After 2 days of sleepless nights, it's finally over.
Closing another chapter of EDX, this time around, EDX21 has finally ended.
I must say, frankly, for this edition, people have started to comment on the "un-hyped-ness" of this event. (I know I've been using this word so frequently lately)
Maybe because the juniors have started to take over the whole thing that we never really experienced the adrenaline-pumping moments anymore now. But weird, the juniors too complained that they don't feel EDX anymore.
Both the advisors were not around this time. Probably that's why.. *wink*
But then again, for this edition, joining the Secretariat department is something new and different for me. I know if it wasn't for TeeHooi and Xiyi, I wouldn't make up my mind to take this new department. To try something new and different, is a risk that sometimes I wouldn't take. Not another quarter-life-crisis syndrome, I hope.
Or simply, people like me, tend to stay in the comfort zone..
Let me enlighten you on what is the Secretariat's job scope.
First, we are not under any managers, and we are a stand-alone department. However, due to some reasons, they put the secretary to look over us (in case adalah yang rebellious kan?). Our job is mainly to invite award winners, give briefing to the exhibitors, print out forms, and on that day of the event itself, we are supposed to function as an Information Counter. People who have doubts, questions, complaints, would always to go our booth, and vent out their frustrations and anger. (klah, not all the time people come and belasah lah..)
I shall be honest here. I used to forget about this department when I was in previous edition of EDX. To me, they are of insignificant role in EDX, and it's just sad to hear the head of department complaining and complaining all the time. (Ok, the real situation isn't really like that, I exaggerated about the insignificant role part, but you get the picture? In short, I find them pretty redundant.) Well, of course, I was being ignorant then, but all these were not revealed to anyone then lah. And if you are reading this, don't lah go tell and announce to the whole world lah..
Until I joined Secretariat this , that I find that sometimes, we've just gotta give some things a try. How can we be so quick in giving judgement to something which we do not understand or try to understand?
(wait ah, my roommate just came back from her date..OMG, it's almost 3.30am now..)
Two nights before the event, we tried to struggle with the database of the participants. So great that they told us we need to use MICROSOFT ACCESS to enter the details. Eh, itu saya sudah pulang kepada lecturer ages ago okay? Thank goodness Fang Xuan was able to help set the template so that it was easier for us to just type in the details. TeeHooi and I were given the task to key in everything about the (Final Year Projects) students. 91 names, 91 project names, 91 contact numbers, 91 student IDs, 91 email address, 91 supervisor names..YOU TYPE UNTIL YOUR EYES GO COCKEYE LAH!
Nevermind the sleepless night we spend to do this data-entry-ing. Afterall, EDX is our passion. Hehhe..
The next day, the real horror begins. From 12pm to 12am, we were expected to sit in the Undercroft, Chancellor Complex to wait for the participants to register and choose their booth locations. The notice placed stated that the registration would start from 12pm onwards, and by 11.45am, people were crowding outside the Secretariat Operation Room. It was total madness! And because there was some technical problems, we had a slight delay of 30 minutes, but at 12pm, the crowd gone mad, and a few fella came in and scolded us. Fine, because it's our fault that we promised to start at 12pm, but use brain cannot?? If system not working, how want to register?? Memang lah, how people like this qualify for FYP, ETP and all the projects I also dunno..So smart, but EQ tarak kah??
As the people came to register, I was busy keying and tallying the actual numbers and the details of the participants. We were responsible to make sure that none of the booth locations has clashes. To make things worst, the Location and Preparation committee changed the numbering and layout of the booths overnight, so we got all the information very last minute and there were slight confusion and mistake. Everyone was in a heat-up mood, but the work still goes on. Only at 1am, we were able to leave because there were clashes but were solved after.
The next morning, D-day, we were required to come at 8am to set up the Secretariat booth, and get ready to assist the participants. Everything went on smoothly, and we tried to help them as much as we can. But sometimes, we can only pray for the best, but whatever that happens after that, is in the hands of God. The electricity was cut off due to a power trip, (someone was overloading the power supply), and participants started to complain because some of their prototype requires electricity to operate.
We often try to settle the problems for them by looking for the respective departments to solve them, but I really don't understand the participants lah, you think we really Information Counter kao kao?? Like if no electricity, they come and scold us, instead of telling us properly. Hello?? We look like TNB kah??
I heard the Opening Ceremony went on fine. Hahha, good that this time, the PNC committees are comfortable with Marvin, unlike last sem, when I drilled them until wanna cry like that..
The 2nd day of Exhibition, things went on well for us too. I think they must have rated us the worst secretariat because we know very little of things lah. I shall blame no one here, but seriously, we tried to ammend things as much as we could. The participants (super seniors) were getting pretty rude towards us. Kept complaining that the system is not good enough, or we are doing very stupid things..And when they came to us, insisting whether they managed to win a medal for their projects , we politely responded to them that the results are not for us to disclose, and that they should just wait patiently for the closing ceremony. Instead of saying thank you and walk away gracefully, they gave us a glare and said "Why cannot tell?? Just tell lah, we have class/interview, we don't want to waste time waiting.."
Hello, don't want medal, can go pack your bags and leave okay..fuck lah..
Such intellectual minds, but no EQ. No respect for juniors. They really think that we are really hired by UTP for them to use. Even if we are really hired, hello, we are just trying to do our jobs. If you want service, we will provide them. You good, we also good. Why want to show your seniority in front of us??
Honestly, I don't give a damn whether you are a senior or what lah..The moment you give us one kind of look, or unwanted comments, you automatically lose my respect. Or ours, as matter of fact.
The day ended quite well, with us, returning the participants' refunds. 2 days of hardwork, and I dare say, at least the event jadi lah..Nothing much to brag about this time, but just thankful that the event did jalan.
Like every EDX, I learned something new this time. It's not easy to cater to people's needs, and to actually swallow my pride in, and still be able to smile and apologize after being scolded at by different people, I just brought my patience to a higher notch. And yeah, the ego, a notch lower.
1st Day of EDX. We were asked to dress in formal.
Secretariat.
The guy looking elsewhere: Mujahid (Head of Department), Xiyi, Jerry, Fang Xuan, TeeHooi, Me and Amalina.
Missing in picture: Kara, Wendy
One thing I realized is we are a bunch of camwhores lah..
Please don't ask where/how/when/why we took this shot!
Just one more..one more..
Oh man, why do I think we are gonna kena the most during postmortem..??
(psst..I am not going, so blek!)
so, I hope you have a blast in Russia, with all the doctors..*sulk*)
