ME, MY EDUCATION AND CAREER PLANNING

My name is Muhammad Faiz Taqiyuddin b Mohd Nor, the proud first son of Mr
Mohd Nor b Abdullah and Mrs Poziah bte Mat Sahir. Born on 19 September 1993
at Hospital Universiti Sains Malysia, I am the eldest son with 7 siblings.  I stay
with my family at Kota Bharu, a very serene town located far to the north of
Kelantan. My father is an officer working at Biro Tata Negara (BTN), Kelantan
and my mother is a teacher at SMK Putera.  I completed my primary school at one
of the elite institute in this area, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kubang Kerian 3- a cluster
school.  During the year 2005, I sat for UPSR examination and scored 5A’s. I
pursued my studies in lower secondary level at another elite school, SMU(Arab)
Maahad Muhammadi Lelaki and in the year 2008, I was awarded with Quality
Academic Excellency for scoring straight 9A’s in PMR. I was offered to pursue
my upper secondary level at Maktab rendah Sains Mara Pengkalan
Chepa,instead,Im continued my studies at SMU(A) Maahad Muhammadi lelaki for
another year before I switched to SMK Ismail Petra. I sat for SPM examination in
the year 2010 and I got straight 10A (5A+ 4A 1A-) , for which I am one apart of
eight student at my school who scored all A. Although I am required to face new
environments, mainly to be transferred into the hostels and be occupied with
various kinds of cocurriculum activities, but I had proved myself that I am capable
to excel in academic fields by achieving my targets in every examination. 

Studying at SMK Ismail petra really gave me real challenges in cocurriculum to

make me into a brilliant learner, outstanding leader and all-rounded student. I am
the Treasurer of Scout Society, Secretary of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies
Society or literally Persatuan Bahasa Arab dan Pendidikan Islam, etc. These posts
helped me to emerge as a responsible leader who can manage the teamwork among
my friends very well other than enhancing my disciplines in time managements. I
also participated in the Pentarafan Pengakap Raja 2010, Scout Society Annual
Camp, Jamboree One land Scout Order, Exreme Rover Moot, etc. which polished
my communication skills and proved that to be an excellent student, I had to excel
in both academics and cocurriculums. I can muster up my courage and increase the
confident level so that it is easier for me to throw out my opinions in sharing my
ideas in a group. Futhermore, it is crucial for me to maintain the balance between
cocurriculum and academic, and to show that I am always consistent; I was
awarded with Academic Award Achievement every single year in primary and
secondary school, obtaining merit in Mathematics and Science quiz (organized by
HUSM), scoring 9A 1B in trial SPM, and being one of the 8000 candidates who
scored all A in every subjects taken for SPM.

To become a doctor is my dream in my whole precious life. Why it is so? For me,
happiness in health is something that cannot be obtained by a mere sum of money.
There are more people out there, who suffered from various kinds of dreadful
diseases such as the incurable Spinocerrebullar Ataxia, lung cancer and kidney
failure. My weakness is, I cannot stand myself to see those people who in need of
medical care suffering. To assist them in the way I can, is a satisfaction for me. I
am gladly pleased if I can serve my own people to achieve a more stable, well-
managed quality of life especially for the poor, the disables and elders. The doctors
are noble because they are willingly to sacrifice most of their leisure time to help
those who need them and thus, they will continue to enhance the citizens’ health by
means of new methodology in diagnosis and practically instill health awareness in
the community. These statements are supported by the report from Health Facts
2008 by Health Informatics Centre Planning and Development Division, Ministry
of Health Malaysia, in Human Resources part saying that ratio of number of
doctors to patients is 1 : 1 105. Government hopes that the ratio will be reduced to
1 : 500 by the year 2020, making the doctor profession is greatly demanded right
now.  In addition, less number of bumiputera is involved in this crucial field, so I
am called to answer the summons from the government in order to increase the
number of Malay specialists in medicine. 

I hope to continue my study doing medicine at one of the most prestigious country
that promises to shape a great doctor, Ireland. 'The education system in Ireland is
one of the best in the world', in 2007, Independent IMD World Competitiveness
Report stated that Irish education is of the highest international quality. In 15
January 1971, a number of institutions are recognized by Ministry of Health,
Malaysia in teaching medicine, including Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
and University of Dublin. I have decided to continue my study in Royal College of
Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI).  The international aspects of RCSI truly amazed me.
During the South African Aphartheid, for example, RCSI provided medical
education to those that were discriminated against. I really salute RCSI for having
such a wide aspect and not narrowing the chances of medical education to the
selected only. Other than that, RCSI is equipped with various sophisticated, latest
teaching equipments in medical and as a modern country, their technologies in
medicine are brilliant. In my opinion, I am pleased if I got the opportunity to learn
their way of handling the technologies, and later after I graduated, I will go back to
my beloved country, Malaysia in order to improve the status of medicine by means
of serving my own races and people. There are also various facilities, hostels, the
uses of LCD, full time staff and dedicated lecturers available. Furthermore, RCSI
had very wide perspectives in methodology of teaching. In 2007, RCSI in
conjunction with Valentia Technologies, the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB), and the
Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) launched unique training
initiative with the Emergency Medical Services Dubai Training Institute. The aim
is to better patient care and improve response times within Dubai's emergency
ambulance services.

Just like other fields, medicine has various specializations including Paediatrics,
Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G), Orthopedics, Pathology etc. For me, I am
interested to do Cardiology as the number of cardiologist as reported by IJN is
poorly low in our own country. Basically, it will take at about 5-6 years to finish
up my study in the medical course before I can become a doctor and got the
Bachelor of Medicine (BM). All fresh graduates are required to work for the
Ministry of Health for 2 to 5 years, including doing postings in Houseman-ship. On
completion, I can continue my career in the public health services. Not only that, I
can also take Master degree, doing specialization in cardiology for about 3-4 years,
and continuously serve in the government hospital aiding our own people. I had no
interest to serve at others’ countries because I pay attention to our nation more
compared to the high salary offered by them. So, there are various options after I
got the Bachelor in Medicine in Malaysia.

This is all about me, my education and career planning if I took medicine as my
primary choice to further my study.  For me, money comes second after the
satisfactory of treating the patients. I am thrilled to improve my race population in
this field before it is monopolized by others as Malays should be the force to be
reckoned with. I realize my responsibility in it and people will see that doctor is a
great job – worth to be.

-Muhammad Faiz Taqiyuddin b Mohd Nor, 25 April 2011-