Preamble
Hey there reader! Hope you're doing good. Today I wanna tell you a story. A story of battle between two figures, both strong in their own way.
Law and Science. Just saying that alone makes me picture two doors. If I enter one, the other will perish. When people ask me what I want to do in the future, I give em a pretty simple answer:
I want to spread good.
Too general? Well yes, I'd agree. But I don't just want to spread good. I wanna ignite good. Kindle it. And then teach others to do the same. Of course, you have spreading good in terms of the Dunia, and the Akhirah. When we keep that in mind, we don't just become hungry for the Dunia, but also work towards the Akhirah as well
Where do I stand on the Money vs Passion debate? Without a doubt, I'd go for passion. Not only will you do something you love, you'll do it with a strong drive to be the best at what you do. And this can range from something like sewing clothes to owning a grand restaurant
It's better for you to do something you love with an average pay, than for you to get a lot of money doing something you don't actually like. As the old saying goes, money ain't gonna buy ya happiness boi! I might have paraphrased a bit there.....
So here I am. An 18 year-old kid, barely able to iron his own clothes, faced with a choice that would affect the next 10, 20, 30 years or so of his life. Well I had to choose one of the two. So which subject was the victor?
Science
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| Yeah I looked pretty different back then |
Have you ever loved something but didn't know what it was called? I loved the gigantic, terrifying Dinosaurs. I loved the awe-inspiring, and sheer size of the Planets. I loved all the wondrous and mind-boggling animals and plants. Each one, gifted with some amazing power. Hmm maybe it was what led me to liking Pokémon so much.
Shows on Nat Geo, Discovery, heck even shows like Stanley, gave that kid up there a window. A window to this...this whole other world, where anything and everything could happen.
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| The Land Before Time will always be one of the best classics. Kinda think of it, this was pretty heavy for a kids movie |
Science has this spellbinding effect that makes you want to know more. And there is no money in it. Your reward is just the satisfaction of discovery. Of digging up another buried piece of wonder, lying right under our noses the whole time. Places like Petrosains or Zoo Negara were a blast to visit, just because I could see Science, happening in front of my very eyes, instead of on a glass screen. But as I grew, I started exploring other fields of Science. Eventually, I found one that really captivated me.
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| "Ever-vast" |
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| "Ever-busy" |
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| "Ever-mysterious" |
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| "Ever-breathtaking..........literally" |
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| "And ever-frightening" |
The ocean was just fascinating. It's this endless world of beauty, mystery, and danger with all these different diverse inhabitants dwelling in their own communities. There were things that didn't look like living things, but were in fact alive. There were creatures with unfathomable designs, they even seem to defy the laws of physics.
It's always sublime to think that while I'm here on my phone, or laptop, that out there, a whole other world is bustling and alive. They all have their affairs to attend to. Some risk their lives in search of food to feed themselves, or their families. Others scavenge the seabed, hiding in plain-sight. There are those who look for love, and succeed. Others aren't so lucky. For some of them, it might be the day they have to migrate to a far away place, leaving that they've gotten so attached to behind.
When you really think about it, our lives are freakishly similar to the Ocean. It's just like I heard in one of Hamza Yusuf's talks. One time when these big companies dumped a bunch of pollution into the Ocean, the Jellyfish population suddenly spiked. Jellyfish are spineless, heartless consumers, literally. Now how about the people who dumped all that pollution?
Hahaha, believe what you may :)
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| "This is a Sunfish or Mola-Mola" |
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| "Sea Slug!" |
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| "This lil guy is known as an Axolotl" |
As you delve deeper into the ocean, things get darker. The pressure is so high, that it would crush us into a pulp! Yet down here, life still manages to thrive. No sunlight, scarce oxygen, but they're...alive. Oh yeah, and because it's super dark, they don't really worry about looks, so most of the creatures here don't look that...well......pretty. But they're definitely pretty strange. Most of them have this really cool ability to produce their own light! Some use it to communicate. Others use it as bait to attract prey.
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| can't you swim in a less creepier way? |
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| "Black Dragonfish...yikes" |
So yes reader, I figured this was it. This is what I want to do in life. I wanna study and know more about the ocean, and use that knowledge to help people and those around me in some way. I wanted to protect this precious part of our world. To me, it wasn't just Science, but also Signs. Signs of the existence of God.
I mean do we really think all this order, complex and near impossible designs and mechanisms came by random chance?
During SPM, I was set on becoming a Marine Biologist. It's what I wrote on those career tests they gave you. Regardless of what everyone else said, I refused to let go of my choice. However, life doesn't always bend to your will.
Ponderer's Tale
When SPM ended, I was 100% set. I didn't want to think about "oh how much money will I make in the future?" or "Which country would I work in?" But one thing about the Gap-Year is that it'll squeeze you to really think, and think, and think. One month passed, two, three. Soon, doubts began to hit me. "Are you sure this is what you want to do for the rest of your life?" or "Will you really enjoy doing Marine Biology?"
After going through some University websites, I saw the whole path. It did require me to learn subjects I don't aim on taking like Physics or Math. Then through our old good friend, uncle Google, I looked for any Malaysians who've actually went for Marine Biology. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much on people's experiences.
So I decided that I'd be the first Marine Biologist who would write then! But the doubts grew heavier. Was it all a front? Would studying Science give me the same joy I'd get watching all those documentaries? Could I really be the one who would do things no one else had done before in that field?"
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| "REALITY PUNCH!" |
It was tantalizing. But one good thing did flower from it all though. I realized I never thought about my other interests. One of which, was Writing! I loved English, just the power of words in general actually. Words were like treasure to me. Plus, I was a stickler when it came to Grammar. (Oh how it'd suck if I made any Grammar mistakes in this story >_<). At the time, I thought unless I became an author or something, writing wouldn't really take me anywhere. Or would it?
Taking a Breather
About 3 months into the Gap-Year, Science took a backseat. I decided that perhaps having tunnel-vision on Science restricted me from discovering other passions. I looked up a bunch of stuff like Psychology or Architecture. The obvious choice for "English-loving people" was TESL. But I base any subject on people's experiences, not how the subject was marketed by Universities.
I mean yeah, you'd get to do a bunch of English-related stuff, but it looked like it would take me down the more educational path of English. I wanted something else. I wanted something that would let me use English to express new ideas, teach good lessons, and show people different ways of looking at things. Maybe a Storyteller of sorts?
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| Stories that'd take you somewhere else |
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| Stories that could teach us maybe what we wish for won't always be the best |
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| Some equivocal, scary, but full of meaning |
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| Or just some that shows us how our life is more than what we think |
"Then be an author la dei!?!". Yeah, that's what I thought too. Stories are powerful. It can inspire change, and that was something that went in tandem with my 'spread good' goal. But then again, it was something quite audacious. Yes we can dream, but the boundaries of reality will always confine us to specific paths we don't always want to take.
There was no "story-telling" course, and I'm not going to go into the whole IPTA/IPTS side of the story. I do write some short stories, but to write something truly prominent? I decided that that was for another time. So my search continued.
Law
Law was something I did not consider at all for my future. In fact, I had one thing set. I was never ever ever gonna enter the Business field.
Law made me think of guys in suits, briefcases, offices, money stuff, contracts, a rigid system, and blerghh. I was more of an artsy fartsy kind of person. Law was definitely on my blacklist. Before I continue, lemme give y'all a tiny story...well...sub-story I guess.
Oh, just so you won't get bored, here are some random gifs for your entertainment:
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| How Waffle Cones are made |
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| The Magnus Effect |
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| When people say Bucky is lame |
Anyway, besides Science, and stories, I was a kid that loved watching and listening to talks. "boooooooring". Yeah back then, I wouldn't believe you too if you told me I'd love watching a 40 to 60 minute talks on YouTube. But man, is it interesting.
It's like because of the time, and the look of the person giving the talk, we think "Ala, what would I get from this talk pon. Mesti boring. First 5 minutes dah boring dah. Baik dengar lagu, tengok movie, etc."
But it was through this talks, I would receive some of the most valuable and most dear pieces of knowledge I've ever held.
It has become evident to me that Life has so many wonderful, mind-blowing secrets, and you have to fork em out yourself. You're not gonna see them unless you actually seek. And it was from these talks that I also realized how robotic we are in living our lives.
How we complain more about our lives, than actually trying to change something.
How we feel we don't have to think anymore, because we already have enough.
How easily we conform to what society tells us what we can and cannot do.
How trapped we actually are in a free country.
How complacent we have become.
How much more we can do.
How little we actually know.
Through these talks, people inspire change. Words! Seriously, just through words! I mean don't you find that weird? How we don't need any special powers or high authority to spark change.
In fact, that's how Prophet Muhammad S.A.W managed to change the people of Makkah and Medina. He didn't have a miracles like any other Prophet. He couldn't turn his staff into a serpent like Musa A.S. He didn't have a giant ark like Nuh A.S. He didn't have an army of animals and Jinn like Sulaiman A.S.
His miracle was the Quran, not even in book-form at the time. And yet, he managed to change one of the most backward, cruel, evil and jahil group of people into the best group of people in history. This change even propagated to the whole world. It's why Islam is in Malaysia today.
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| "Nouman Ali Khan teaches the world that the Quran isn't just some book of Laws from God, and that is has the power to change our lives completely". |
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| "Aiman Azlan, public speaker, and a Malaysian author shares some new perspectives in viewing the many issues in our daily lives. ( I actually got the chance to attend one of his talks ^ - ^ )". |
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| "Allahyarham Sheikh Ahmed Deedat knew the Quran, The Bible and other scriptures, and taught me how it is ok for us to learn other people's beliefs. He was fearless in facing any missionaries that would challenge him". |
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| "People like Neil DeGrasse Tyson teaches us how strangely connected we are with nature, the environment, and the cosmos, and how important it is to be open-minded when studying any subject". |
I liked that they challenged the norms. I liked that they wanted to share something greater. Change the way we lived, and see life in general. And I liked that these guys, were just normal people. Yet they managed to do so many great things.
Law wasn't uncommon in my family. My mom took Law, my Cousin took Law, and some of my extended family took Law. And y'know what? They seemed to beat the stereotypical mold of a Law Student. As I read more, I realized one thing.
I had no idea what Law really was.
Soon Law had a hook on me. Beyond the suits and courtrooms, Law was a subject that questioned a lot of what we thought we understood. Like "Is A really like this?" or "Are you sure B is even something real?"
It had that KBAT factor, that I didn't really find in other subjects. It had a lot of writing that's for sure. But would I be able to cope? I thought that y'know what, we can cope with any subject we want to.
And no, we do not aim for perfection. Sometimes, we won't get the marks we want. Things don't always go our way. But as long as we offer our best, we shouldn't feel bad. Instead, we should be satisfied. So that was my goal. Go into Law, diving into this cloud of the unknown, and hopefully come out on the other side rich with abilities like no other.
And no, we do not aim for perfection. Sometimes, we won't get the marks we want. Things don't always go our way. But as long as we offer our best, we shouldn't feel bad. Instead, we should be satisfied. So that was my goal. Go into Law, diving into this cloud of the unknown, and hopefully come out on the other side rich with abilities like no other.
Law v Science
Law, with all it's philosophical, yet concrete ideas that dared to challenged norms, and gave new ways of approaching things, so we won't just simply comply to things we don't like.
Obviously Law won right? I mean, I am studying Law as a foundation student right now. Not quite, reader. After much thought of whether my dreams would comply with reality, I made an intention. I did not abandon Science, nor did I shun Law. I think I can sum it up in one sentence.
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Science, with all it's splendor, exciting sense of discovery outside of our everyday monotonous lives, and ability to help our environment, in turn, helping us as well.
Obviously Law won right? I mean, I am studying Law as a foundation student right now. Not quite, reader. After much thought of whether my dreams would comply with reality, I made an intention. I did not abandon Science, nor did I shun Law. I think I can sum it up in one sentence.
I want to study Law to gain the skills of a Law student, use that to learn Science in a new light be it through an institution or on my own, and spread good to others through words, writings, and action that would change people's lives.
I was scared Law would confine me to a path that would lead me into offices and courtrooms. But I now know that you don't have to follow the template. You don't have to follow the mold. You can decide what to do. And as long as we don't give up, InshaAllah we'll get there.
There are many paths to reach one destination, so maybe Law is just one of the paths to reach my goal. And my goal, I think, isn't something that can be written down on a Career Test, (but can be explained in a ridiculously long blog post). ¯\_(ツ)_/
But yes, I will have to choose a 'real job' in the future, one that has a title like Human Resources Manager or something. But regardless of what I end up becoming, the goal will always stay the same. If you read all the way here, WOW you must have a lot of free time! Just kidding, thanks for taking time to hear this kid's story.
I'm writing this to voice out my thoughts for a change, as something I'd look back to, and something that may inspire others. If this post made you think I'm in my dorm, reading stacks of books, and writing novels, and thinking about life until I grow a beard, then you're wrong. I'm still just a normal uni student, I sleep (a lot), I play games, laugh at memes, and procrastinate work.
My actions aren't always parallel to my goals, but we, as human beings, must always make effort. I think as long as we keep going, we won't lose. I used to think "if only I took this course, I would be able to do this" or "Man, If only my life was like this, I would be able to do that". But what we have, what we were given with is in fact enough. Enough for us to make the climb. To reach the peak. Just a pen and a piece of paper can change thousands of lives.
I'm writing this to voice out my thoughts for a change, as something I'd look back to, and something that may inspire others. If this post made you think I'm in my dorm, reading stacks of books, and writing novels, and thinking about life until I grow a beard, then you're wrong. I'm still just a normal uni student, I sleep (a lot), I play games, laugh at memes, and procrastinate work.
My actions aren't always parallel to my goals, but we, as human beings, must always make effort. I think as long as we keep going, we won't lose. I used to think "if only I took this course, I would be able to do this" or "Man, If only my life was like this, I would be able to do that". But what we have, what we were given with is in fact enough. Enough for us to make the climb. To reach the peak. Just a pen and a piece of paper can change thousands of lives.
Law v Science. Who was the victor? Just like Snyder's film, the battle was short-lived. Law and Science is now an amalgam. One I hope I will be able to understand and use to do great things. Things that are gonna rock the world.
Alright, roll credits!
Ok, we gotta see that Bucky kick again
SO COOL
Ok, we gotta see that Bucky kick again
SO COOL
