CNY Day 12: Star Media Group CNY Lion Dance Blessing (5/2/2020)

The CNY celebration is not over yet for the staffs at Star Media Group (SMG), as we have our very own lion dance blessing. This is my first time experiencing as an intern, I'm really excited. By the time I reach the office, I see two yellow lion heads on either side of the entrance, later on we will be heading down to watch the performance.

I head up to the Corporate Communication department to start another day of internship. As the time nears, my fellow colleague Ain, makes the announcement to inform all the staff at Menara Star that later on a lion dance will be holding at the main lobby. Not long after, we head down to the main lobby. All the management team are clad in the company's corporate colour - red, which is also a lucky colour in the Chinese culture, representing good luck and fortune.

The signal of drum beating that the lions come to live! During the plucking green session (采青), one lion on the ground, and the other goes around to "play" with the staffs and management team. The performance ends with the lions presenting the management team the plucked greens. After that, it's back up to the our respective departments cause the lions will be going to department to department.

My colleagues are accompanying the lion dance performers going around the office, while Aaron and I stay back to continue our work which we left off. As the clashing of drums and symbols are getting louder at the 7th floor, the lions are here! I touch the lions for good luck, hoping my internship will be smooth and be successful in life throughout the year.

Too bad I didn't put the ang pau (red packet) and oranges on my table but next year I'll be sure to put them on my working table.

First Day of Internship The Star (16/12/19)

The semester break is still ongoing but for Katelyn is her first day of internship at The Star- The People's paper under its Corporate Communication department. It's been a dream of mine to work at The Star since I was a young girl and now I'm here to work as an intern.

After my daddy drops me off, I head to the HR office to sign myself as an intern officially. After that, my mentor, Ms. Julianne, leads me to the seventh floor, where the Corporate Communication department is located. I'm welcomed by the senior manager, Ms. Siti Hajar, with open arms and introduced to my fellow colleagues. 

While waiting for my computer to set up, Ms. Julianne gives me a brief overview on how the department works as a whole, and I'm already given my first task of the day- study The Star's annual report, kind of reminded me in Investor Relations class. Ms. Julianne also shows me some of the cover samples which are going to be used as this year's annual report cover. 

My fellow colleague, Lutfil, introduces me his job scope, mainly on the educational magazine- Kuntum, which is also I grew up with to brush up my Bahasa Malaysia back then. I ask is there anything I can help but no task is given yet except reading the content of the annual report. During lunchtime, I get to know about writing a CEO's "Thank You letter", which reminded me of writing the foreword for the booklet of Sunway University Buddhist Society- SBS' past two musical dramas. 

We head down to Star Bytes for lunch but the food are sold out when we got there. Ms. Siti tells me that the first day of internship is kind of slow but slowly the work will build up soon. The rest of the day is not much just chilling in the office whole day. I guess is to get myself familiar with the surroundings since it's the first day of internship.

Whichever task I'm given throughout my three months of internship, I'll give my best and hopefully landing a full-time career after completing university next year. 

A star struck journey is about to begin.

First day of  internship at The Star