Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness: Address at the 5th Convocation Ceremony of MASA College

Bouquets of flowers being displayed for sale

Interacting with the guests before the Convocation Ceremony

Photo with a few members of the Board of Directors

1. Introduction. I attended the 5th Convocation Ceremony of Kolej MASA (Malaysian Academic & Skills Advancement) held on Thursday 22nd December 2016 at UPMCS Banquet Hall, UPM Serdang starting at 1.00 noon. I was invited as one of the two guests of honor to address the graduating class made up of 316 diplamates in the Faculties of Corporate Administration, Executive Secretaryship, Hospitality Management, Information Technology and Computer Technology and Forensics. The Ceremony was attended by members of the Board of the College, the graduates, their parents and guardians, the academic and administrative staff and invited guests. It was officiated Y.B Senator Dato' Seri SK Devamany, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

The commencement of the Convocation with the Academics' procession

The guest of honor, YB Senator Dato' Seri SK Devamany, at the main dais

The audience during the Ceremony

Group photo with the graduste

2. Content of my Address

1. First of all I would like to take the opportunity to thank the College for giving this honor to be present and deliver an address to the graduates. It provides me the opportunity of sharing whatever knowledge, experiences and wisdom one accumulates through these long years. I shall be 79 next February and do not have too long to be standing in front of such audiences such as this, sharing the few things with the young generation.

2. To the graduates, I wish to express my heartiest congratulations for having patiently going through the lectures, taking the examinations and finally completing the courses you have chosen. This success bring to each one of you the feeling of exhilaration after a period of trials and tribulations. Congratulations to the parents and guardians who have faithfully put lots of trust, shower encouragement and resources to harness you with the knowledge, skill and wisdom to prepare yourself for the second phase of your life – the working life.

Equipped with the knowledge, skill and wisdom, one may opt to seek employment in the corporate or public sector or start an entrepreneurial activity of your own. Each one of these options is not easy and one faces many challenges. As an employee, one has to experience the new environment – the boss may be a difficult person to work with and each personnel in the office has unique personality that one has to adjust with. Going into an enterprise also poses such issues as what enterprise to embark in with the many competitors in the market, credit availability and workers to recruit to assist in your business outfit. Do not consider these as problems that can hinder and adversely affect your activity. Look at them as challenges and make it an exciting journey to overcome them. It is all in the mind. Psyche each morning that today is going to be an exciting and happy day. With this frame of mind locked up you will find that things will fall in place and your work is blessed with lots of joy and success will then prevail.

4. When working do not get carried away and get addicted to work to an extent of spending long hours in the office. Aim for a balanced, healthy and happy life, allocating time for work, spiritual activity, for the family (parents, wife and children), community and friends, exercises and recreation. One has heard of the saying – do not get burnt out as a result of too obsessed with work. Take time to recharge and renew. According to Bonnie Ware as quoted by Sunday Clarke in his column ‘Sunny Side Up’ published in the Star (Dec 12, 2016), the no. 2 in the list of top 5 regrets of the dying ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’.

Take time to keep yourself healthy. It does not take much to spoil your day and one is not able to put his best in his work – a slight head ache, stomach ache. There are many exercises and sports that one can choose from. In my young days I played table tennis, rugby and hockey for my College. I started playing squash when I started work in MARDI with the availability of the facilities there. Many of these sports require playing fields, courts, equipment, partners to play with. Opt for something simple, easy and cheap – brisk walking, jogging and running – at least 30 minutes, 3 days in a week.

6. Keep abreast with the developments and happenings around you – your community, country and your world, by reading. The smartphone is one source of information – whatsapp groups (health, spiritual and the latest on politics – true of false), Ted Talks and the latest addition to my knowledge source is MOOC – Massive Open Online Courses with the whole range of interesting topics – latest science discoveries, economics, politics, sustainable development, happiness. This source does not only provide information but also the avenue to release your cumulative pent up frustration with an issue (1 MDB). In one whatsapp group I am in with a few members of the Cabinet and senior govt officials in it, a senior citizen posted posted all the postings on the current hot issue in the country with his own unsavoury comments. I still rely on the conventional published texts – books and newspapers.

7. Finally I like to take the opportunity to wish everyone success , good health and HAPPINESS.