It has been the best 8 months with all of you x
Warning: Grandmother story below
Now where do I start? I’m not exactly skilled with words but the number of MPPC-related posts on Facebook inspired me to join the crowd and write a closure to the event. I’ve caught on the enthusiasm as well.
To most, the Malaysia Public Policy Competition is a 3 days 2 nights annual event run by a bunch of overly idealistic students who are actually peers to the participants. To the committee, the Project Directors especially, the MPPC is beyond this, even beyond the fact that MPPC has been carefully planned for more than 6 months prior to the event.
As one of the organisers, I will sum up the MPPC 2013 as the scariest yet most amazing experience I ever had. Scariest, because virtually everything has been revamped from the past MPPCs. Committee is twice as large, seniors have high expectations and the uncertainties/forecasts/assumptions/targets were endless. In fact there are many things that I wish I didn’t have to do. I can go on and on, rambling about the multiple problems I’ve encountered on a daily basis, but I’m proud to list the countless achievements the MPPC has made this year: phenomenal sponsorship, phenomenal applications, phenomenal marketing, phenomenal attendance—phenomenal everything. I am yet to find an aspect where we failed to achieve what our predecessors had expected from us.
Following from this, I would like each and every one of you to know how ineffably grateful I am. Below are my thoughts addressed individually to each of the MPPC crew:
To Carl Mann,
Do you remember the main phases of MPPC? Firstly it was the organisational system, then CJS, followed by marketing, and finally logistics + welfare. I am happy to know that I can put a name of someone who had followed me down the 8 month journey, walking along the path of uncertainty, assumptions, expectations, with recurring feelings of anxiety here and there. I guess this is one of the experiences that only we can both share and relate— I really value that.
It must have been hard for you to sacrifice a lot of your study time for the MPPC, even during your finals. I appreciate your effort for that too. Though we may have differing views sometimes (also because I’m hard-headed), we all know that it is for the betterment of the MPPC. I am extremely sorry for the word vomit too; I guess I’m not the type with honeyed words when it comes to work.
And finally, I thought you wanted to wear a dress during the event!
To Jon Keat,
AKA grumpy cat. You have really gained my respect during the last few weeks before the event. I really admire your analytical skills, and when it comes to writing on behalf of the Project Directors, you’re always the first person in mind. Thank you for staying up past 4am for nearly 4 nights in a row, and thank you for waking up at 5am after one hour of sleep. You may have scared the hell out of me by being in our apartment during the wee hours of the morning, compiling all contents-related work, and rest assured I could never find the tenacity that you possess.
Dear Mico,
CJS has been a scary department, so scary that I hardly dwell into it as compared to other departments. You were really brave for taking up the CJS director role, when so many others have stepped down due to the overwhelming work and stress. I must say that you did an amazing job with the judges and speakers this year, with full attendance and whatnot.
PS – you crept me out when you stared at me while smiling to yourself 😉 I never knew that my eating style amuses you!
Dear Jonathan Muk,
Words cannot express how grateful I am for the amount of dedication you put into the MPPC. You’re one of the committee’s huge assets and I really appreciate you for that, aside from being an amazing friend whom I can confide to of course. All in all, you are like a brother I wish I had. Thank you for being an amazing friend and colleague. You are definitely worth seeing more than once a year.
Dear David,
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all your help! I’m so sorry for bugging you more often than what I’m supposed to. I cannot help it when the quality of all your work is just so beyond my expectations! I must say that I am guilty for giving you more work than what’s required in your portfolio. You just have a way with words. To be honest, I was not surprised that you later got promoted as the President of ICMS. You are just too amazing full stop.
PS- your smouldering look may have been an asset to the committee too. Keep up the good work with the female sponsors.
Dear Chong Yee,
Thank you for all your help in the MPPC. Let’s just say that I’m not surprised by your stellar work, given that we know each other since high school 😉 Minus the fact that you brought in the Ah Ma hype.
Dear Ian Beh,
I’m glad that you are a part of the committee this year. I’m sure your mentees have so much more to say to you but rest assured, I am equally grateful that you are a part of the team even though I have nothing much to say.
PS – I’m still not going to try red wine 😛
Dear Jasper,
No one, I repeat no one, can replace your role in the MPPC. You are just so brilliant in what you do hands down. I admire your independent thought and strong convictions. I guess these are traits that are required by your profile anyway. Although I should remark that your latent talent of being a K Pop singer surprises me.
Dear Sue Jean,
WHY ARE YOU SO CUTE? Forget about cute, you are so crazily good in everything I am not! Our jobs often don’t overlap, so we may not have communicated much. However, the achievements that your department has brought to the committee have already proven what a capable and brilliant girl you are. I look forward to working with you in the future!
Dear Ken,
Well hello there boss. Thank you for controlling our spending impulses; ‘complimenting’ my handwriting; giving me valuable advice not related to MPPC; and ‘complimenting’ my English skills. More importantly, thank you for giving the green light for our Appreciation Dinner! I think the most significant experience I had with you was how we never really realise that we have not met each other, while talking as if we are close friends. This pretty much speaks volumes on how close I am to the committee I hardly met but know so well.
Dear Yee Ching,
It’s quite ironic how you’re such an introvert yet pulled a beyond amazing job as a Marketing Director! Kudos to the marketing team for the milestones achieved. I may not have spoken much to you, but I want you to know that I wish I could have you as a colleague again
Dear Rebecca,
I really value you as a colleague and friend. Thank you for taking a lot of your time to listen to this old lady rambling about her struggles, and quite unexpectedly provided her with a lot of help! The shameless help you provided for the sake of our marketing department was so touching to me that I could feel myself tearing up. Even upon typing this I feel like I’m already starting to shed a tear or two. I especially thank you for surprising me with random hugs when I really needed one. I often don’t do hugs :’) *hug* Many congratulations on your BNM offer, I am genuinely happy to know that we can work together in the future.
Dear Zhuang Wen,
Have I ever told you how efficient, inspiring, and hardworking you are? You’re another one of MPPC’s treasures and I especially thank you for all the help you have provided in TalentCorp. No words can describe how much I trust and value the contribution that you have made for this event to be such a success.
Dear Ian Lai (Fu Yuen),
You have officially made MPPC’s website the coolest website I have ever seen! Again, no words can describe how impressed I am with your AMAZING work. A rare talent like yours is always a gold asset to all of us.
Dear Ian Lai (Zenchi),
Well hello there primary school friend! I am especially pleased to know how you’ve come aboard, and even more pleased by the extremely good work you have displayed. Two amazing Ian Lais in one department? We are clearly blessed by the Gods. Stay awesome, because everyone in the committee clearly knows you are.
Dear Jia Yee,
Thank you so much for connecting us with the Hong Kong network! You are definitely one of the valuable assets for bringing in diversity to our competition. Thank you for the awesome work and commitment in the MPPC as well. I am especially glad that you are a part of our very unique marketing team! Thank you thank you thank you!
Dear Ray Aun,
Do you know that you are so funny and entertaining? You just made the highlight speech during the MPPC. At least I know there is a clown in Cambridge when I need one. I have a lot of trust in you and hope that you can be a part of the committee next year. If you need any help, just remember that I’ll be there to assist you in any way. I want to thank you for all the contributions you have given in the marketing team, especially during the road show and stuff. Also, if I knew your face was that popular, I would have used you as a marketing gimmick already haha! All right I’m kidding.
PS- So apparently you look like Tunku Abidin. No wonder your face is so likeable!
Dear Shaun,
Please forgive us if we seem so demanding and occasionally pushy. This may come to a surprise to you, but I genuinely think that our video is the best among the three! Thank you so much for giving us access to the IMU network as well. Without you, there wouldn’t be a Dream Team. You have helped us in more ways than you can imagine, and I am glad to have finally met you in person
Dear Tong,
You are so comical, cute, funny, efficient, dedicated, etc! You are clearly the best man for the welfare role: welfare was rated as one of the highest in our survey—isn’t it clearly obvious? I’m sorry if I seem so pushy when you are already stressed out. Maybe a little too stressed that there were occasional hiccups here and there. All in all words cannot describe how touched I am when you declined all your internship offers just to assist the MPPC in every way you can! Thank you Tong! I’ll come and kacau you in London kay!
Dear Siu Lun,
You and Tong are one dedicated bunch. For one, I can never find myself sacrificing my late hours sitting outside like the both of you. You have touched me by your commitments during the event. Have I also mentioned how trustworthy you are? I just want to let you know that you’re one of the best examples of what a colleague should be. This may come as a surprise to you since I don’t talk much, but what I’ve written here is what I genuinely think.
Dear Seow Wei,
At this point I really wish that I were more skilled in writing. Putting my thoughts to words here is harder than I thought. Well first of all, I would like you to know how extremely guilty and touched I am when I see how much you have sacrificed yourself for this event.
- Losing your opportunity to network with everyone. I think the only person you see the most is well—me. I’m nothing special to look at, really.
- Losing your opportunity to even VIEW the presentations—finals inclusive! That is a huge sacrifice that even I am not willing to make.
- Losing sleep and food as you disappear behind the scenes, obscure to everyone else, leaving your efforts somewhat unnoticed.
- Whacking me; forcing me not to sleep with your “aunty tactics”; scolding everyone like an Ah Ma you actually are; being the mother hen of the volunteers, and high-class waitress at that. It was a sign when we were wearing somewhat similar dresses, and we all know what my reputation is like.
- Main contributor of my daily 1000 messages (and that itself is an underrated figure)
- Revising 30 documents over and over again, especially with your internships and whatnot. That’s crazy, woman.
All your efforts were not gone to waste, since logistics have been rated rather highly—highest, if I dare say. Thank you Ah Ma, I’ll occasionally visit you in London for sure, you have no idea how much I will miss you!
Dear Maggie,
You are amazing and I am so fortunate to have you as my senior! It puzzles me how you are still involved in an event of this scale when you live so far away and have so much of studies to do! All without a bit of complain! That’s dedication right there.
Dear Jo Fan,
Do you know that every time I see your name, the first thing I think of is your distinctive laughter? Thanks for making our twitter so awesome with your signature sense of humour. The MPPC appreciates your memes, tweets, jokes, puns, whatever—you name it. We welcome you with open arms
Dear Jian Hao,
Definition of Tan Jian Hao: an awesome mentor, occasionally a penguin. You’re definitely a massive help for an apprentice like myself, thank you so much for genuinely caring for MPPC. I aspire to be a good penguin—I mean advisor like you for the following committee! Let’s all see an even more awesome MPPC2014!
Sincerely,
Celine Wan
Deputy Project Director
Malaysia Public Policy Competition 2013