Word for today: Bibliophage

As a rather insolent child, I was actually one of those bookworms who just couldn't stop reading anything and everything. My high optical prescription was forever blamed on my being rather bookish and my awful propensity at reading under low-light condition. But the truth is it was in my great genes *thanks Mom -- hehehe!* and 3 out of my 5 siblings all require some extra much-needed assistance in achieving their 20/20 vision. Due to time contraint, I have fallen out of favour with those thick books and to fulfill my affinity for words, I have recently installed an iPhone app called Free Dictionary. Everyday some weird and wonderful new word will just pop up. I do try to incorporate most of the new words into my daily spoken language but mind you, some are just too sophisticated (ridiculous even) for your regular and oh-so-normal market-place conversation. But today's word is easy to use, in fact it kinda describes who I was and probably still am. A book-worm.

bibliophage.
[bib-lee-uh-feyj]
- noun

1. an ardent reader; a bookworm.

I suppose the bibliophage in me played the imperative role in seeing yours truly walking through my Alma Mater yesterday where I received my MSc parchment, witnessed by my 3 significant others. It was nostalgic, brought me back to 8 years earlier where I had spent 6 years of my life slaving away (yeah, right!) for my medical degree. Unfortunately my dear parents were unable to attend as they need to attend my youngest and dearest brother who is currently sitting for his obligatory and hopefully life-changing SPM papers. It was indeed a double celebration for me as I had to miss my MRCPsych conferring ceremony in London last year due to unforeseen circumstances. It is quite funny how nerve-wrecking graduation ceremony can be -- I was praying to God: please don't let me trip -- the whole time!

For somebody like me who really is just an academic fraud, it is very humbling to see young high achievers such my dear friend, the go-getter, super-organised and super-reliable Yummy Mummy who was recently promoted to Associate Professorship in Chemical Engineering at the age of (only) 33 goes about her fabulous daily routine in such a breeze. Prof Madya Dr Suraya Rashid was top 5 during her undergraduate days and obtained her PhD at a mere age of 26. My super-capable sister, Dr Nadeeya, who is half-way through her PhD in Public Health just proves me that mothers too can juggle academia and climbing up the career ladder. So, to gloat on my so-called achievement yesterday was a bit embarrassing, to say the least. But as my darling Abah always says: Count our blessing, dear. Bersyukur dengan apa yang kita ada. And for that, I am grateful to Allah for granting me physical and mental health, and to continue working in the area that I truly love.

My next move? perhaps trying my hands in doing a research degree obtaining either an MPhil or an MD -- or if ada rezeki, panjang umur and ongoing support from my significant others who knows, a PhD maybe. The world is for us all to explore. To my fellow bibliophages who are struggling hard for a chance of a black mortar board and that must-have parchments: you can and will do it. Selamat Maju Jaya!


Ever grateful,