singing people.

The best bit of the celebration definitely came from the teachers. They were subjected to games ranging from cake decoration to blindfolded drawing with the tower building of induction week fame thrown in for good measure.

They (this is the awesome-est bit!) also had a sketch (so much better than last year's! And that was good too!) where the teachers dressed up as students and it was the funniest and craziest thing since, well, since ever! I laughed till tears trickled down my cheeks. There was Mr. Hayten as a big bully with Ms. Sree as the ever-so-cute victim. There was Mr. Hamdan and his cowboy machoness, Mrs Parker and her history books bucket, Pn Kat and Mdm Magdeline and their fashionista personas. The best ones for me would have to be Puan Rog's character as a school rebel (oh sweet irony!) and the Bursar's WiFi joke (he had a huge TV antenna in his hand! Brilliant!). Oh and not to forget, Dr Foord's character as a physics student late for class (more irony!). Having been late once or twice myself, I am sure I wasn't alone in recognising some of the excuses he gave for being late, to the point of wondering whether I had used the exact same one!

It's so nice when teachers can have a go at poking fun at themselves and their students. Coupled with a display of pictures from their previous lives (that being pre-KYUEM.), the day has made the teachers that much more endearing in their students' eyes.

As another thumbs up to the SC, the inclusion of Pn Rog, the Bursar and Ms Kasturi into the celebrations is an ingenious move. All three have played a great part in educating us students from day one in induction week, and we wouldnt be where we are without them. The equal stress on academics and non academics education is what makes this college so wonderful, in my opinion. =)

To all the Master Educators of KYUEM, we salute and we thank you. We may all be made of stars, but us students are mere neutron stars and you educators are the supergiants.

There can never be enough blogspace to help express how much we love and appreciate all that you've done for us.

May you continue to shine and inspire many more generations of KYUEM students.

God bless you all. =)