reaching new height
organized by sabe
lecture series 2016
Profile
Dev Menon
A chemical engineer who travel the world while studying. He left his footprint at many country including Poland, Austria, Europe,China,South Africa and Nepal. A Mount Kathmandu climber.
Mr Dev Menon, the first person I’ve met who has been so near
to Mount Everest was so inspiring in sharing his traveling
experience with us. He do reminds me of my dream to travel
the world since I was young. There are quite a lot of country
which I would like to pay a visit before I’m gone but sadly I just went to Thailand and Singapore once so far. The bucket list still haven’t has a ticked off. There are many reason why I haven’t
been to my dream country at this age but all the reason I can
think of is just an excuse because Mr Dev has started to travel
since he was in school , so why can’t I?
I believe that everyone loves traveling a lot but there are two way totravel the world,
either you can be a tourist who travel by eyes or to be a traveler who travel with
soul. Mr Dev has shown us that he’sindeed a traveler, an adventurist and also a so
called “Yoloer”. The story of how he climb Mount Everest was truly inspiring, and I
did learnt a few lessons from him. People says that the world is a book, people who
didn’t travel just read a page so I do agree with this because what I can see from Mr Dev, he had learnt a lot while traveling. These lessons can be apply to us as an
architecture student too.As we know, climbing Mount Everest is never an easy task so do studyingarchitecture.
First of all , “Perseverance pays”. Mr Dev had shared how tough it is while climbing Mount Everest especially when your muscles
started to burn and ache every time you move, even a step, it hurts. What keeps him moving on until he see the Mount Everest is perseverance. Perseverance is not a long race, it’s many short races one after the other. The moment when he was about to give up, an experienced climber told him try to take 1 single step at a time. Step by step , eventually you will reach your destination. My
journey in architecture can be described as a trip climbing a mountain also . The work load is getting heavier semester by semester. (not to complain anything though) There will be a lot of submissions and tutorials every week so time is never enough for us even
though there’s no class during weekend. In order to finish the assignment on time, normally I will slowly do my assignment throughout the weekend because I know that step by step , eventually we will finish our assignment too. Instead of doing it one whole day
before submission, I prefer to spend more days on doing that assignment, two hours per day is enough for me to do my assignment
too. Do not procrastinate but do have enough rest when you’re studying architecture because even though time is precious but
health is more important.
After started my study in architecture, I only go back my hometown once or twice per semester.For your info, I’m from Penang where it’s 360km far from where I’m right now so it took me some time to go back home. Due to the heavy work load, I couldn’t
make it to go home so often. However, studio has become my second home right now. Home is a feeling, not a place, I kind of agree
about that. My course mates and I have spend most of the time in studio to do our assignment and discussion ,like10 to 20 hours per day.The best thing is, I have so many good friends with me even though we’re having “hard time” in studio, rushing
for submission and forget about food. I feel like I’m with my family and they gave me a warm feeling of home. We will take care of
each other, chit chat while we’re tired and we find some fun from that. A lot of sweet memories we have made in studio and I will
definitely miss this after graduating.
Throughout one and a half years of study in architecture, we have so many fallen angels along this journey. They quit architecture
due to some reasons and I feel sorry for them. Why can’t them hold on and finish this tough journey?I always questioned about that. What Mr Dev taught us is “moving forward is the only logical choice”. I always tell my friend that
there’s no U turn in studying architecture, I know it’s pain but as mentioned before, in the end, it will be worth it to hold on. For me,
it’s kind of waste to give up especially when we’re in 2nd year. It’s not an easy path for me to come until this stage specially in
financial. I know that my parent has put so much effort in raising me up, educate me, pamper me and they are my motivation of
keep on moving. Giving up is never an option for me.
The best decision that I have made so far is to study architecture. It was one of the biggest decision that lead to who I am right now.
Even though it’s not easy to survive this course but what I can learnt from it is way more important. I remember when I’m deciding which path to choose, either architecture or engineering, I was quite refusing to join engineering because for me ,theory kind of
thing is too boring for me. When I was in A level, even though I can score in these subjects but I can’t find any fun from that so I
decided to make a difference, challenge one of the hardest subject, architecture. Thank you for my family and friends for mental
support. Thanks for always believe in me and makes me more optimistic. Not to forget our lecturers, who criticizing and educate us. What I learn from architecture is way more priceless. For quite a few of time whenever I faced problems, I always question about this decision I have made but there’s always a voice in my mind said, “ Hold on, everything will be worth it”.
Never regret.
Mr Dev also show us that what’s his challenges while climbing Everest. Nothing meaningful is easy. In studying architecture ,there are a lot challenges that we have to face everyday. Sometimes, you have to learn how to manage your time when you
have so many assignment to do within short period. Sometimes, you have to learn
how to deal with family, friends, lecturers and course mate. To me, learning how to deal with course mate is one of the biggest challenge for me in studying
architecture. Everyone has different thinking, especially for whom studying this
course, people do have their own strong mindset because we’re a designer, a
thinker. Hence,that’s the reason why sometime we might have small quarrel or
disagreement during discussion.People doesn’t always agree with what you said
because they might have different perspective of view and different judgment. What I try to do is to listen to everyone opinion and thinking and then I will tell my
thinking as well. Try to be open for opinion or criticism and tolerate with each
others to reduce conflict. “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor”, the more challenge we have overcome, the more we have learnt. In the end, it is always worth it
for what you have sacrificed.
Sem 01 June 2016
Semester 02 7th & 8th August 2015
Sem 02 4th November 2015
Sem 03 26th March 2016
Sem 04 26th July
Sem 04 17th - 21st August 2016
Sem 04 30th August 2016