Youth Helping Youth: Pinkpau’s Guide to US College Applications

American college applications are a strange beast. I considered applying to a few US colleges before but the sheer number of alien acronyms, requirements, and costs (not to mention the fact that I would theoretically be a “transfer” but wanted to start over) gave me too much of a headache. It is a wonder sometimes [...]

Entrepreneurship and Languages – two blogs for you

If you’d like some entrepreneurial inspiration, or would like to learn Japanese in double-quick time, here are two blogs you may want to subscribe to:
1) Australia-based HatchThat is filled with interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries. They cover all sorts of interests – from sexual and reproductive health to DJs and [...]

The List of Youth Speakers and Inspiring Young People to Invite to Your Conference or Event

In response to tech conference Tokion’s lack of women speakers, women bloggers everywhere banded together to create a list of women speakers for any conference, hosted at Personism. The ever-growing list contains hundreds of inspiring women in design, the arts, entrepreneurship, activism, non-profits, business, and everything else that would certainly be an asset for any [...]

Bloggers’ Challenge – Get $30 To Support Education

Six Apart, the company behind Movable Type, TypePad, and LiveJournal, have just announced a Bloggers Challenge to help schools, by raising money for various schools programs in the US.
To participate, just send an email to donorschoose@sixapart.com by 5pm Pacific Time October 1st to get a $30 gift certificate to donate to any DonorsChoose project.
DonorsChoose is [...]

Thinking About Studying Medicine? Read This First.

For some honestly bizarre reason (which I have yet to discover), Malaysians are particularly kiasu about young people going to medical school. The biggest drama with JPA scholarships revolve around medicine. There is a bigger demand for spaces in medicine than anything else. Students who are the slightest bit brilliant or intelligent are pushed into [...]

How To Get Involved With Your Passions

A recent post on Ask MetaFilter asks:
How do you cope when you seem to be surrounded on all sides by ineffectiveness and apathy?
In his question, jmnugent talks about his frustration at seeing his work and ideas not coming to fruition due to the apathy around him. He feels that not many people “care about quality [...]

Starting School? Keep It Cool.

The first week of school in Malaysia has just ended, and slowly all those in primary and secondary schools are getting back into the rhythm of classes, homeworks, and tests. For many this would be their first experience – first time in primary or secondary school, first time with a child or family member in [...]

Kick-Start!

Attention all Malaysians 18-25: NESCAFE’s Kick-Start is about to start their 3rd season – and they need you!
The Malaysian Kick-Start, based on Australia’s NESCAFE Big Break, is a reality TV show based on “kickstarting” one’s dream career through start-up money (as a grand prize) and mentorships. Among the careers and projects worked on by the [...]

Blogathon: #24 – Re-Entry Shock

Sponsor Me – Raised: $61 – Sponsors: 5 – Thank You Anon1 and Anon2! – Sponsor Me
Lorelle suggested I write more about re-entry shock – “culture shock” that happens when you go back home after your long trip (whether with Up With People, or some other study abroad program, or some form of international travelling). [...]

Blogathon: #8 – Up With People Dress Codes

Sponsor Me – Raised: $36 – Sponsors: 3 – Sponsor Me
Earlier I had talked about what to bring on an Up With People tour. One important part is clothes; you’ll need a variety of outfits for the different dress codes you’ll encounter.
When you get your schedules, you may see different notations for dress codes – [...]

Blogathon: #6 – What To Bring On An Up With People Tour

Sponsor Me – Raised: $36 – Sponsors: 3 – Sponsor Me
You’ll be gone for about 6 months, perhaps to a country you’ve never been to before. You’ll experience both the extreme heat of summer and the freezing snows of winter. You’ll be living with 22 different families and need to get gifts for all of [...]

“Doing School” In Malaysia – Part II: What Can We Do?

In the first part, “”Doing School” In Malaysia – Part I: What’s The Problem?”, I talked about some factors that represent the dire need for a change in attitude towards the Malaysian education system.
This change of attitude needs to come from all places – students, teachers, parents, schools, the government, communities, media, the general public. [...]

Gap Years: Taking Time off Study to Learn

A desire to travel, escape boredom, and take a much-needed break from studies. Do they sound like good reasons to take a year off from university? How about wanting an education that extends beyond the confines of the classroom, and craving for a taste of independence?
- Tan Shiow Chin, Gap Year Allure, The Star (Malaysia) [...]

Scholarships Woes: Here We Go Again

So here we go again.
Exam results are out, results for the government scholarships are out…and also out are the newspaper reports of a random "straight A" student who felt cheated out of a scholarship.
Among the many remarks and excuses heard during this time:

"I worked so hard for these As! I woke up at 2:45 in [...]

Resources Wanted!

I've applied for a booth for Levi's 501 Day on the 28th of May about alternative education, and I'm on the lookout for resources to promote during the day.
I am looking for materials for the following:

Study Abroad Programs – I'm getting stuff mailed from Up With People, but I would also like materials from AFS [...]