2008 The Year Of Oppurtunities

Traditionally every year end I'd like to reflect on what that year has meant to me. Something to look back and pen down my experiences, in a way to treasure the moments as they don't come anytime and every time. Something I'd like to remind myself: "You only live life once.." Naturally, live life to the fullest! I guess I'm a person who get excited easily.. about life. Well am still finding out about myself in life (aren't we all?). If 2007 was the transition year for me (i.e. transition from being a student to a working adult), then 2008 would be the career year for me. Not so much in building a career or climbing some corporate ladder, but more like laying the bricks one at a time in this line I never thought I'd be in; jounalism.

"This is Su Lin, reporting LIVE from the red carpet for the MTV Asia Awards 2008 held at Genting Arena Of Stars..."

2008 would be the significant year when I first started reading live news on radio. Starting from the month of May 2008 if I can still recall, after I got into a car accident (first time as well) with my brand new MyVi. On a lighter note, what my boss commented to that car accident that was to "buang suey" as I finally get a chance to read news. Something that I've always wanted to do. Thankfully as bad as my news reading skills are, I'm still given the oppurtunity to read news weekly as I needed the pratice badly as well as my weekly fix. I needed a platform to grow and reading news is actually quite a challenge as I STILL get nervous/panic attack/cold feet/chills/tongue twisted EVERYTIME I read the news live on the radio. Something totally different from what I expected. The cat never failed to catch my tongue. One could never imagine some or the darnest things I have said (or should I say misread) on air. For one, Bahasa Melayu can be quite a tongue twister. Believe me, when you are on air LIVE, things could be really BAD. If I could compile a book that says "The Darnest Things To Be Read In News" would be; "menguntungkanG" (meaning: to give profit), instead of reading it as "menguntungkan". Other tricky words I never fail to stutter are "tertentu" and "siasatan". It would sound like "tttttttttttt-tertentu" or "sssssssssssiasatan". Thankfully when I listen back it sounded more like a audio technical error rather than a human error! Malay names are also quite tricky, especially royalties. My God, I had quite a hard time reading the names in one breathe without getting stuck last week when it YDP of Negeri Sembilan passed away. Not to mention I said "Istana Besi" (meaning: iron palace) instead of "Istana Besar" (meaning: big palace). The list are just endless and yes, I am prone to make bloopers. Something that I wish to change for the year 2009. Less bloopers, more confident and dynamics in news reading. A bit far fetched you say? I would love to prove you all wrong.

Something new in 2008: live news reading on weekends!

Year 2008 also saw many of my special reports that made it to the air waves. Most of my story pieces were more prone to health topics and human interests. I enjoy doing special reports, something to call my own. My own voice over and my own story findings. It gives me great satisfaction to hear them play my story on air, as I have put a lot of effort and hard work into them. Even better when someone else takes notice of your work and tells other people about it. Oh yes, I love publicity. Any form of publicity is good publicity! Especially from a radio critic i.e. The Star's Air Raves columnist, Anthony Thanasayan (check out blog link: Air Raves). Thanks to him, when nobody noticed, my work gained some recognition in his columns. THEN only people (including my boss) started noticing my works. One of them which was the special featured story on Talasemia, that was nominated for the Angkasapuri Award in RTM. Nominated as finalist only but didn't win. Better luck in 2009!

BJ: Broadcast Journalist (NOT b**w j*b)

2008 was a pretty awesome year to work in. Haha. Gosh, who am I kidding man?!?? One of the more glamorous highlights were the MTV Asia Awards 2008 at Genting Highlands where I was there to cover the event and at the same time up close and personal with famous international stars i.e. The Pussycatdolls, Leona Lewis, Panic At The Disco, The Click Five, The Script, One Republic, and (ohh la la) the delicious host, Jared Leto! Well that was more fun and fluffy news. The more substantial events covered was the 12th General Election in Sabah (super duper great time!) and The Royal Commission Inquiry into Lingam's controversional tape (super duper stress time!). Those were the memorable ones I can recall for 2008. No so much on the contents of what was being reported, but pretty much of the wholesome experience gained from it. General Elections in Sabah opened my eyes to the political and social scene in somewhere remote but yet so close to heart and at the same time I get to TRAVEL! (honestly speaking THAT IS the best-est part). Meanwhile the Lingam court reporting stint was pretty heavy stuff, but at the end of the day it feels great to be part of something important at the same time controversial (read: the inside scoop and all the adrenaline rush).

The U.S Presidential Elections Watch: "Obama Boleh!"

Well 2008 was not ALL about work. Gosh, don't I just sound like a workaholic or what? Work work work. Bleh. Well one thing for sure, I got bitten by the travel bug that year. In a year alone I have already travelled to Bangkok TWICE! With only a 2 months of gap. It's crazy I know, but I like it! Whereas Singapore was the year end countdown experience. My first time joining revellers ushering in the new year in a foreign country. Anticipating the countdown and watching fireworks from near at The Esplanade hanging out with The Merlion. Meanwhile my work took me to Sabah, as well as my roadtrips to food tasting in Malacca, (even more in Penang) and water-rafting in Kedah! Well at this moment I could only afford visits to 3rd world and neighboring countries and only domestic travel. Sigh. No money, no honey. I would love to see the world. Someday.

"I'm leaving on a jet plane..."

So what else did I found out about myself in year 2008? That is: I'm not a gym person. Signed up for Fitness First membership for a year. Barely 3 months into it, I froze my membership. Passport membership, mind you. My excuse? My feet hurts. Auwww... Lame right? Ironically, my kaki sakit (from a previous leg injury) but still can go for salsa *grin* I admit I lack discipline in keeping my weight in check. Gym is fun (once in awhile), but it be committed to it everyday, it becomes like a relationship. Wtf. Just because I paid for it, therefore that's my "motivation" to gym. Well plan backfired there. Boo hoo. Instead of heading to the gym, there I was visiting the diners and new places to try out good yummy food! Muahahaha.. As a result, 2008 is also known as the FAT year. So much for new year's resolution to loose weight!

One of my other awesome-est experience in early 2008 was going to a rock concert for the very FIRST TIME! Not just any rock band, mind you. It was Switchfoot live in KL! A little late bloomer you can say, but Switchfoot can rock my socks off anytime baby! Even when I'm 60 years old (with my wheelchair, false teeth and all). Man, the concert was well invested indeed. 2 hours plus of pure solid rock and fans jumping and singing along to all their songs. Great band, great songs, great lyrics, great showmanship. Everything was just GREAT. Two thumbs and another two toes UP!

I heart Switchfoot!

Now that 2008 has closed it's chapter, I wonder what 2009 would bring. Would it bring more challenges or opportunities? Well, it depends on how you look at things really. With challenges comes opportunity to grow and be wiser. I do hope for the best in 2009, although many said it may not be a good year i.e. economically and politically in the current world scenario. Whatever it is, God give me the strength and willpower to live my life to the fullest as life is too short to worry and be sad. Initially, my new years resolution for 2009 is to loose weight (same resolution for the past 5 years) but I think this time I think I want to be more independent. Emotionally, financially and basically just grow up to be a big girl who can take care of herself by herself. Now that's my new year resolution.