And my stint at The Malay Mail is officially over.Today flew by in a haze (and daze). Needless to say I didn't get much work done. I spent most of my time chatting with my colleagues and at the end of the day, taking photos of people I have grown to care about and become my friends. At the end of the day, when it's time to go off into the unknown, you take all the professional experiences, life lessons and fabulous friendships with you as you set off to the next journey. Boy, what experiences I've had!
The funny thing is I applied for the post of sub-editor at The Paper That Cares in 2008. I always had a love for words but being quiet and reserved I didn't think that I have the right qualities to be a journalist. However, at the interview with the Editor In Chief, he said I'd have to gain some experiences on the field as a journalist first for a month, before becoming a sub-editor. I accepted this and was looking forward to my new career in the publishing line.
I was pretty much thrown into the deep end of the ocean of journalism in the first week I started there. I had no choice but to swim so that I didn't drown, all the while thinking that I was going to be a sub-editor in no time. Life had other plans for me, though. A respected editor saw that I could write and asked me to continue to write for the paper. For eight months I was at the news desk, chasing MP's in the late night, interviewing residents about irrigation and drainage and working from 10am to 3am.
Just as I was about to sink, life threw me a lifebuoy in the form of a transfer to the Lifestyle and Entertainment section. It was just what I needed. A chance to inform and educate readers with a touch of creativity. An amazing experience right from the start, still there were many bumps on the road but I sailed through until a few months ago - I knew it was time for me to move on.
But I will always be thankful for this job and the confidence it has instilled in me, the opportunities I've been given and mostly for the ability to express myself using the written word.
Among the countless assignments I've been for I will always remember:
*Asking Jason Mraz a question at the press conference when he was in KL (and he looked straight at me when he answered it!)
Just as I was about to sink, life threw me a lifebuoy in the form of a transfer to the Lifestyle and Entertainment section. It was just what I needed. A chance to inform and educate readers with a touch of creativity. An amazing experience right from the start, still there were many bumps on the road but I sailed through until a few months ago - I knew it was time for me to move on.
But I will always be thankful for this job and the confidence it has instilled in me, the opportunities I've been given and mostly for the ability to express myself using the written word.
Among the countless assignments I've been for I will always remember:
*Asking Jason Mraz a question at the press conference when he was in KL (and he looked straight at me when he answered it!)
*Meeting/interviewing theatre personalities Jo Kukathas, Gavin Yap, Edwin Sumun and my childhood heart throb Hans Isaac.
*Interviewing Ne-Yo when he was here in KL before his concert last year (and he remembered that I had asked a question at the press conference the day before)
*Extracting the DNA of a strawberry at a skin care launch. ( I wore the obligatory lab coat too!)
*Going on a hot air ballon at the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon earlier this year.
*Attending the Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri (this assignment changed my life forever)
*Made my dreams of going for the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching come true.
*Not to mention interviewing many ordinary people who inspire others to be productive, healthy and positive in everything they do.
I've had an enriching experience and am sure I will continue with more insights in my next professional adventure.
P/S- Maybe now I'll have time to write that post about my Indian trip. ;)
P/S- Maybe now I'll have time to write that post about my Indian trip. ;)
