Lost in the Shadows: Reflections on a "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Convocation Photo

16 November 2025, was supposed to be a day of crystal-clear memories. As I stood in the morning light for my convocation session, I felt the weight of the years spent in research and the strategic milestones achieved. However, when the official stage photographs arrived, the "Visual Logic" did not match the reality of the moment.

The "Wide-Angle" Disconnect

The first shot, the pivotal moment of receiving the scroll, felt distant. In engineering, we value the "zoom-in" on critical data, yet this once-in-a-lifetime frame was captured from so far away that the personal triumph felt secondary to the architecture of the stage.

Navigating the Dark

The second sequence, as I walked toward the stairs after receiving my scroll, suffered a technical lapse in lighting. The images were significantly underexposed, a "dark" transition that obscured the joy of the walk.

As a student, my focus in that moment was purely functional: I was navigating the marks on the floor and aiming for the stairs to ensure a safe descent. Without a clear visual cue or a "photographic mark" to prompt eye contact, the connection between the subject and the lens was lost. I was focused on the floor; the photographer was capturing the shadows.

A Call for Professional Standards

Convocation photography is a specialized, paid service. It is the only physical evidence a student has of a moment that will never be repeated.

To improve the "User Experience" for future graduates, I believe three strategic adjustments are necessary:

1. Dynamic Lighting: Ensuring the "walk-off" area is as well-lit as the podium itself.

2. Visual Prompts: Implementing a clear "eye-contact mark" or a other visual cue so students can look up from the floor markers.

3. Proximity Calibration: Ensuring the "Scroll Moment" is a medium-close shot that captures the graduate's expression, not just the stage layout.

I’m sharing this moment here so I have a link to submit for the survey. Think of it as my digital “Exhibit A” of graduation day! 🎓 And if sharing this helps improve the picture process for future graduates, that’s an even better reason to post it.

We pay for these services not just for a picture, but for the preservation of a legacy. It is time the technical execution matches the high standards of the degrees being conferred.

Today’s Makeup Check-In

I just finished doing my makeup in the morning of 4 November 2025, and here’s a little update on how it went. I started by applying my Face Oil evenly on my face and neck, followed by sunscreen non-negotiable, of course! After that, I went in with my foundation. It looked quite fair on my hands at first, but once blended on my face, it matched surprisingly well.

Before foundation, I did a light mist of setting spray (a new step I’m trying out), and I think it really helped the makeup settle nicely. Then it was the usual routine: filled in my brows, a little eyeliner, and some highlight at the inner corners of my eyes and under the brow tail to brighten up the look. I set everything with loose powder, added a touch of blush, and finished with lipstick.

✨ 4-Hour Check:

I’m actually happy with how my skin held up! After about four hours, my face wasn’t overly oily. Just a quick dab on the T-zone with tissue was enough. The foundation stayed smooth with no patchiness or blotchiness. Which is a win for me, especially with combination skin that leans dry due to perimenopause.

I know I still have a lot to learn, especially with eye makeup. Mature skin really needs extra hydration and proper prep for that smooth, long-lasting finish. It’s all about experimenting to find what works. The right texture, the right style, the right products.

But honestly, I’m satisfied. The effort I put into scrubbing and prepping my skin earlier really paid off, and it reminded me that good makeup truly starts with good skin prep.

Still learning, still improving and enjoying the process.

🌿 Noon Noni Moment

It was noon on 5 August 2025 when I managed to extract 29.3% of juice from 117.1 grams of ripe noni fruit (buah mengkudu). After straining it carefully, I paired the strong-tasting juice with fresh pineapple chunks. My go-to trick to balance out that spicy aftertaste that noni tends to leave behind.

One curious colleague asked me how it tasted. I smiled and simply said, “It’s spicy.” But I encouraged him to try it with pineapple for a gentler experience. To my surprise, he chose to taste the noni juice as is. His reaction?

"Tastes like fermented blue cheese… and spicy, like wasabi!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, he wasn’t wrong. The ripe, naturally fermented noni really does pack a punch, much like those bold flavors.

But for me, it’s not just about the taste. It’s about the right dosage for my perimenopausal hormone support and liver detox. That’s what makes it worth it.

Until then, have fun experimenting. Maybe next time try pineapple chunks glazed with fresh noni juice. You might just surprise your taste buds.

Process of cutting md2 pineapple for consumption

This is taken on the noon of 27 February 2025. Where I managed to cut 1 from 3 unit md2 pineapple. Which I bought yesterday evening.

A light snack before lunch.

The process of cutting md2 pineapple for consumption.

I start by sharpening the used knife with whetstone. Then I washed both whetstone and knife after finished sharpening process. Then the knife smoothly cut the md2 pineapple skin like butter. Worth time spend in sharpening the knife before used.

Until then, have fun in cutting md2 pineapple for consumption.

🥚 Morning Meal Prep: Egg Sandwiches & Accidental Generosity

This was my cozy morning routine on 24 February 2025, when I prepared a quick and satisfying breakfast. Which is homemade egg sandwiches and a rich cup of DIY coffee with cocoa powder.

🍳 The Process:

I started by washing 5 eggs to steam them into hard-boiled perfection. Once peeled, the total weight of 4 eggs came to 202.4 grams (yes, I measured it!). 

Self made coffee drink that I add cocoa powder.

The weight of 4 hard boiled eggs.

I then mixed in 35.4 grams of Thousand Island sauce for a creamy, tangy twist.

While there was an online discussion happening next door in the lab, I quietly mashed the eggs outside the VECAD pantry. As I do not want to cause any disruption.

🥪 The Egg Sandwich Outcome:

The sandwiches turned out wonderfully. Soft, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying. But here’s the funny part: I had planned to eat just two sandwiches. But accidentally ate three! I blame multitasking and hunger, the curse of eating while busy.

I did manage to share one with a fellow PhD student, and the remaining two were eagerly accepted by a colleague whose lunch order had been mixed up (he ordered chicken rice but got nasi ayam penyet instead).

☕ Final Thoughts:

This breakfast was unexpectedly fulfilling, not just for me but for the people around me too. And it led to a spontaneous tea break later when we returned to the shop to fix the lunch order!

Until then, may your mornings be filled with simple joys, shared food, and egg sandwiches worth waking up for.

Reminder why important to check D flip-flop polarity before you solder!

This is an important reminder as per today, 22 December 2025. Please double-check the polarity of the D flip-flop before soldering it onto the board.

Why it matters: Soldering it with the wrong polarity can damage other parts of the board. It could burn out the voltage regulator, cause the electrolytic capacitors to fail, or worst of all, end up fry the main Black Pill microcontroller.

Where to look: The correct placement is shown on Page 51 of the guide. Based on the position marking on the PCB, the chip should be placed at the bottom of its footprint.

Common mistake: Do not place the position marking up near the 1 kΩ SMD resistor. That is the wrong spot and polarity.

Final reference: Always compare your work with the picture of the fully assembled board on Page 5 to make sure everything is in the right place.

Taking one minute to check this now can save hours of troubleshooting and repairing damage later.

At the end of the day, there’s no point in blaming components or the PCB. Sometimes the culprit has been holding the soldering iron all along.

Better safe than sorry is the best practice here.

🔌 Testing a 100W USB-C Cable for Phone & Laptop Charging

Taken on the afternoon of 17 June 2025, I finally got to deliver the 3-meter 100W USB-C cable to my customer for a live test. We wanted to confirm if it could handle both super-fast phone charging and laptop power delivery. And it didn’t disappoint!

The results were impressive:

✅ When connected to a 65W fast charger, it successfully delivered super-fast charging to his phone.

💻 It also able to charged his Lenovo ThinkBook laptop without any hiccups.

The customer was clearly happy. Not just with the cable's performance but with the convenience of getting the right cable delivered and tested on the spot.

If you're in the market for a reliable long cable that handles both your phone and laptop, a certified 100W USB-C cable is definitely worth it.

Until next time, have fun choosing the right tech accessories that keep your devices powered up! ⚡✨

Additional 2 items for my make up set

This is taken on the evening of 29 April 2025. Where I managed to take pictures of the received 2 items. 1 of them is pink lip crayon. Another is eyebrow gel in code chocolate. 

Love both of them.

Until then, have fun adding new items to your make up collection.

Nice fit of 80 pieces kitchen cleaning wipes into this plastic bag

This is taken in the morning of 6 March 2025. Where I managed to remember to take pictures of the used plastic bag to store 80 pieces kitchen cleaning wipes. 

I discover this method after more than 2 packs of dried wet wipes. Even when the wet wipes have lid on its package. 

One thing I noticed is the wet tissue never dried up after using this method. Which saves me a whole lot for a long run.

Until then, have fun in using good plastic bag for your wet wipes storage.

Seeking dental care for my teeth

Captured on the morning of 14 March 2025, this photo marks my visit to the dental clinic to seek care after noticing hairline cracks on both of my upper front teeth, with the right one showing a small chip at the bottom.

Broken tooth from [1]

Initially, I went to my previous dental clinic at Klinik Taman Tun Aminah, 1174, Jalan Pendekar 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, only to find that it had been converted into a Klinik Desa serving mothers and children. After asking the nurse on duty, I was directed to the Skudai Baru Health Clinic (Klinik Kesihatan Skudai Baru), where the dental department is located on the first floor.

This new dental clinic is impressive — a comprehensive facility similar to Pusat Kesihatan Taman Universiti, but with a larger, more modern space. I was even able to park comfortably in the clinic’s own parking lot.

Appointments must be made via the MySejahtera app, as walk-ins are limited to only 20 patients per day, with the queue starting as early as 7.00 am.

I was advised to get an X-ray of my front teeth to assess the extent of the damage and determine if the cracks had reached the nerve layer.

Following the X-ray, the dental officer recommended and administered a fluoride treatment on my upper front teeth. I was advised not to gargle for at least one hour afterward to allow the treatment to take full effect. Effectively replacing my fast that day.

Until then, remember to take good care of your precious teeth. Prevention is always better than treatment.

References:

[1] Broken tooth image https://mynjdentist.com/conditions/broken-tooth/