Greetings!

Posted by jjme

Hello! This is jjme and I am delighted to be a contributor to this site. Here’s a little bit about my background:

I was a student of SK/SMK Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya. In January 2003, I was enrolled in Columbia International College (CIC) in Hamilton, ON, Canada. There, I took a 7-month intensive Grade 12/Pre-U course and graduated with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The OSSD is a CPU/A-levels/STPM equivalent program allowing entry or credit transfer into any university (even in the AUS/NZ/UK/US). That same year, I got accepted into the engineering program at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. I graduated with a Bsc. in Chemical Engineering in April 2007. Currently, I am working as an Engineer-In-Training (EIT) at NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Red Deer, AB, Canada.

I came across this website while doing my daily browse on PPS and was impressed with the amount of information this site holds. Having attended primary and secondary education in Malaysia myself, I am familiar with the issues that graduating students face. It’s always about, “What do I want to study next?” “Which college/university can meet my education need?” “What education program best suits my interests?” “What career options are there if I pursue this program?” Not forgetting the amount of input from family, friends, friend’s mom, brother, sister, aunty, grandmother the pet cat or hamster LOL …

No kidding, it is hard to make these choices alone. When it comes to education, parents want the best for their children (and maybe sometimes for themselves too). Then again, there are limitations to what you can actually get in the real world. The cost and quality of education go hand-in-hand. No school will provide quality education for a cheap price. Moreover, some may disagree with parents playing a part in the decision-making process. The sad truth is that they are the ones funding your education … and consequently by disagreeing we come across as being not filial ... sounds familiar? (I'm just kidding - it's not always like that)

All in all, I would love to share my experience as a foreign student, coping with the culture change, surviving the different education system, and perhaps, just how life is like in a foreign country. Just as there is excitement of being independent and away from home, there is fear as well, right? I do manage a personal blog here. I am open to suggestions on topics/info to suit reader’s need :) Liked this post? Subscribe now to read more post like this one! Tweet