6 months check point

I was scanning over my past posts and decided I need to write this one like how I did in my past positions.

So I just past my 6 months probation in 'M2'. Even before the review session, I knew clearly that I would get over it without any problem looking at my involvement and deliverable so far.

As expected, nothing shocking from my manager. However I was shocked over my own honest remarks during the review session which includes a good mix of good and bad remarks like

1 month in new Office

Decided to pen down this special day. How many more 1st month in new office can one have, right?

Few of the sweet treats from office...fat die me!!!

As expected many are puzzled with my move. After close to 8 years in the industry, I move down to Kuala Lumpur, out of Penang where I call home.

Hate being in this position

Another long stop here. Life has been miserable. On top of the busy and black box like life, why am I stuck in office politics? I am just looking forward to the day where I would be spared from all these craps. Let's pray for me that this day is coming soon.

Exhausting months

Life sucks recently. It's either I am doing some shitty no value work or I am forced to deliver on tight schedule with all its dependency still in black box mode. Wonder which programmer can write effective code is she doesn't know what it is really used for.

On top of the usual task, I am overloaded with initiatives. As usual, the reward for good job is more job. :-( Hopefully my recent 'NO's or no show do not offend those haunting souls out there. Please spare me from more work. I don't get paid overtime and I am not calculative either. I just have already devoted more than 10 hours per day in office and I need some for myself.

Counting down to 2 years service completion at Motorola

No updates for the recent months as I was all tied down at home and work.

So hell yes, I will be completing my 2 years in Motorola soon. These are real busy and intensive years. The learning curve are steep and work are demanding...or at least I have been committing myself to this busy schedule....this is just me! "If not now, then when?" attitude.

However glad that things have been very fruitful. My projects are in good shapes and my trip was an enjoyable one. Meeting people and learning from each other always amazed me. Hope to get more of such opportunity :D

Grew to love books

Unconsciously over the years, I grew to love books so dearly...I just love reading random books and articles. I am fascinated with new knowledge, experiences and theories. Recently I find behavioural, religious and management are among the few that got my interest.

These are the 2 which I read while killing some time in mall waiting for friends and family.

Lessons from uni II

2nd post on lessons I have learnt from uni. This is based on my 2 years postgraduate program in MMU.

Learning is a life long journey. Learning is a self driven activities and it is by far the best experience I have. Formal education is just another channel to learn but doesn't simply mean once you signed up on formal education, you would learn. I am not the kind that remember notes and books by word. I just read, grasped and improvised the content. However not everyone has the same intention. Some were only after the scroll and the fame. So if you are the later one, please do not take up a technical postgraduate. You will suffer badly in ensuring the delivery of  your assignments, tests and thesis. You do not have the excuse to cheat. Your act do bothers me not because your result. It is because you may portrait my course wrongly to the external. Lucky you, that I am a 'mind my own business' person. So wishing you all the best in your future endeavour!

The major different between my undergraduate and postgraduate is the openness and equality we have. None was being discriminated. We are all the same in the eyes of lecturers. Bravo!

Finally, I would conclude saying that postgraduate on part time basis is not for everyone. Surely not for those like mentioned above and not for those lack of determination and passion. It really exhausted me to the max throughout the period. I salute those who have made it through honourably before me.

Another milestone

Being a goal oriented person really drives me far. Every time I set out for something, I always get it. Getting it  after efforts made and attentions paid, certainly not through the wrong or forcefully methods.

So my recent accomplishment and milestone is receiving my postgraduate degree. It has been real hard for the past 2 years. Coping with new office is nothing close to easy. It is really exhausting after the countless extra hours in office.

Thankfully it has finally comes to an end!

Proud to join 15 others in the graduates of Master of Engineering in Microelectronics year of 2012. Happy Graduation to my seniors and myself! 

9 months check point

Completed my 9 months is M. It will be my 10th beginning from next week. It has been challenging months for me as well as fulfilling ones. This is what I have signed up for. I appreciate the learning initiative they have put in place...another good example of "Leaders breed leaders". We will move forward cumulatively. Go APCO!

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Virtual Spring Cleaning

It's time to change...

I just finish cleaning up my blog. The template is really old and those links are long gone. From the initial slightly over a hundred, they are now down to less than 30.

As I was reviewing the templates and scanning my past post, I realize my life nowadays are less happening as compared to my early career years. Perhaps, I have grew older and with less excitement in life. I have to find something to cheer it up...what do you suggest?

Time flies

Time flies...this saying is true regardless of easy time or hard. Now I have joined 'M' for more that 6 months yet there are still so much to learn. Still a great part of the development cycle seemed so alien to me. I could not recall having this feeling when I was back in 'I'. I  was running at pace with others in the team by then.

Is it because I lost my focus? Is it because I am now overloaded trying to balance work, study and personal life all together at once? or is it because there are more to learn in embedded field or is it because 'M' is a more process centric organization?

No matter what it is, I am still eager to continue my path here. I will just need to hang on and overcome all the obstacles. This semester is coming to an end by this Saturday. After that I have only 2 more papers and a thesis to complete in next semester. Hope that I can finish my thesis by mid of this year to be in time for the 13th MMU Convocation. Then I will regain my luxury of time for my beloved activities...travelling, photographing and surfing the internet...My last long holiday abroad was in 2010 and next is in 2013. Missed those days where I have the luxury of 17 days of annual leave per year.

New Platform To Learn And To Teach

I am still committed to volunteerism despite in my busy schedule.

In my new working environment, I am still passionate to give back to the community. With this passion and eagerness to learn more, I have volunteered to run the demo for our product in a family day event organized by our employees women council. 

It was challenging to prepare myself in such a short time to face the public and share with them on our product. I have to know the product in detail yet to put in the simplest manner that was less confusing to the public, especially those kids. We started off with a little dull but quickly adjusted ourselves and finally won the attention of our audiences. It was really satisfying to get positive feedback from them and I am really proud to be part of the organizing team. 

There will be another demo tomorrow at the Penang Science Fair at PISA. 

Friends, do drop by at the event and especially at Motorola booth to show your support :-)

Volunteers rock!

Checkpoint

A quick check...this is already my forth month here in M.

My 1st 3 months here has been very challenging for me. I got on a POC project when I knew minimal about the whole development environment. With no background on model development and minimum knowledge on embedded especially in radio communication solution, I have started here in M just like a freshie but with much higher expectation.

To cope with my shortcomings, I stayed back late for over 2 weeks, in office for more than 12 hours daily. This project was equally difficult as my last project in 'I' in terms of the stress induced but both stress induction factors were different. In 'I', it was people relation and politics while in 'M' it was the uncertainty and alien environment that drove me nuts.

It was such a relieve and I have so much satisfactory when the project finally completed with lots of positive feedback from the management. It was a great learning opportunity and excellent ramping up path. It opens up my mind on how wide embedded computing can go. Now I can't wait to further my career path in Motorola. There are many opportunities and I am glad to have decided to move on with them.

Life in M

It has been more than a month since I last blogged and it marks my 1 month service in M.

I am still growing in M. I have a lot to learn here. Everything seems different from my previous position. I find it challenging and believe this position will be able to satisfy my passion for code. Many are asking if M is any better than I, honestly I think each is better in their own way. Every cloud has a silver lining.

For now, self discovery in new environment has gives a lot of positive qi. Life is better with less complain. I am picking up my pace and making more productive time at work place. With all these +qi, it helps drive progress in my research project as well. :D

3 days in office

We were out for lunch together today. The 'we' that I meant here was not my new M mates but rather my ex-colleagues from I. It felt strange and irrelevant to hear those office gossips from them but really good to see them around especially in my early integration phase where everything in the day is so alien to me. Thanks mates!

Back about my 3 days experience in new office, I love my new environment. Despite of the smaller cubicle, I am happy to be there. It was a huge relieve on the 1st day knowing that my boss has been anticipating my join. My login account was created weeks ago (confirmed this after seeing whole long list of emails since weeks ago), new monitor (still in box) lying on my table and order has been placed for my new telephone set. I am really looking forward to work with him and the whole team.

I am still in setup and learning phase. I am a total 'SpongeBob' now....ready to learn and absorb all new knowledge. Gambate!

Time to say goodbye

Departure and farewell is part of our discovery journey. We bid farewell to the old and greet the new. It is no stranger for me as well but somehow this round it is different. I can still recall my last day of my form 5, form 6 and university. It was not as heavy hearted as what I am experiencing now.

I guess the different now is I am the only one leaving...leaving my close friends and buddies I made throughout my 3 years there. Back in school time, it was a departure for everyone. We were all occupied with farewell greetings for each other. So it was less emotional and easier to deal with.

Mmmmm....I have already made all the necessary past down earlier and returned my laptop today as I am worried that tomorrow will be an emotional and unproductive day for me. Hope that I will be able to stay calm and not over emotional tomorrow.

Lastly I hope that our friendship stays strong beyond the Intel boundary.

Time to move on

This has been troubling me for so long...finally I have made my decision to move on after 3 complete years of serving...
Now I really enjoyed my time in intel...hooray!

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Me on social media

I have been so attached to social media sites. Many thought I am totally into this and they are half right. Those shout-outs and status updates on FB and occasional short post on this page are just a way for me to release my tension. I just love to write to seek attention from friends without specifying whom I am calling out for and to kill some time.

I don't normally literally spell out feelings but I just love giving hints. So don't try to guess as you probably will get it wrong ;P

Blessing Quarter

Finally back to my blog...really a long stop since my last post.

It has been a busy quarter be it at work, study or home.

Glad that a lot has been accomplished. I am really happy now that so much has been sorted out.

Anticipating my new start and am certain that postgraduate is something I really want and something I can accomplish.

Now that I have the green light from both my academic and my industry supervisor, I just have to kick start my project. No more procrastination, Sze Wan!

Lots of uncertainty and lots of procratinating

There were too many humps on the way for the past few months. There were too much which I wanted to accomplish but could not find enough time to juggle with all. I wishes myself the best and may I get the best out of this busy schedule for I did tried my best...wish me luck!