CHAPTER 39: The Day there was Presentation Briefing

“Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today, it was a progression briefing day for me and my fellow peers at APIIT (the TP2F0505 intake). We’re heading into level 3 soon, as we’re now currently after the half of the level 2’s final semester. But what was interesting ‘bout today was that, alongside the briefing, there happened two ‘bombshells’. Explain it later on, but for now here it goes regarding the progression briefing…..

After CNI class finished half an hour early for our intake, off we went to L3-1. The first speaker of the briefing session, Mr. Rajkumar Kunhimaran (aka RKK), the program modules leader, was already waiting. As he told the students to take a seat, we also had to take some papers; the briefing’s schedule for today as well as for on the upcoming Thursday, and one regarding all the details on Level 3 stuff.
Familiarly, RKK began his presentation just like the way he presented himself when me and the rest of the TP2F0505 intake had our orientation for Level 2 last year; by stating that in APIIT there are two staffs with the name Rajkumar. One was him, and the other was………none other than JAG. Haha…….and again he told us not to confuse him with JAG, ‘cause they both got the same name and he didn’t want students to meet him regarding assignments or programming. Haha………..
So off he went and presented his things,…..PowerPoint slides after PowerPoint slides, all about level 3 stuff. Of course, the most interesting aspect was that concerning with the degree result for First Class Honours, where RKK help eradicated some of our doubts regarding how to obtain that muthaf-kin’ result. According to him, the First Class results depends entirely on your level 3 results. The 70% level 3 and 30% Level 2, that 30% level 2 mark is just for ……..what the hell was it…………..just for proper marking sh-t like that (not sure how to explain it here, please contact RKK). But what’s important is to score exceptionally well in your level 3 subjects. ‘Cause the grade points for getting first class results in all your level 3 subjects (getting at least 13 in everything, fuck-n’ nonsense, as me and Afzal found out with big bewilderment as we calculated the grade points on his calculator) will propel that First Class Honors degree.
RKK was the same like last year. He wore smartly, being professionally as he spoke, but of course for me, he speaks as if he is a model professional for others to follow and look up to, and he sort of emits through his speaking that he wants everybody to be professional. He didn’t speak in a high tone, but just enough for people to listen attentively and did it consistently. No interruptions.

Next came Mr Siva (A-Crack, according to me and Shoun). Same style like last year’s orientation, spoke in a friendly manner but cautiously and softly. Then there’s :” ……allright guys…..” and ”…thanks guys….”. ‘All right’ guy.
By the way, he sort of spoke about the same stuff that RKK spoke on, except that Siva’s was more on financial and getting into Level 3 stuff, whereas RKK’s was more on the academic side of Level 3.

Up next was Ms Suan. Can’t remember what she was there for, except the fact that she seemed restless and rushed at that time, ‘cause it was already some time near 6 pm (since briefing began at 5 pm). She was just here to reply to any concerns or inquisition from the students there. Anyhow, she was promoting the latest T-Shirt designing contest, telling students to give it a try.
So that’s the staff that gave us the briefing today. Coming Thursday, we’re having another briefing with Mr Sanath, one that regards on FYPPPPPPPPPP.

***********

Now here came the bombs. After Ms Suan declared her session finished, she asked us whether we got any other things to be brought up. So here goes.

Up came a concern from some of the students. There were from Jack and Nistu’s clique.
What came up was that these guys were not happy at how the HCI and DDD class have been going on. They expressed their concern over ‘bias’ in HCI class and ‘late and timing problems’ in DDD. Also, they were voicing out their displeasure over how the two lecturers on those two subjects handle their classes.
Anyhow, Suan was baffled. She gave the argument that Palvinderjit was an experienced lecturer and that Sunita was still new to the APIIT environment, and told the students to at least give her some slack. But still those guys counter back. So it became a sort of complaining session, especially from those guys. Shoun was involved in it too, but he spoke out his own opinions, and ones that didn’t really assimilate with those of those guys’ opinions. Suan later told us that she’ll somehow rectify the problems these guys brought up. Things got a lil’ bit heated, what with these guys some more telling that they’re frustrated with the way those classes were being conducted in a fashion that suits the business-IT students.
A clash and diversion is coming…….., and I can feel it, and somebody’s gonna pay the price.

Second, as I was on my way up to the Level 4 WC (after a short break from RKK’s session), met Syahid, one of my seniors at APIIT. He caught me up, gave me a small card with a small envelope. Talked with him.
He’s getting married.