What is wrong?

If I ever come across anyone who would ask me "what is wrong?"...

Boy boy boy...

You want to know what is wrong?

People go to school just to get good grades, not knowledge.

Teachers go to school to prey on their students, mentally and physically.

Politicians are siphoning off the people with no guilt.

But what hit me the hardest?

People who would not question to donate to religious houses but have every doubt to help the homeless, assuming that they are almost certainly fraud. Unwilling to even spend 5 minutes talking to them without ever having the slightest interest in their struggles. We could have saved a life by talking to a person who's depressed and on the edge of taking his/her own life but yet, we opt to spend time in religious houses, asking for forgiveness, blessing and what not.

We could do better. Yet, most of us choose not to because at the end of the day, everyone (we assume) is a cheater. Perhaps that is what it takes to sleep better at night?

Action in Reflection

So many years have passed since my last post! Much positive vibes compared to the 20 years old sore-butt! So here I am, graduated with a BSc (Hons) Biotech, taught in a college for a year (had a batch of Ausmat students whom graduated under my guidance, so much pride!) and finally gonna continue my MSc Molecular Science in UM! Tough luck with overseas application. Same problem, offered a place which I could not afford (albeit not feeling like the skies had felt on me)! Anyhow, that is not the point of this post.

As I mentioned earlier, I am attached to UM and I met an old uncle whom asked if I could spare him some change for a meal as I was leaving UM Medical Centre (where my lab is connected to). At a moment like this, we usually would have two options in mind:

a) Ignore him, he's a cheat!

b) Let's spare him some change.

Without second thought, I took my wallet out and handed him five RM1 notes (the only small change I have). He repeatedly thank me as I left to catch the bus. It has been a norm for me to hand a few ringgits or buy some food for those in need ever since I have started working in KL. I believed that my action can ease their struggle for a brief moment and would never hesitate to help whenever I can.

However, it felt very different this time. Once I got up the bus, I began to ponder upon the fate of the uncle. Why would he end up the way he is today? Do he need more than just the money? Then I began to realise that there is another option that I could have taken;

c) Offer him a meal together and have a chat as we dig through our meal.

The thought of spending time with a complete stranger who needed help continues to linger in my mind even as I am writing this. I felt that I helped in order to make myself feel better but I did not help him wholeheartedly. He might be physically hungry but I could have also helped him psychologically - to listen to his stories. Perhaps this reflection can serve as a reminder that I can do much more than just offering a few ringgits.