Beyond the Comfort Zone

Hi,

It is past midnight, and here I am, completely wide awake. Sleep has officially ghosted me tonight. Instead of staring at the ceiling, I decided to ride my midnight energy and actually got some work done. The coursework for my Introduction to Modelling course is officially finalized, and I’ve just finished reviewing a thesis scheduled for a viva this coming Monday. Relieved. 😊

So, why am I still awake? Well, it’s a classic case of daytime choices meeting night time consequences. Earlier today, I was battling a stubborn headache and desperately needed a short nap. But the kids had other plans, they wanted to go rollerblading at the park. So, I bargained with myself: Let's do an outdoor run instead. I was hoping the fresh air would cure the headache, while secretly checking off my daily goal of 10,000 steps and 30 minutes of exercise. It worked a little too well, and now my body thinks it's midday! 😂

My dynamic duo, through thick and thin.

Looking back, this week has been incredibly surreal. I was hit with one piece of good work-related news after another. The kind of milestones that probably deserve their own separate post. But reflecting on it all tonight made me realize something I wanted to share. You will never truly know your full potential until you decide to push past your comfort zone.

For nearly a decade, from 2015 to 2024, I was working very comfortably in my position. In my mind, I was doing great, especially when I compared myself to standard benchmarks. But then I had a moment of hard truth. I realized I hadn't really evolved. I was teaching the same courses year after year, publishing mostly locally, and staying exactly where I was. I was reminded of what being a true academic really means, and it hit me that I was still so far from that standard, despite being so proud of the title.

So, I decided to change.

I shifted my focus and began working much more closely with my PhD students. Their success and graduation became my absolute priority. I set a big, scary target. Every single one of my PhD students would graduate with at least two Q1 journal publications. Nothing less. But I couldn't just leave them to figure it out alone. I had to roll up my sleeves and dive deep into the research with them to ensure we were producing top-tier work.

Was it easy? Absolutely not. Our very first paper went through a brutal cycle of eight rejections at the revision stage. (Yes, eight!) But instead of giving up, we chose to look at rejections as free, expert masterclasses. We used every single reviewer's critique to polish, rewrite, and perfect the manuscript. After a year of being perfectly "cooked," that paper was finally accepted into a fantastic journal.

Today, we use that exact same formula learned from our failures. Because we didn't back down, my students and I have now published at least five papers in Q1 journals, and we are just getting started. If there is one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that great things happen when you refuse to stay comfortable. This doesn't just apply to academia, it applies to every part of life.

I hope this sparks a little reminder for anyone reading this. Don't settle for being comfortable. Challenge yourself, embrace the rejections as lessons, and keep pushing. You might just surprise yourself with what you are truly capable of achieving.

That’s all for my late-night brain dump. Time to try and finally catch some sleep. See you again soon! Goodnight! 💕                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The Saturday Night Shift

Hello again!

I am officially back after spending way too much time staring at stacks of paper.

My weekend companions.

A stack of test scripts and my trusty red pen. ✍️

I’ve been diving into the latest Test scripts, but to be completely honest, my marking momentum is refusing to join the chat. Usually, after a few quick glances at a batch of papers, I can spot the general answering pattern and instantly gauge how the class did. But this time? The performance graph is an absolute wild. The results are varying so wildly from student to student that my brain cannot compute a general verdict yet.

From what I’ve managed to decode so far, the classroom currently looks like two completely different groups:

• Overachiever: A solid group of students has absolutely gripped the concepts. Their logic is beautiful, their steps are clean, and honestly, they just need to maintain this energy in the final exam to secure a well-deserved A. (Proud teacher moment!)
• Confusion: On the flip side, there is a group that seems completely stuck at step zero. They are looking at the initial step like it’s written in an ancient, undiscovered language, entirely clueless on how to proceed.

With finals looming just around the corner, these guys definitely need some rescue operations, and I’ll be figuring out how to get them back on track soon.

But enough about math anxiety. How is your weekend going so far?

Mine has been great, weekend routine strictly enforced. Today was grocery day, which means it was time to restock the kitchen kingdom. My fridge is currently overflowing with a massive colourful mountain of fruits and vegetables. As some of you know, I am still diligently keeping up with making fresh juices for the our daily intake, so running out of fresh produce is simply not an option.

Let me tell you, prepping, chopping, and juicing this mountain every single day requires a monumental amount of effort. Sometimes it feels like a second full-time job! But hey, whatever keeps the kids healthy, happy, and thriving is worth it. I will happily find the time to do it religiously, day in and day out.

Today's liquid goodness courtesy of whatever fruits and veggies were in stock. 

The kids have no choice but to drink up. Mom’s rules, after all 😄

And that is my short update for tonight.

As for the remaining test scripts staring at me from across the desk? I am officially closing the folders. My brain cells have left the building, so it's much safer to continue tomorrow when I am actually mentally present. For now, my only mission is to find a way to get a solid, peaceful night's sleep.

Enjoy the remaining hours of your weekend, everyone. Recharge your batteries, and see you all again soon!💕

Schrödinger’s Love Letter

Hi,

Guess what? I’ve spent years looking at differential equations as tools to solve academic problems. But recently, I saw the Time-Dependent Schrödinger Equation recast as a love letter, and it made me look at my own life through a completely different lens.

It starts with this equation:

In physics,  represents the state of a system. It's the mathematical identity of a particle at any given moment in time. This equation describes how that state changes over the course of its journey. But when applied to two systems that cross paths, it whispers a poetic truth that Erwin Schrödinger himself noted back in 1935. His words read like a love letter to the universe:

"If two systems interact with each other for a certain period of time and then separate, we can describe them as two different systems but in a subtle way they become a single system. What happens to one continues to affect the other, even at a distance of miles or light years."

In simple terms: when two particles meet and spend time interacting, they become a team. From that moment on, they share a single, inseparable story. Even if you take one particle, put it on a plane, and fly it halfway across the world, it remains completely connected to the one left behind. You can no longer describe one without mentioning the other. They are a package deal.

As a mathematician, I found this perspective incredibly comforting because it is exactly how human connection works.

We often worry that time, busy schedules, or moving away will fade our closest bonds. We look at friendships that started over thirty years ago in primary school back when our biggest worry was who had the coolest pencil box. And we wonder how we can still feel so close when we now live such separate lives. (Hi EIJEY's!😘)

But physics tells us that true interaction leaves a permanent footprint. Once your life intersects with someone, you are no longer operating in isolation. Distance doesn't dissolve the connection, it just stretches the bond.

That is why you can go months, or even years, without talking to your favourite people, but the moment you reunite, it’s like no time has passed at all. You can sit in a restaurant, enjoy a meal in total, comfortable silence, and it doesn't feel awkward. You just get each other. Your paths might look different now, but your core stories are still beautifully entangled.

So, to my original squad, my long-lost university peers, and everyone who has shared a chapter of my time-evolution, according to the laws of quantum mechanics, you’re stuck in my wavefunction. 😉

The Thursday Relief

Hi,

Is it just me, or did someone hit the fast-forward button on this week?

I woke up today, realized it was Thursday, and let out the biggest sigh of relief. Why? Because a major milestone has officially been conquered: Test 2 is done and dusted! To say this week has been a back-to-back marathon would be an understatement. We’re talking a high-stakes viva-voce, a major test, project meetings, documents preparation and, just to make sure my calendar was completely colorful, Academic Advisory Week.

Here is a quick look at how I survived the madness:

I started the week as an internal examiner for a PhD viva voce. Now, if you know anything about vivas, you know they can sometimes stretch into the horizon, testing the endurance of everyone in the room. I always secretly dread the marathon sessions.

But Monday? Monday was a miracle. We wrapped up everything in less than three hours! It was the perfect alignment of the stars, the right candidate, the right panel, and impeccable timing. A speedy, smooth viva is rare, so you bet I cherished every single minute of it.

Behind every tough panel is the same intention: to elevate the work

The middle of my week was taken over by my advisory students popping in to figure out their class schedules for next semester. Academic advising is a lot like being a GPS for a student's life. The standard route is exactly 8 semesters. But every now and then, you get someone who manages to cross the finish line in 7 semesters or the other one who needs a comfortable 9 semesters to get everything done.

Some of students who have met me

Every student's journey is different, which means I have to pay hyper-attention to the details. One wrong course recommendation and boom, delayed graduation! No pressure, right?

Which brings us to today. Test 2 is officially over.

Now, a normal person might say, "But Mam, don't you have a mountain of test scripts waiting to be graded over the weekend?" Shhh. Let’s not think about that right now. Future Me can handle the red ink. Present Me is just incredibly happy that the logistics are done, the papers are collected, and another milestone is in the bag.

Final meeting with the class: done.

And that, my friends, was my hectic week in a nutshell. Time to grab a sweet treat, put my feet up for a quick second, and prepare for the weekend.

How has your week been? Hopefully less chaotic than mine! Now, all I want to do is fully enjoy a beautifully calm Friday and coast straight into a peaceful weekend. No rush, no hectic meetings, just some well-deserved breathing room.

See you next time! 💕

Surviving the Whirlwind

Hi, 

Hello from the other side of a wild week! I finally have a quiet moment to sit down, type, and breathe. If you’ve been wondering where I disappeared to, the short answer is: life happened. All of it. At the exact same time. Looking back at the last seven days, I realized that life has a funny way of balancing itself out, or at least trying to.😅

Let’s start with the home front, where I was fully braced for impact. I expected tears. I expected negotiations. I expected full-blown, award-winning theatrical drama.

Instead? Smooth sailing. My kids apparently held a secret meeting and decided to be absolute angels this week. Watching them navigate the days so beautifully didn't just save my sanity, it genuinely touched my heart. Time is flying by so fast, and seeing them grow into these independent, kind little humans is a beautiful reminder of why we do this. Motherhood is a wild roller coaster of highs and lows, but honestly? I wouldn’t trade this chaotic ticket for anything else in the world.

So, if the kids weren't the source of the madness, where did the hectic energy come from?

Cue the dramatic work music.😂I don’t know what kind of atmospheric pressure hit my desk this week, but my workload shifted into a state of severe, highly turbulent flow. There was absolutely zero laminar, calm stream insight. Every single task was labelled URGENT, and they didn't wait in a neat little line either. They showed up in groups of three, demanding my attention all at once.

I’ve been tackling my tasks religiously, but I swear my to-do list is a living organism. The moment I cross one item off, three more spawn in its place. It’s breeding like there’s no tomorrow!

But enough rambling about the work, because the best part of my week happened in the classroom. I have officially wrapped up my lectures for the semester! It’s true what they say, time flies when you’re doing what you love.

This batch of students has been an absolute joy, though to be fair, the subject matter itself is pretty fantastic. My favourite part of the job is taking a concept that looks like terrifying gibberish at first, breaking it down, and watching the exact moment the lightbulb goes off over their heads. That Aha! look on a student's face is pure magic.

MSG328: Introduction to Modelling (aka my favourite course)

I’ve never been a fan of the traditional, snooze-fest lecture style, so my classroom is always a get up and move zone. We blend standard lectures with hands-on, individual, and group activities. The students actually look forward to what exercise I’m going to throw at them next, which makes all the prep work entirely worth it.

What a 2-hour lecture always looks like. Kudos to the students for filling the board! Time to wipe it clean

Naturally, my brain is already scheming for the future. One of these days, I’m going to move the entire classroom outdoors to see how they connect our theories with the real world.

In fact, next semester I’m taking on a brand-new challenge: MAT323. It’s the continuation of the Differential Equations 1 course that I’ve been teaching for over a decade. Since MAT323 dives deep into epidemiological and ecological models, I think an outdoor setting is going to be the perfect laboratory. Imagine modelling population dynamics and real-world outbreaks while actually sitting in nature! Stay tuned for how that experiment goes.

For now, the whiteboard is erased, the laptop is closed (mostly), and the weekend is finally here. I hope you all have a wonderful, restful weekend ahead.

Bye for now!💕

The Will to Recover

Hi,

Welcome back to my little corner of the world. Sunday is winding down, and my weekend was the exact definition of low-key. I spent most of it at my parents’ house doing a whole lot of absolutely nothing. Just chilling. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed, because my brain had decided to go on strike.

For the past few days, I’ve been battling a headache that felt like a tiny construction crew was drilling inside my skull. I tried treating it with a healthy dose of PCM, but apparently, my body has developed a tolerance, and the PCM just refused to do its magic anymore. Plan B was to sleep it off. I had high hopes. I thought a solid, uninterrupted session of counting sheep would dissolve the pain. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. 💆

When modern medicine and sleep fail you, you call in the heavy enforcement. For me, that’s my favourite massage therapist. I booked an appointment, walked into her room, and gave her the ultimate brief, "I just want to rest. Do whatever you think is necessary."

As if she totally understood the unspoken memo, she went to work in complete, beautiful silence. No awkward small talk, no chatting about the weather, just pure, professional healing. For three whole hours, she worked her magic, knowing exactly where the tension was hiding. By the time I stood up, I felt completely recharged. The headache isn't 100% gone, but it is finally bearable.

While my weekend was quiet, today marked an incredibly emotional and important milestone for my Dad. If you’ve been reading for a while, you might remember me mentioning that Dad had to stop his absolute favourite job as a barber due to health issues. Exactly five months ago, our world was turned upside down. He was in the Penang General Hospital, literally fighting for his life due to severe complications in his brain. Back then, facing a bed full of tubes and monitors, we knew life would never be the exact same.

But humans are resilient, and my Dad is a fighter. We did everything we could as a family to support his recovery. Fast forward to today, and he finally did something he has loved doing for over 50 years: styling hair. Of course, a barber needs a canvas, and the honor of being the first experiment went to my own boy. He has been waiting so patiently for his Tokwan to gain enough confidence to hold the clippers again. Today was the day.

From newborn to now, this monthly routine is when they talk about everything.

Watching my Dad manoeuvre his hands, especially his left hand and smoothly glide through the hair was a moment I will never forget. To go from a critical hospital bed to controlling his balance well enough to do something that requires such precise, fine motor skills? I am such a proud daughter. He had the fierce will to recover, and we are just so blessed to be here to hold his hand through it.

So, that’s a little glimpse into my calm weekend.

Tomorrow, the school bells ring again, the kids go back, and the beautiful chaos of my daily routine resumes. I have a feeling my headache won't even dare to pop up tomorrow. Why? Because my schedule is going to be so packed that I’ll need to use every single segment of my brain just to survive the daily cycle! There simply won't be any room left for pain.

Thank you for stopping by to read. Take care of yourselves, appreciate the quiet moments with your loved ones, and I’ll see you in the next post.

Bye for now! 💕

The Last Day of Peace

Hi,

It is the final moments before the workday rush, and I am enjoying the contrast of the heavy rain outside with the absolute calm inside. Tomorrow, the long pause ends, and reality resumes. Waiting for me is the classic, merry weekly calendar filled with lectures, work discussions, student supervision, and a mountain of other things screaming for my attention. I’ve taken a sneak peek at the schedule, and let’s just say… my calendar is looking very popular right now.😸

But how did I spend the absolute final days of freedom? Pretty much the same thing every single day. Playing full-time entertainment manager to my kids and their never-ending requests for, well, everything.

Outing days are their absolute favourite. Me? I am aggressively not a fan of crowded shopping malls. My solution? We storm the mall at precisely 10:00 AM. There is a beautiful, serene window of time when the malls are empty, the air conditioning is fresh, and the crowd hasn't arrived yet. By the time the masses descend, we are already heading to the exit.

I also had a "bring the parents out" day made possible because my youngest sister was in town. At this age, I absolutely refuse to queue just to put food in my mouth. I will happily skip a trending restaurant to avoid a line. But my sister possesses the legendary patience required to stand in line.

She volunteered for the hard labor. I told her, "Excellent. You go jump in the line, and when the table is ready, call us." Meanwhile, I waited in comfort and then rolled up with the entire squad just in time to sit down. Perfect execution. 😆

Eldest and youngest daughters on duty with the parents today.

As for keeping the kids on their best behaviour? The formula is simple: new books, new toys, and good food. Do that, and they suddenly become the most angelic, happiest kids on earth. Right now, they are obsessed with Pop Mart. I personally don't understand the hype of buying a mystery box where you don’t even know what’s inside, but hey, whatever floats their ship.

I applied a very strict Mom Policy:

• You have a budget limit.

• You can pick what you want, but you must present it to the Judge (me) for approval first.

• No approval, no payment counter.

They wanted to wheel their cute little trolleys around with their tiny paper bags in tow.

Whatever keeps the peace while Mom gets her things! 🛒

Seeing their massive grins while holding their new toys makes it worth it. Plus, it activates the ultimate Mom Hack: once they have their loot, they will happily follow me anywhere without a single complaint. We wrapped up the outing with full stomachs, full hearts, and not forgetting, a bag full of mystery toys.😂

Weatherproof Souls

Hi,

When I looked back at what I wrote last June about the changing seasons, I had to laugh. It was all very poetic, elegant descriptions of meteorological shifts, the chills of winter down south, and the warmth of summer up north. It sounds like the kind of serene reflection written by someone sitting in their favourite corner of the beach, getting lost in a good book.

Living out my imaginary life where June 1st brings winter, but the sunshine makes it perfect. 
Just crisp air, warm sun, and absolute bliss.

In reality? Navigating life's shifting seasons usually involves a lot more practical physics and daily geometry.

For instance, nobody tells you that a shift in the season on a bustling university campus mostly translates to trying to keep your favourite square scarf perfectly pinned and immaculate while rushing against the afternoon heat, all while maintaining the posture of someone who definitely knows where they are going. Or the fact that tracking your daily steps to hit that glorious 10,000 mark means strategically calculating your routes across campus to avoid the absolute peak of the midday sun. 😅

Life shifts, routines get heavy, and sometimes our personal weather forecast predicts a 100% chance of a hectic schedule. Between coordinating major projects, managing family logistics with the kids, and trying to keep a hundred different spinning plates from shattering, the scenery changes so fast it can make your head spin. When the mid-year madness rolls around and the climate of the heart gets a little overwhelmed, I’ve learned that survival boils down to a very simple, two-step strategy.

First, never underestimate the power of a micro-pause. When the world is loud, the most therapeutic thing you can do is to be in absolute silence. For me, that means the pure bliss of dining completely alone at a quiet restaurant table, no conversation required, no mental multitasking, just me, my thoughts, and a peaceful meal.

And if that quiet hour isn't available? There is always the emergency fallback, a hidden stash of almond chocolates. Some people meditate while some of us just need a solid dose of sweetness to recalibrate our internal compass. Self-care doesn't always have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes it's just a ten-minute boundary lines drawn around your own peace of mind.

But the real value of watching another year turn isn't just about learning how to manage our own stress or checking off boxes on a professional bucket list. The real magic is looking around and realizing who your weatherproof people are.

We all have people who are great to hang out with when the sun is shining and everything is smooth sailing. But the true gems are the original squad who has known you for decades, the family who anchors you, the colleagues who share a knowing look across a chaotic meeting room. They are the ones who don't care if you're a bit frazzled, who celebrate your small victories, and who remind you of who you are when you're too busy to notice.

And speaking of the people who make the journey worthwhile, the arrival of June means it’s time to shout out the ultimate VIPs of the month. The ones who lead the charge and set the tone for the rest of us. Last year, I mentioned how they bring a unique light into the world. While the rest of us are running around trying to adjust to the mid-year rush, they stand right at the starting line of the month, bringing their effortless warmth, creativity, and steady leadership to the table. They are the kind of people who don't just weather the shifting seasons. They make the climate around them better just by being in it. To anyone celebrating right as the calendar flips, thank you for being the bright spot in our schedules.

As we stand on the threshold of June once again, I'm content to let the month do whatever it wants. Let the deadlines loom, let the weather be unpredictable, and let the schedule be packed. As long as we have a bit of sweetness to sustain us and those rock-solid, brilliant people who kick off this journey with us, we're doing just fine. After all, some people carry the warmth of summer with them, no matter the weather. Cheers to them, and to the beautiful month ahead. 💕