I was looking through my photos archives and you know what, I don’t like taking photos back when I was younger, compared to now.
I don’t have any photos of my baby days, none at all (miskin lah), my formative younger years (still miskin poor), my secondary days (very rare, still poor), ITE days (pffftt depression period), my NS time (slightly more), Poly days (camwhoring by now), NTU days (getting wiser, less camwhoring), working days (none at all, haha!)
Well I’m still not that ‘confident’ in taking photos these days, and will avoid it if possible, but it’s much better nowadays … now that I’ve a bodalicous body and healthy predispositions outlook on life, keke. (Eh tak tahu malu seh.)
In my eyes, I always look sickly and fugly when taking photos. Just take a look below of my photos during my ITE days, and you’ll see why.
For the international readers, ITE stands for Institute of Technical Education. For me, during my time, those who didn’t do well in their high school, their only option is to go to vocational school or quit. I think ITE has better prospects these days right? I’m not too sure, as I’ve not been keeping up with alumni news.
Click to enlarge. Circa around 1997
And you know what, there’s still a stigma attached to ITE students.
I’ve read couple of blogs by these “it’s the end” kids, and they shared the very same experiences as I did.
But not to fret kids, I turned out alright, and you will too. Just keep faith in yourself, and not others.
Melayu Boleh!
I really dont think ITE is the end, I went to their open house some while back and I saw loads of courses which are really up and coming for the industry and I think that the kids in there have a big chance of having a pretty good life.
But it all boils down to their attitude. If they dont want to make an effort, then it wont matter.
Hi Rinaz!
Yes there’s better prospects these days indeed for ITE grads, but the “ITE” mindset mentality will always be there.
True its up to the individual, I myself used the stigma as a motivation in fact.
well… the stigma will always be there… rmbr how society always feel and think tt junior colleges students are always smarter than poly students and everytime when a mother told another mother tat her son/daughter is in a junior college, the other mother who’s son/daughter is in a poly will always say….. wow!!! yr child is so smart!!! aiyah… my child… dun knw also y he chose poly!!!! :P
well… having the best of both worlds to go both… all that i can say is poly is much more practical while jc is much more theory and book wise.. bt at the end of the day… i feel tt poly students have an advantage over jc students cos if they were to find a job, the former has more choices and better salary compared to their counterparts who did nt make it to the university and had to work… cos tt was wat had happen to me… bt well…no.. i did nt regret my choice cos i know that i am nt very gd in my practical skills and tts y i chose to take A levels rather than to go toa poly… bt nw… i feel that more students are opting for poly to further their studies after sec sch rather than goin to JCs.. bt still i feel taht the stigma is still there.. tt pple will always have this perception that JC students are always better and smarter than poly students …. bt i knw some frens in poly who are distinction students with 10 As in their O levels etc.. bt took up nursing becuase of their love for it…
oklah in my opinion… i think poly is much less stressful than A levels cos u can expect the questions tt will come out in the exams bt for A levels.. you will never knw wat questions to expect till the day u sit for it… if u r prepare for it, gd for u.. bt if u miz studying it.. then all the best to u then… :P
n i think tt ITE is doing a great job in “upgrading” itself… its no longer the “in the end” stigma tt it used to have… its courses are much better now.. n i feel that the students atittudes are improving too… some of my frens tat i knw from ite are thinking of making it to the poly or taking higher nitec rather than being satisfy with juz a cert… well..tts a gd sign.. i mean for the malay communities… i hope the malays attitudes are changing… bt i hope that they will remain humble too and help the other malays rather than lookin dwn on them… i abhor those type of malays who have a degree holder and hold a rather high ranking position bt look down on their own race… wth… cos i heard a conversation from a malay guy talking to his chinese fren… and its juz sad… :(
n regarding yr photos.. i guess each and everyone goes thru different phases… and sometimes they will morphed for the better, sometimes for the worst… n i think i am sure.. u feel glad tat things are changing for the better for u nw… :) well.. gd for u.. :)
Woah you sure got plenty to talk on the stigma issue.
I fully understand what you’re trying to say and emphatise with ya.
Well things happen for a reason, falter or success, stigma or none right.
Yeah ITE is doing great on the “rebranding” of its image, but deep down, I still believe the stigma is still there. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m from the old-school.
hahha..yeah…i think so too… looking at my lengthy post…. :P
Lengthy but it feels good to write stuff down kan.
I do that too, not here, very rarely at this blog, but in my other personal blog.
haha.. yes… sometimes you just write down stuff on and on without you even realising that its one long.. no make it two or more long pages.. :P haha.. and yes at the end of the day it just feels so gd!!! :P
you gt a personal blog??? But i am sure tt tt is only accessible to u right??? haha..:)
Yup indeed, I feel much better after penning it down.
I used to have a diary, but I kept losing it.
The other blog is only accessible by me and very close peeps.
:)… well.. tts understandable… there are just some things that are better left said in a more private space… :)
Hello Uncle Sha!
Avid silent reader of yours :D
Well.. For me ITE has shaped who i am now. I am grateful to be part of the ITE family. I had struggled, strived & achieved there. I’m not ashamed to annouce to the world that i studied in ITE.
p/s: Well Uncle Sha, i agree with Shafa. You have definitely outgrown the adolescent look. I’m sure passerby will take a loong hard stare at you ;p
I am from NTU.. I know of some classmates who are from ITE.. but the sad thing is, they are very LAZY, couldnt care less.. Whats even more saddening is they are malays like you and me.. sedih la bro see them like that.. Sampai bile agaknye melayu kita boleh maju..
ask any chinese students of what they think of the typical malay student.. heartbreaking.
on the flipside, after reading your blog, my perception on ITE students a bit better sikit.. maybe its just those ‘few’..
God bless you..