A visit to UKM Kampus KL today had brought memories of few years back. The aged building had some finishing touch since the last time I was there, but the sturdy looking block seems as if it's gonna be torn down anytime soon. UKM KKL campus may be relocated in the near future, but how near, no one knows. It could be 3 years, 10 years, or 20 years before they'd acquired another substiture piece of land in Cheras.
As we walked into DK 1, the interior hadn't changed at all. It was filled with the atmosphere of enthuasism, from the 1st and 2nd years, eager to walk their path of Medicine. How I'd missed the lecture hall, where all of us used to sit together under one large roof, be it hot or cold (mostly cold due to the air-cond). And the spot I used to sit, right in front of the big lecture hall, while dozing off like no one's business.
Today was the Interaction Day, where they'd tried to explain the buddy system concept to the 1st years, in hope that they would be more willing to accept such an idea. It seems that a certain few resisted to the idea, giving rise to a chain reaction of uneasiness among the more senior medical students, namely the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th years. News spread fast, along with the hatred and every single mistake done was magnified down the each line of rumours. Ranks and files of protests came before the "defendants" had even a single chance to voice their views.
Well, I can't say that I'm not guilty of laughing with fellow peers. News spread that the 1st years were a bunch of cocky people who snubbed the buddy system and desired to form a team called "Genius" among themselves to work themselves up. Well, it's a good idea to form a group, just that the choice of name amused me more often than not. As I've always been saying, each batch 1st years brought with them the self-pride and confidence, spilling over the brim, fresh from the victory they had savoured from whether STPM or matriculation. I wouldn't really label it as disgusting, but perhaps this is part and parcel of growing up. Once you've settle down, everything else would fall into place. You thought that you've passed through the peak of your education life when STPM/ matriculation is over. The truth is, it has just begun, and how it goes, depends on the whatever you have in your armada, be it intelligence, luck, social network, and whatever that comes in your way. No one single factor overrule the others, and that's where it gets interesting.
Back to the buddy system which was the controversional issue, sometimes, I may have find that the superiors may have been overdoing it a little. Yes, buddy system is good, but it may not work for everyone. Whether if it is for friendship, for help in studies, or whatsoever reasons, imposing one's strong belief into others maybe somehow be an uphill task. Using force may provoke a rebound effect, causing agitation and irritability to those who were forced to accept it. The same applies for religion, and that is perhaps why religious war are the worst fought for centuries, because they would want to impose their own beliefs to others.
I am no less guilty, for I was once in the same position. A few of us were the "targets" for opposing the buddy system due to some misunderstanding. Having a buddy without consent or knowing each other from both sides is just like a fixed marriage of a man and a woman before they even knew or understand each other. Such practice may be feasible in the past, but nevertheless, it may not go well with the current generation. What disappoints me was the fact that the 2nd years were asked to rag the defiant ones so they would "accept" the idea. Fortunately, no 2nd years in their right mind would do so, since they would not want to jeopardise their future for the sake of mometarily fun, lest they want to repeat the incidence 2 years back where the police was involved for some minor misunderstanding and some pranks by the seniors. No one was arrested, the "defiant" one in the 3rd year was "boycotted" but the one who was reported had more fear than ever to repeat such acts.
But fortunately, in my case, the 3rd years came for reconcillation (despite some initial fear because three of them wanted to meet me in my room personally, which would frighten anyone in their right mind, and mine wasn't). So there I was, mending with the 2nd years (5th year now), all thanks to the friendly 3rd years (now graduated and work as HO), which one of them was my grandbuddy, to my surprise later on.
But still, I would have think that buddy system has its pros and cons, and not 100% perfect. Some may have form very strong bonds along the line of buddy of 5 years, going out on each outing and such, but some may have looser bond. But this is all up to the individuals. We can also befriend other seniors or juniors, so why must it be a rigid one-to-one system? As most of us had realised, it's better if we treat everyone the same as equally nice, be it seniors or juniors in this sense. It's not just the seniors that we should greet, but also fellowmates from different courses, the nurses or even the janitor. We shouldn't be rude to any of them, respecting their decision as it is. The terms seniors and juniors are arbitrarily made up, but the essense it that we are all friends and fellow colleagues. Why not we help each other out?
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