"Sigh..." by Rtr. Diana

Sigh... I really shouldn’t be writing this at work but to appease my President, I will do it now! Sometimes, it makes me wonder, how can a 25-year-old guy NAG SO MUCH?

Sitting at my desk, I suddenly realize that I only have 9 more working days to complete my current project before I move on to my third and final project as a Management Associate of Citibank. I am labeled as MA in the Citi and this is a brand that will be tagged to me for life, even if I leave the Citi in future. If you ask me, this tag is rather heavy.

MA Program is an annual worldwide program from Citibank. According to some myth, only the best gets in. So, everyone will call you “The MA” and you are supposed to be smarter, a faster learner, more efficient and effective and most of all to KNOW EVERYTHING. It’s ok if a new hire does not know anything but it is NOT OK for a MA. MA is supposed to know everything and it doesn’t depend on your vintage or whether you come from a Biotechnology background that meddles around with cloning and accounting and finance terms are as foreign as the language spoken by our pen pal from Kenya.

All that said, I am not complaining. I am not saying that it is easy to box and lock up my Biology, letting it cover with cobwebs and dust in a small room at the back of my head. Cymbidium Mosaic Virus? Was I not the expert from Malaysia? But then, where else will I be given a chance to learn programming and meddle with people’s credit facilities? To be given the sole responsibility of coming up with a new business loan, from product features to system enhancement to legal collaterals? If I stayed in my lab, will I ever be offered to position in Investment or even Decision Management?

There’s always something to look forward in life. I am looking forward to my 3 days training in Renaissance Hotel (actually it’s the food!). I am looking forward to my scientific paper to be published in a journal. I am looking forward to my check up at the gynaecologist every month. And everyday I look forward to getting off work to see my husband…

…Last but not least, I look forward to our club meeting tonight but not the part when I have to write the minutes, though. :P