dilemma

i haven't really written bout what i've been up to lately so here's a quick recap...

remember the competition that i was gonna join that i mentioned about before? well, i ended up joining three of them. one invention comp, one robotics and one graphic design (with Pro/Engineer). don't think i stand a chance winning any of them though. but i guess the experience would count for something. i'll let you know when the competition gets going. right now, everything is just in its planning stages. well basically, finals is coming up so no one's concentrating on it.

besides that, i've been on a scholarship interview last week with Genting Sanyen Power. i've been rejected so many times (5 times actually) that i went for this without any hopes at all. surprise, surprise... i got a phone call this morning informing me that i've been offered. i should be happy but i'm in a dilemma. well, here's why...

1) i'm currently on loan with ptptn. they are giving me RM 16,500 every year (one semester - RM 8,250). this is my third semester, so basically i've already received RM 24,750 and i've used up most of it for tuition fees and stuff.

2) now GSP is offering me a scholarship worth of RM 18,000 a year. however, they have told me that they will only reimburse ptptn for one semester. this means i will have to find a way to return the RM 16,500 which i received for the first 2 semesters. and part of the scholarship terms is that i will have to work for GSP for a minimum of 5 years.

3) here's the catch - one of the terms under the ptptn loan is that i will NOT be required to pay them anything IF i manage to graduate with a first class degree. the first class degree in uniten is a cgpa of 3.5 and above. my current cgpa after 2 semesters is 3.97. if you don't understand what i'm talking about, ask a friend of yours studying in a malaysian university... =)

so, there you have it. i think i'm able to graduate with a first class degree, therefore, if i continue with the ptptn loan, i will not have to pay anything and i will not be tied up with a 5 year contract. BUT if i fail to graduate with a first class degree (it is very possible), i will end up with a RM 66,000 debt which i will have to pay for.

and if i receive the scholarship offer from GSP, i will still have a huge debt of RM 16,500 but i will not have to worry bout the rest of my studies years (2 1/2 more years to go). furthermore, i will be tied down with a contract for 5 years in which i have to work for GSP. there is the good and bad in it. the good - the economy is bad these couple of years. a guaranteed job is as good as anything. at least i won't have to worry bout being unemployed. the bad - being tied down for 5 years. i can't further my studies if i want to. and i'm more interested in doing R&D and probably part time lecturing. i don't think i'll be able to do that in GSP.

so what do you think i should do? i haven't got a clue. anyway, i will be briefed this saturday. i will make my decision after that. hopefully it's the right one.

ps: my final exams are really drawing closer. i've got papers on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of november. this added to the fact that i've got lots of assignments stacked up means i'll really be disappearing for a while. but i might be writing more articles/poems... =)