Sunway Virtual Intercultural Programme: Petra Christian University Indonesia (29/5/2021-31/5/2021)

It’s been almost a week since I officially graduated from university (virtually). As I adjusted to my new status as a Sunway alum, it’s time to give back to the alma mater by being one of the student helpers, well, alum helper for me, to host the students from Petra Christian University (PCU) Indonesia. 

Before the big day, we had a briefing on how to attend to the students. Some of us were concerned of language barrier but we were assured that English will be used at all times which kind of gave us a relief. 

The big day came, we were super excited to meet our Indonesian counterparts for the first time. We have Ms Endry, who was one of the lecturer representatives from Petra Christian University. First and foremost we had an ice breaking session. After that, we introduced them to Sunway University College as well as Malaysia. Same went to our Indonesian counterparts as well, when they introduced Petra Christian University and the amazing places that we should visit in Indonesia. 

To give them a taste of Malaysian culture, we showed them how to make teh tarik (sweet tea) and mamak - a place that us Malaysians love to go anytime of the day. If we have a sports event, especially the Olympics - we will gather at the mamak to cheer the Malaysian contingent on. 

After showing each other’s cuisines from both countries, we were broken up into individual rooms to interact with one another. In my room, I had Angelica and Kenley. We have a list of topics to choose from. At first, we wanted to choose taboos but it was a little tough. After Angelica looked up on my social media profile, she asked me "Katelyn, are you a Buddhist?", I said "Yes!"

We decided to change from taboos to religious venues. We found out that Malaysia and Indonesia have a lot in common in worship places. After that, each team presented the common and differences of Malaysia and Indonesia.

A group photo was taken to commemorate the day. Thank you Sunway Cultural Exchange and the students Petra Christian University Indonesia.  

Sunway University Virtual Graduation 2021 (23/5/2021)

 It's the moment that every graduate is waiting for - an official graduation ceremony to close the chapter of four years in university and embarking into the real world. The graduates of Sunway University are no exception. Due to the current covid-19 pandemic, we have virtual graduation. Virtual graduation - a common scene for university graduates from all over the world. We have seen some universities where they have robots replacing the students to take the scrolls on their behalf. 

At first, I thought, will that happen to me during my own graduation? We'll just have to find out. A day before my own graduation, I attended the graduation of my course mates in my batch (Jan / Mar 2017 intake). The first virtual graduation ceremony for the class of July 2020 has now begun! Dignitaries such as the ambassador of French to Malaysia, the UK High Commissioner to Malaysia and The Dutch Embassy just to name a few to wish all the graduating class of July 2020 a huge congratulations and success in their future. 

The graduation takes place both on Facebook and YouTube through live streaming, we can even wear in our pyjamas while watching. The ceremony begins with the student council taking the chancellor sceptre from the library to the venue of graduation venue at Sunway Resort Hotel, followed by the ceremonial march of professors and chancellors. After the national anthem, the Negaraku, the chancellors and professors were seated, let the ceremony begin! 

The ceremony begins with a speech from our chancellor and founder of Sunway - Tan Sri Jeffery Cheah, AO. He is affectionately known as "Papa Cheah" among the students on campus. "Quality education shapes the quality nation", that's what he said in the opening speech. Next, it's the moment we have been waiting for , the presentation of the scrolls of diplomas and degree scrolls. One by one, the students' names are shown on the screen. 

A speech from the valedictorian and welcoming address from Prof Elizabeth Lee to welcome the new graduates into the Sunway alumni community. At the end of the ceremony, a slide show of our days on campus with our friends and lecturers. Not long after the first-ever graduation ceremony, the phone starts to buzz in with messages to congratulate the graduating class of July 2020. Days before graduation, I drew a graduation cap which I learned from YouTube. My course mates thought I was giving ang pau (red packets) to them. 

This is what the virtual graduation looks like for the next three sessions - which I attend all of them because my friends are in the second session of the first day of the virtual graduation. On 23 May 2021, it's a special day for me and my coursemates in the August 2017 batch because it is our turn to be officially graduated. 

An hour before the event, I clad in my yellow cheongsam - which I'm planning to wear if we were to have physical graduation. I guess we can still dress in our best to have the feeling even though we are not there in person. Seeing my name popping up on the screen for that few seconds, a sense of joy and happiness, as well as success! I'm proud to say that I'm a Sunway graduate! 

Congratulations Sunway graduate classes of July 2020 and February 2021! We did it!