Skip to main content

Arranged Marriage

I'm feeling rather frustrated that I wasn't placed in my most preferred studio.

Oh, I better explain a bit about balloting.

Here in RMIT, the design studio (class) placement is a bit unique. We are not placed to studio according to year or semester. First of all, we are all classified by levels. To complete up to master course, we all have to do 9 studios (level 01 - level 09) + 1 semester of major project. 

The levels are divided into 2. Lower pool (level 01-05) and Upper pool (level 06-09). So now, I'm in upper pool  level 09. The highest and unfortunate level of all. haha... why it's unfortunate?

Let me explain.
In a studio, there will be mix of levels. Being in an upper pool studio means, you'll be in a class of students from level 06 to level 09...and being a level 09 student means, you're the senior, the most experienced, and tutor(s) will have a lot expectations on you. The assessment is also based on levels.

What's balloting?
No. Not for choosing a president. At the start of every semester, there will be a session in which tutors who'll be running studios for the semester will give about 5-10 minutes talk promoting their studios. Usually there'll be 15-25 studios per semester...and students must select 4 out of all, conventionally fill up a form, place in a box and wait for the result.

I rarely had more than 2 studios that I really liked...and again, I'm one of the unlucky people in the world who rarely got in my first preference. however, in previous years... level 9 students always got some priority in getting their first choice.

But the rules say 4. whatever it is... you must fill up four options...and it occurred that, there are so many level 09 students this semester... which explains why many of us don't manage to get in our first preferred studio.

I'm feeling frustrated because I balloted for the same studio twice (tutor(s) always rerun their studio). I got in my third choice. What's worse, I really really really like the studio which I didn't get in; that I became uninterested in any other studios. But remember, the rules say four, so I wrote the other options without being interested in them.

Anyway, there's nothing else I could do but to accept and learn to like the studio. If I keep hating it, I obviously won't be able to do the semester. Well, I don't actually hate this studio, I don't know yet how it's like. How can I hate it... but all that I know, I like that studio that I didn't get in. I should really learn to let it go. I ain't doing another studio anyway.

It occurred to me, this is almost like an arranged marriage.... in which you're in love with someone else, but the family brings in a few suitors, and at the end the of day they decide who you should marry. You don't hate the suitor, but you're in love with someone else. However, the decision is made and for some reason the person that you love can't take you in. You just have to go along with it, give out your best for the marriage, and learn to love the person who's meant to be with you.

I'm probably a bit too far off. hahaa... but life is giving me a good lesson.

The thing that you like is not necessarily the best for you and vice versa. Allah knows best. :)

"So hello Google Cities (name of the studio) , I'm gonna love you until winter holiday do us apart"

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Transition

Sometimes I wonder if I would still blog after I go back for good since it always turns out that I don’t really blog whenever I return to Malaysia. I’m back in Melbourne again. Despite everything I said about this place. I'm always thankful that I’m studying here. 8 hours is long enough, can’t imagine going further. Let alone going back during a short winter break like I just did. Haha… However, regardless how good Melbourne is, coming back here is never easy. It is not the place, it’s the transition. Travelling is tiring. Yes, like yesterday, I had to take two flights, one from Penang to KL, then KL to Melb, it is a lot more tiring for someone like me who could barely sleep in a plane. That’s why I enjoy traveling during the day and taking a window seat. I enjoy day dreaming while staring at those fluffy white clouds. Haha.. Weather change changes everything. I had never went back during winter before. So that was my first time experiencing an abrupt change from a...

Willful Ignorance

I was too busy with architecture for the last few weeks.. . haven’t really got a chance to get my head around what’s going on in the world, especially back home in Malaysia. I felt detached from reality. I felt like I was living in ignorance. I felt guilty. Therefore, since I finished my final presentation yesterday (still got 2 submissions coming though)… Today, I decided to take a day off from architecture. I went out for a good lunch with a friend, had some retail therapy… and came back, get on the internet and try to update myself with some of the current issues. I read. I read. I read and I read. As a result. I feel sick. And I still feel guilty, way worse… I feel guilty and hopeless for knowing things I could never really do anything about. I know... I know...I know I’m a little behind. But I still need to put more efforts in understanding the following issues, I’m feeling lost and mentally constipated just by reading one or two news/articles/blogposts about them. 1. ...

Kerja Tak Siap Lagi!

I guess one of the real problem with Malaysian Architecture is it lacks of publication even on the internet. I have been browsing for Malaysian architecture these few days and surprisingly I found that there are many amazingly great projects back home. I stumbled upon many photos of interesting designs that I wish I could dig further for my assignment. But it is frustrating that how brief most of the information is. I also wonder if having a website is such a big deal (expensive, is it?) since not many firms have a website, let alone a good one. Some websites I have to say are not inviting at all. Many use dark/navy blue as the primary color, why is it? I don’t hate blue, but it’s not tasty at all as an architecture website… I also found some real good architects who keep blogs, but the problem with a blog is, it depends on the updates. Therefore, even if it is a current project (since some projects run for years), but if the post was 7 months ago, the blog seems abandoned. Besides, it...