The Benefits That I Gained from My Three Months of Training at the National Service Program
...fulfill my duty as a responsible citizen. It was either that or getting fined RM 3,000 or being jailed for six months or both. So, on the 16th of February 2004, I started a journey far away from home to an unknown place which also happened to be a journey to a whole different life than I had before and surprisingly, gained a lot of benefits from it. The very first thing I learnt from National Service was that I was trained how to be independent. Imagine being ‘stranded’ in a place where you have never even heard of, what more been to with another 599 strangers. What would you really do? Well, for me, I had to stand on my own two feet as I didn’t have anyone else to depend on. I had to wash and iron my own clothes, prepare my own bed, clean the tent I slept in and sometimes, even cooked meal for myself. Don’t get me wrong. I am not spoilt. But, being a city girl, I was not used to do chores on my own as I had always have other people to do it for me. It felt strange for the first few weeks as I had to adapt to my new lifestyle but I managed to overcome the difficulties with the help and support from my new friends that I met there. Also, during National Service, I was taught how to survive life in the jungle where me and the other trainees were left in the jungle and had to stay there for four days and three nights with nothing with us except the clothes that we had on that day. We had to set up our own tent by just using woods and leaves. We also had to find and cook our own food and drinks. We even had to take our bath and do other ‘businesses’ at the river. Can you imagine the hardships that I went through? But these are the experiences that taught me how to be independent and dependable too. It was through the National Service program that I became more disciplined. There, I had to wake up at 5 AM every day except on Sundays, awaken by the sound of the noisy yet annoying siren. Then, at 6.45 AM sharp, all trainees must be ready at the field for the morning assembly. The latecomers will be punished and grouped in to stand right in front of the assembly as a lesson to the other trainees not to be late or there shall be consequences to be paid. The trainees also had to be gathered at the field every time after breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and even after each classes so that the management (trainers) could keep track on us; whether anyone was missing or trying to skip classes. We were taught to queue up when taking our meals. We were also taught marching, the military method and had to march every time an assembly is being held. Sometimes, I felt like I was playing a role in the ‘G.I Jane’ movie but of a more lenient version. Before going to National Service, I had always have a problem with people especially new people in my life. How? Well, I was having a really hard time ‘accepting’ them and making new friends and socializing with people were hard tasks for me as I was a very shy and reserved person. For short, I was a social outcast. I didn’t know what to say and what to do as in I didn’t know how to greet people properly but ever since I left National Service, making new friends and socializing with people weren’t big problems for me anymore. It was because during National Service, I had to force myself to come up to people and make friends as I couldn’t just be a lone ranger for the next three months. I put on the courage to go to people and started a conversation and then made friends. The process went on with different people and soon later, I was like a master of making friends. I also learnt how to open up to people slowly and welcome new people in my life with a big heart. Also, I was placed in the tent with nine other trainees and of course I had to converse with them and be friends as these are the people that I would have to see for the next three months. I mean, when I woke up these are the first few faces that I saw and they are also the people I saw before I closed my eyes to sleep. A bond was created. Soon later, without even realizing, I became friendlier and more open to accepting new people in my life. I wasn’t that shy and reserved anymore. In fact, a tent mate during National Service is now my course mate here in KDU. National Service also gave me the opportunity to get to know and learn about other people’s race, religion and cultural background better as National Service gathers people of all races in Malaysia that are the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Javanese, Ibans and others. Before that I didn’t have the chance to learn about all these as I went to a school where the majorities are Malays and I’ve been living at Subang Jaya for the past 19 years of my life. I didn’t have much chances and exposure to get to know about something that is very different from me and my lifestyle. So, when I learnt about other people’s race, religion and cultural background, I learnt how to respect them better. I was more aware of their differences from me and I realized that people are not the same as in they have different beliefs and views. Therefore, I became more sensi...