MATRICS NUMBER : D20241110471

PROGRAMME : BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY WITH HONOURS

FROM : PULAU PINANG

MATRICS NUMBER : D20241110432

PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY WITH HONOURS

FROM : TEMERLOH PAHANG

After completing the self-learning session, we are required to create and compile questions based on these topics to assess our understanding and reinforce key concepts. I used the sources provided by the lecturer and used Gemini to generate the questions. With this method, less time was spent solely on creating the questions. Since I had already generated the questions, I also attempted to answer them. I additionally used NotebookLM to help me better understand the topic. I asked it to generate the content in the form of images so that each process would be clearer and easier to learn and understand. Specifically, I generated infographics related to carbohydrate metabolism, namely gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and glycolysis, to enhance my understanding of these processes.

sometimes, bad stuff happens and thats life. you just have to go through it 🫶🏻 don't allow cortisol steal your joy for too long! 💋

Before the award, my batch and I had a 4 days and 3 night camping trip which was really exhausting, but totally worth it. We experienced jungle trekking, water confident and orienteering. We were all exhausted, sun-kissed and muddy but those shared smiles made the heavy rucksacks and the long nights worth it. It was the perfect "final hurdle" before the celebration.

Over the next two days, we went for breakfast at a place that sells delicious Nasi Lemak and Nasi Kerabu. It was a great carbohydrate boost in the morning, and I felt full until the evening. During the first week, I also tried to run 3 km. It was a good run and my pace improved. I aim to achieve a 5 km run at UPSI and I will keep trying. However, my hand felt numb, so I asked Dr. Shake for advice. He advised me not to force my body to run too fast and to slow down instead.

I also asked ChatGPT for some explanation, it said "Your hands may feel numb while running because blood is redirected to your leg muscles reducing circulation to your hands. Tensing your fists, shoulders or neck can also compress nerves and blood vessels, while fast or shallow breathing may lower oxygen levels and cause tingling. These factors together explain why slowing down, relaxing your arms, and breathing properly can reduce numbness."

However, unboxing it was an embarrassing moment because we actually yelled at the Ikea food lounge in excitement when I got my ideal Pop Mart 😂 These reactions leading the brain releasing dopamine and the “feel-good” chemical when we experience surprise or joy. It was a memorable day and I’ll always laugh whenever I remember the Pop Mart unboxing at Ikea! ( + abe mija treated us the Dodo! )

I also participated in the Bubble Run UPSI. I completed my 5 km run for the first time at UPSI and even received an early medal. It was a great memory, and it was my first medal from a running competition. 🏅

In the same week, we went to Berjaya Times Square. We had already planned this trip during the semester break and purchased all the tickets. We had so much fun, and my adrenaline was rushing the whole day. My voice even disappeared for a while because of all the shouting and laughing.

I just know that playing rides like roller coasters can boosts adrenaline because our brain perceives the experience as a sudden threat or intense excitement. Rapid speed, height, drops and sharp turns activate our body’s fight-or-flight response, causing the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. This hormone will increase heart rate, breathing and blood flow to muscles making we feel alert, excited, and energized. Even though we know the ride is safe, but our body will react as if it’s facing danger which creates the adrenaline rush.

On Saturday, I attended my GKRS class and learned how to treat injured people. It was new knowledge for me because I was not a KRS student in high school. As a small bonus, I also got to eat my favorite Kek Batik from Sarawak.

I also spent more time with my batchmates, and it was so much fun, laughing, playing, and burning calories together. During the weekend, we cooked and ate together for the first time, making Bibimbap, a Korean dish. It was delicious, and definitely a satisfying carb load at night, huhu. I will not eat a lot at night after this because biochemically, eating carbohydrates at night raises blood glucose and stimulates insulin release. Insulin allows glucose to be used for energy or stored as glycogen but because activity is usually low at night, excess glucose is more likely converted into fat.

On top of that, I went for a 3 km run to burn the fat and managed to improve my pace, which felt like a great achievement.

On another hand, I was chosen to be a Penghuluwati for our KEM BIB. It was a wonderful experience for me, especially since I received 98 votes to hold that position. I truly appreciate all my friends who trusted and voted for me. This also can be a new thing for me to learn during KEM BIB.

We also completed our Lipid Lab. It was our first lab where we had to be very careful because we were handling acetic acid. The next day, we were treated by Aishah. She treated us Ayam Gepuk Artisan. It tasted extra delicious especially since we got it for free, hehe.

The same week was a graduation week, and I was in charge as a reporter for one day. It was a very meaningful experience to cover the graduate student of my own faculty. I also had the opportunity to be a moderator for a UPSI podcast, making my debut on the UPSI channel as both a reporter and moderator. It was truly a wonderful memory.

I was in charge as the main chef for my group. I felt really pleased to cook for them, as they trusted my cooking and praised me every time I prepared a meal. During the camp, we did a lot of activities such as hiking, orienteering, and water confidence, where we learned how to swim. I also learned how to build a tent to serve as our room for four days and three nights.

Even though I was really tired because as soon as I lay in the tent, I fell into a deep sleep but the memories I made during this camp were precious, and I will remember them as I grow older. If you ask me whether I want to participate in this kind of camp again with my friends, I would be the first person to say yes loudly.

MATRICS NUMBER :

D20241110464

PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY WITH HONOURS

FROM : SABAH

My mom came to watch me receive the award and it became a strong motivation for me to achieve it again next year. She also bought brownies for my friends and even took on a motherly role for them as their parents could not come because they live far away. My mom is already well known among my friends, and they always ask her for her banana cakes. I am happy to share my mom with them. 💕

It was really cold there, around 14 to 15 degrees Celsius. It was so windy and cold that it felt like being inside a refrigerator. My hands could hardly hold anything properly. Even though we turned off the car air conditioner, the cold wind still made me freeze inside the car.

I was doing some research why my hand cannot hold thing properly in such a cold environment. This is because cold causes the blood vessels to narrow to preserve heat for vital organs which reduces blood flow and oxygen to the fingers, making the muscles weaker and the nerves less sensitive.

We waited for the sunrise, and it was truly beautiful. Alhamdulillah, I got to see such a magnificent view in my twenties. One day, I hope to see it again with my mom and my brother. That is a dream I want to achieve.

The next day, I went out with my friends for lunch, and suddenly our car was hit from behind. It was my first time experiencing something like that and all of us in the car were girls. Thankfully, there were people who were willing to help us. After that, we went back to UPSI to find food because we were already hungry, and we met Dr. Shazwan. He treated us Taco and I felt very grateful to him. In the evening, my friend treated me again. Even though something bad happened in the morning, I believe in Allah. I believe that He always gives us something better afterward.

At night, we went to support our friend in his singing competition. The next day, we rewarded ourselves by eating durian. It was so good and only cost RM2 per kilogram. During this week, I also officially became a facilitator for the Faculty of Science and Mathematics and we had our first meeting as facilitators.

At night, we played frisbee, my favourite sport. The game was very intense, and we even had to discuss a game plan to win. The next day, I got my first henna at UPSI. It cost RM10 for one hand and I was very satisfied with the results. It was impressive that it was done in just 10 minutes.

During the weekend, we went to Kuala Lumpur to eat at Dodo, a delicious Korean restaurant. The food was really good, affordable, and kept us full until night. I also went to watch Papa Zola: The Movie. The movie was really really good, and I cried a lot while watching it. It was very touching and I never expected to cry so much over a cartoon movie hehehe

On the morning of 1 January 2026, my mom came to see me and brought my favourite food, Ayam Masak Merah. It was sooo good. She knew I had been craving it for a long time. She also brought peeled rambutan for me.

That same night, we played frisbee together in the rain. It had been so long since I last played in the rain, and it reminded me of my childhood. I make some research why some people usually get fever after playing in the rain. ChatGPT explained to me that playing in the rain itself does not directly cause fever, but it can make us more likely to get sick. When we get soaked in rain our body temperature can drop, which may weaken our immune response temporarily. This makes it easier for viruses or bacteria to infect our body. If we are already exposed to germs, the infection can then cause a fever as part of our body’s immune response. Getting wet, staying cold for too long, and not drying off properly increase this risk.

During the same week, we ate Ayam Gepuk for the first time in 2026. It was a good carbohydrate load and gave us the energy we needed to settle all our assignments.

Then the hectic days began. We had to do an online presentation for our minor subject, so we gathered at KZ to prepare and finalize the presentation. During the same week, I discovered that UPSI has an art gallery at the e-Learning building. We visited it for the first time and it was so beautiful. I will definitely come again to take proper pictures with the artwork.

Lastly, we had to take serious action to complete our assignments by staying up overnight at the library. We took the bus at 10 p.m. and stayed until the next morning. I will probably do it again during study week, as I still have a lot to understand about my subjects. Pray for me, everyone. 🙏

p/s: that thai restaurant is called papaya pok pok located just in front of UPSI, pretty girls don't gatekeep 🤣

MATRICS NUMBER: D20241110368

PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY WITH HONOURS

FROM: IPOH, PERAK

At the end of the week, I attended our Training of Trainers camp. I was unwell during the camp, which made me really stressful as I could not fully enjoy it. We also completed our Xplorate pitching and slide for this week.

However, the challenging part for this week was that, at the same time, I was also involved in a camp as a facilitator, which was a Training of Trainers (TOT) at UAP. I stayed at the camp for 3 days and 2 nights. I experienced activities similar to the BIB camp, but this time the camp included additional obstacle challenges.

Dr. Jason Fung argues that the conventional "calories in, calories out" model is a deception because obesity is fundamentally a hormonal condition triggered by insulin, which acts as an instruction telling the body to store energy as fat and preventing it from accessing those fat stores. Consequently, exercise has a "very very small effect" on weight loss because it does not address this underlying hormonal trigger. Not only is the number of calories burned during activity numerically insignificant compared to diet, but exercise also creates a "rebound" hunger effect that causes people to eat back what they burned. Therefore, Intermittent Fasting (IF) is presented as the essential solution, not just to reduce calories but to extend the period of time without food allowing insulin levels to finally drop and switching the body’s hormonal signal from "store" to "burn”. Thereby unlocking body fat for fuel in a way that exercise alone cannot achieve.

Exercise is still important for health and fitness. However, weight loss mainly depends on diet and IF helps create a calorie deficit more effectively than exercise alone. However, weight loss mainly depends on diet and IF helps create a calorie deficit more effectively than exercise alone.

I also took some time to hang out with my friends, and we had dinner together at Four Seasons Steamboat. I ordered chicken, mushrooms, vegetables, meat, and soup, and everything tasted really good. The meal was filling and satisfying, especially because it was rich in protein, which helps my body to recover and stay energized.I consciously avoided carbohydrates that night since I had consumed a large amount of rice the day before. I want to allow my body to balance its energy intake and rely more on proteins and fats for metabolism. Overall, it was a fun and relaxing evening and a nice way to start the semester on a positive note.

Despite not feeling fully well, I still had work to complete for IKSAS that Saturday. My friend and I decided to work at Momoyo since we were craving something sweet, especially milk tea. After taking a few sips, I felt more spirited and motivated to continue our work. I think the sugar in the drink likely increased my blood glucose level, providing quick energy that helped improve my focus and mood.

The next day, I went to DKP for our program’s preparation. I skipped breakfast because I overslept and went there on an empty stomach. During the preparation, I took pictures and continued working on my poster. Even though I felt slightly tired, I was surprisingly more focused and managed to complete a lot of tasks that evening. I felt that this might be related to a short fasting state, where the body begins to rely on stored energy, allowing me to stay alert despite feeling physically tired.

That same week, I stayed up all night because I had another program to prepare for, along with group and individual assignments that needed to be started. I worked on planning the poster design, dividing tasks among my group members, and designing an infographic for an individual assignment. Around 3:00 a.m., I started to feel hungry, so I bought instant noodles and coffee from 7-Eleven to keep myself awake. The caffeine helped stimulate my alertness, while the quick carbohydrates from the noodles provided short-term energy, allowing me to continue working.

Later, I was also on duty for an IKSAS interview session as a photographer and videographer even though I was fasting. I took photos and videos and prepared live updates for social media. By the end of the day, I felt physically exhausted, yet mentally focused. I believe fasting plays a role in this, as the body may shift its energy use and increase alertness, helping me stay concentrated despite the long hours and heavy workload.

Despite the busy days, there were also calm moments. One evening after class, I noticed a beautiful sunset and took some photos and videos of it. Watching the sunset made me feel peaceful and emotionally refreshed. Taking time to appreciate nature helped me relax and clear my mind, balancing out the stress from daily academic responsibilities.

At the end of the week, I attended a forum related to academics and politics. Unfortunately, I was not very focused during the session because I experienced a food coma after eating too much for breakfast. The heavy meal likely diverted energy toward digestion, making me feel sleepy and less attentive. This experience reminded me of how eating habits can directly influence concentration and academic engagement.

Along with improving my diet, I also started doing brisk walking with my friends in the evenings. These walks helped me stay active and release stress after long days of classes and commitments. Light physical activity also supported my body’s adjustment to the new eating pattern by improving circulation and overall stamina.

At the same time, the week was filled with IKSAS activities. I attended an exco meeting where we introduced ourselves, discussed our exco’s responsibilities, and ended the session with some bonding time. Over the weekend, I joined a program called Bonding With IKSAS, which allowed me to get to know other exco members. Although the week was tiring for me, it felt meaningful as my body slowly adapted to a new diet and I became more disciplined in managing both my health and responsibilities.

During the same week, I also took a muscle and body mass test. The results showed that most of my fat distribution was concentrated around my abdominal area, while my muscle mass was still within the normal range. I have read that the fat stores in the abdominal region is often linked to energy balance and hormonal regulation. This result made me more aware of my body condition and motivated me to pay closer attention to my lifestyle choices, especially diet and physical activity, in the coming weeks.

During the same week, I also attended Majlis Anugerah Dekan. Seeing the achievements of other students motivated me to pursue my degree with greater determination and strive to become a better student. The event created a positive academic atmosphere, although there were small food and drink stalls available. After cutting sugar for an entire week, I found myself strongly craving desserts and sweet drinks. By the end of the week, I noticed that my weight had increased by about 3 kg. This is due to sudden sugar intake after restriction can affect energy storage and water retention, which may explain the rapid weight change.

Amid the busy schedule, I made time to video call my family in Sabah. I especially missed my younger brother, and we spent hours talking about my degree life, even though he did not fully understand what I was saying. That conversation brought me comfort and emotional relief, reminding me that family support plays an important role in maintaining motivation and mental well-being during a demanding semester.

Despite the sluggishness, the week also had enjoyable moments. I had the opportunity to hang out with my old friends from matriculation, which I truly appreciated. We went to NU Sentral, where we spent time buying essentials and clothes, and later went to karaoke. Being able to catch up, share stories, gossip, and update each other about our lives made me genuinely happy. That time with friends helped balance out the physical tiredness and lifted my mood throughout the week.

To regain some motivation, I often went to Momoyo to change my environment and push myself to work, usually with the help of milk tea. The sugar and caffeine gave me a temporary boost in energy and mood, making it easier to focus for a short period. This quick energy comes from increased glucose and stimulation of the nervous system, but it does not last long.

Most of the time, I stayed in my room doing very little, despite having many tasks to complete. This contrast between knowing what needed to be done and struggling to act on it was frustrating. Looking back, this week showed how mental fatigue can affect productivity just as much as physical exhaustion.

During the week, I attended an event called Frekuensi to support my friend Yong, who participated in a singing competition. Watching him perform was refreshing and gave me a brief emotional boost amid the routine days. It reminded me of the importance of taking breaks and finding small moments of enjoyment.

Apart from that, my days followed a very repetitive routine. I attended classes, completed my homework, and then went back to rest. While the routine helped me stay on track academically, the week overall felt slow and monotonous, reflecting the ongoing mental fatigue I was experiencing.

MATRIC NUMBER: D20241110419

PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY WITH HONOURS

FROM: SABAH

The next day, RA and I went to Block 1, FSM to interview a student who had practiced intermittent fasting. The interview was conducted to gather input for our Explorate project. Listening to real experiences helped me better understand how lifestyle choices can affect daily energy and focus. 

Amid the busy schedule, my roommate and I took time to celebrate the New Year by having dinner together. That night was filled with laughter and meaningful conversations as we shared stories and reflected on our experiences. The short break helped refresh my mood and reduced stress, making it easier to stay motivated afterward.

At the same time, I continued to fulfill my responsibilities in IKSAS. I attended meetings and worked on poster designs, balancing both academic deadlines and co-curricular commitments. Although the week was demanding, I felt more in control and determined, showing that discipline and support from those around me can make even the busiest weeks manageable.