CAREER PATH

 1st of AUGUST 2016 will always be one of the most important day in my career journey as it was the first day I joined USM as Young Academic. I really enjoyed teaching. I love my students as they are my happy pills at work. As Young Academic, I found that to kick a start in a research is slightly tougher as compared to teaching. It feels like everything has been reset and I have to crawl again from the bottom- forming new team, working with others, applying for fundings and finding my own students. Tough! But alhamdulillah I managed to face the challenges in foothing and strongly survive til now. Besides being a Scientist, I am also aiming to be a Professional Engineer (Ir.) as I believe this will help me in both teaching and research in a long run. My aim is to obtain the Ir. status followed by associate professorship within the next 3-4 years and the picture on the below right is how I see myself as a Professor of Advanced Materials (Biomaterials & Nanotechnology) in 8 years from now, insyaAllah. As the saying goes, "A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step". Personally, I do not see any needs to compare my career path to others as everybody has their own winding path. Design and focus on YOUR career and life goals. Do what you need to do. Everything will soon falls into its own rightful place in its own time at its own pace accordingly following to His plan. 

Having a happy-go-lucky and easy going characters are the bonus points for me to capture the student's hearts. During lectures I might be kinda strict person but outside the lecture halls,  I am very friendly, approachable and caring person, which I think has attracted the students to be close to my heart. Although I am strict lecturer, I always have some empathy to my students, listen to them, be flexible when necessary and most importantly always spread the positive vibes to them. Smile, keep calm and treat them as adult learners. Be their friend, sister and motivator, NOT only their lecturer.