"How are you? Hopefully both of you are in pink of health. I had
started my internship on 28th December with Halliburton, right after 4 days I came back to Malaysia. My internship goes well with a lot of guidance from my supervisor. Back to my purpose of flying this email to you is to share my experience in United State after been there for one semester.
Being selected as a one of Student Exchange Program (SEP) to UTP partner university, Missouri University of Science & Technology, USA was the best period in my life ever. I was very grateful to get this opportunity with fully sponsored by PETRONAS. I departed to US with Calvin, another one selected student for SEP to US. My travel to US was not a hard time for me because I was not alone. The time I reached MS&T, the university already started their class for 2 weeks. I had to struggle a bit hard since I missed quite a lot of classes, and plus all the courses I took there were petroleum engineering core subject. However, I was not afraid at all and I was so excited to explore all the opportunities that I can gain.
Compared to UTP, teaching method in MS&T is not much differed. One of the most significant difference is the number of the students in a class is smaller and this give the advantage to the lecturers to focus on the understanding of each of their students. Better understandings of the students reflect back the effectiveness of the lessons in class. Another significant difference is the students in the class come from different ages, and different qualification. My class also consists of students who are currently doing their PhD or Master level, and some of them did have engineer title or worked as lecturer in their home country. Thus, in positive side this creates a healthy competitive environment. I had no difficulties to mix around with the local or international students because they were very friendly and helpful.
I involved in some clubs and activities in campus to widen my experienced and sharpened my soft skills. I was actively participated as a member in Society of Woman Engineer (SWE). I had been one of the volunteers for ‘Expanding of Your Horizons’ event where I needed to guide the school students and been a good model to them. This was an annual event for SWE in US. I did volunteer to work in pizza restaurant near campus by cleaning the dishes for their ‘Pizza In Fund Raising’ activity. Even it was tiring, but I get the satisfaction. MS&T have many design teams, and their teams were recognized in national level. I grabbed this opportunity by joining solar car team to learn and look how their design team worked. I was amazed with them because they were very creative in designing and have a good team work. Other than these, I joined Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Exploration Geophysics, and International Student Society.
I realize I was not totally satisfied with the experience I had gained there, because my life was just cycle in campus. I want to get close with the out campus societies and to contribute something before I went back to Malaysia. Thus, with a help of a friend who had to do her research on exceptional child, I got the chance to spend my time with these special child in 2 different schools. I played with them, help them with their class works and the most important to give them love. I also learned from an expert teacher there on how she conducts a test to detect if the child is abnormal at the age of 3 years old. The Americans were very concerned with exceptional child. They never neglect the need of these children but give them a good education to train them to be independent and live like other normal children
Besides getting myself busy with campus life, I did travel to several places in US. With 3 others friends, I went for a road trip to Grand Canyon which is a geological site. It was really an awesome place. We did visit Mesa Verde National Park, an archaeology site and Great Sand Dunes. Not to miss the chance of joy in big cities, I also went to Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Even though every thing seems to be nice and enjoyable being in over sea, I can’t lie that I miss Malaysia so much. Live in a minority number of Malaysians in Missouri, make me feel responsible to put up a good name of Malaysia and also UTP in US. Finally, I got the chance to promote UTP as well as Malaysia to MS&T staff and students in Global Show Case event held by MS&T International Affair. Can you guess what my feeling at that time was? I was so proud to be a UTP student and Malaysian as well. I am proud to show them pictures of UTP campus structural design and PETRONAS twin tower.
Chance of being to US has molded me to a new perspective person. I gained lots of valuable and worth experiences. Student Exchange Program is really a good program that should not be missed by UTP student. I hope there will be more students get this SEP and came back with something new to share. An utmost gratitude to PETRONAS for sponsoring my study there and also to UTP for giving me this great opportunity. Thank You!"
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