By TOH YIN LI
brats@thestar.com.my

BACK in high school, I was surrounded by high achievers, and it made me strive for the best. However, constantly being pressured by their achievements was also emotionally draining for me, especially when I felt not on par with them. Soon I began to realise that there was more to life than just being in “competition”. Sure, academic achievements are important to get into university or get started on a career, but building your personality is just as important.

During my mini gap year before starting university, I immersed myself in new things and it turned out to be a self-discovering journey. “Being different” for me just means doing whatever makes me feel happy and contented. Here are a few pointers which may help you in taking your first steps to being different:

1 – Make crazy lists!

Be adventurous and get started on a “bucket list”. Accomplish things you have never thought of doing in your life, like traveling to every state in Malaysia. I started small by making a list of the top 25 cafes around Kuala Lumpur to discover within three months. Completing the list not only made me discover cool places to chill out, it also pushed me to learn more about something new to me – coffee beans!

2 – Make new friends.

Be it joining a new society or volunteering at an event, start small by introducing yourself to the person next to you. I spent a big part of my gap year on the organising team for TEDxKL. It helped me meet friends who share the same beliefs and yet have diverse interests. Making human connections can lead to great and meaningful discussions and sharing of ideas. Remember to always keep an open mind – learn their positive traits and respect their differences.

3 – Find a way to add value to society.

Opportunities are meant to be created – not served on a silver platter. Take the initiative to find them! Whether you are in a bustling city or out in the suburbs, there will always be something to do. With the Internet nowadays, there is no excuse to not know what is happening around you. Through the web and volunteering opportunities in college, I got to learn more about Teach For Malaysia and eventually completed an internship with them. I learnt a lot about the Malaysian education system, and I hope to contribute to it in the future.
4Be confident.

Stop worrying about things people say, or how people see you. Just take the step and be bold. This does not mean being arrogant. Humility goes a long way and will help you to be strong, optimistic and a happier person. Whenever I feel afraid of trying something new, I remember this quote from We Bought A Zoo: “Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

The writer is a member of the BRATs, a young journalist programme organised by R.AGE. For more info, log on to facebook.com/starbrats.