The tittle says it all. Yesterday was my interview for architecture at UiTM. I didn't know what to expect and what to think since it was the first interview that I ever had. (I had an interview once tho, when I was in Form 1. It was an interview for the school prefect and the interviewers were all senior prefects and discipline teachers. I didn't get the position.)
I was suppose to be there at the Fakulti Senibina, Perancangan dan Ukur (FSPU) at 8.30 am for registration. So, me and my family left at 7.30.
Long story short, on my way climbing up mountains of stairs to arrive at FSPU (because my dad decided to park far far away from everybody and UiTM Shah Alam is famous for its mountain-ish terrain and there're basically stairs everywhere in every corner of your eye) , I accidentally dropped my IC. I had to climb back down to search for it and unfortunately it couldn't be found. Miserable and panicked, I climbed back up to my family who waited upstairs. Suddenly and luckily, a good Samaritan who happened to hear my parents' conversation on my missing IC had found it first and so,she returned it back.
Eventually, I arrive at the registration centre and OH MY GOD, there were so many human beings! It was crowded and hot and humid. I found my course's code and line up and guess who was there? Ulfahhhh!! Sangat gumbira hanya Allah yang tahu. Since the line for architecture was so long because everybody with different courses decided to queue up in the architecture line, I queued right behind Ulfah considering that we both know each other, LIKE A BOSS. (If you were the guy behind me, I'm sorry I jumped in)
To make long story short, we waited for 3 agonizing hours to take turn for the drawing test (because i was in the third aka last session). We were then brought to this big lecture hall by one of the staff. In the hall, they place several basic objects on a table and we had to draw those objects based on our sitting view. It was pretty intense and we were only given one hour to complete the drawing.
And then came the nerve breaking part, the INTERVIEW. We had to wait for another 2 painful hours. Ulfah and I took the oppurtunity discussing and exchanging our thoughts on architecture and all that.
About 4 pm, the staff called me in. With a broad and friendly smile, I entered the room and the panel was waiting for me. Luckily, there was only one person who will be interviewing me.
Panel: Apa khabar?
Me: (asal pak cik ni ckp melayu..) Alhamdulillah, sihat.
Panel: Saya nak awak keluarkan kad pengenalan, salinan kad pengenalan, slip result, salinan slip result, surat beranak, salinan surat beranak, dan salinan surat beranak mak dan ayah.
I was like, eh? what'd you say? because I didn't catch what he was saying so I pulled out random things out of my file. My hands was shaking and I freaked out a bit. I placed the documents on the desk and he looked at me. A bit annoyed I can tell from his face.
Panel: I'm going to tell you one more time. Dengar baik2. Keluarkan sijil bla bla bla...
Me: Okayy..
Panel: Congratulations on your result, Baiti. So tell me, why do you choose to be an architect?
Me: Thank you, sir. I choose architecture because to me personally, architecture is more than a course to be studied, it's more like a hobby. And I can get to work with my hands and use all the skills that I have on my designs. I also can express my own personal artistic opinion on my design.
Panel: Ok. So tell me about yourself.
Me: (membebel pasal diri sendiri, family, etc)
Panel: Okay. Do you have any favorite building in Malaysia?
Me: Yes I do. It is the Mesiniaga Tower which is located in Subang Jaya. The tower was designed and built by Ken Yeang, a Penang-born chinese. The building is very green and very ecoarchitecture. (I didnt explain much about the building because my brain went blank after that.)
Panel: ........
Me: .......
Panel: Do you have any question to ask me?
I was like, 'eh, dah habis dah ke? Cepat benor pak cik ni..'
Me: Umm..what do you think of my drawing? (point to the drawing that i did earlier) Do you think I am qualified to be an architect? What does it takes to be an architect?
Panel: Yes, I think your drawing is fine and I think you are qualified to be an architect. An architect need to have the ability to think creatively..bla..bla..bla.. (He explained a lot)
Panel: ........
Me: ........
Panel: Do you have any other question?
I was like, ' pak cik ni biar betul....siapa yg interview siape nii..' So, tanpa segan silunya, I asked him whether he wanted to see my art portfolio or not since he didn't ask for it. And he said, 'Oh, you bring your drawings too? Yes sure.' He flipped through the pages and and asked if I would willing to draw his portrait for free. He asked me to remember his name and if I get in the UiTM, he wanted me to find him so that he could give me his photo to draw. I was like, ' aint nobody got time for dat' (JK) 'is he sirius?' But then, of course I said yes. I mean, he was the man, and I couldnt say no.
So, that's basically it. My interview lasted for about 5 minutes. Probably because the panel is tired asking questions and stuff. But alhamdulillah, it went smooth as silk.
Poor Mama and Abah and Iman and Tasnim. They had to wait for hours until I finished the interview. Iman and Tasnim siap kutip daun2 kering n ranting buat penyapu. Nampak sangat bosan tahap ekstrem. Bersih UiTM Shah Alam. Expecially Fakulti Senibina, Perancangan dan Ukur. Hahah.
Wasallam!
