Create your own story? Just add water - Iskandar Hazlan

Some chapters are gloomy, some joyful and some very exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds. “Sun, Sea, Salt… Life on an island is tough” that’s what I thought in the first place. However, it turns out wrong. It has been the greatest chapter that I have ever created in my Book of Life. 

While everyone still questioned my decision about me doing an internship on an island, they said it was hard to apply leave and far away. I stand by my decision and never regret making those decisions because I got to learn new things, gained new experience and meet new kinds of people. Plus, rather than spending my time facing hours of traffic jams and the hustle and bustle of the city. An opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of life underwater awaits. 

Starting the first day of the internship by finding a turtle nest bodes well for me to face the day onward. For the first 2 weeks I thought I gained a lot because there’s so much things and information needed to be processed in my head but the longer you stay in a place the more things you will learn day by day. Suddenly it has come to an end, the long and prolonged period passed so quickly after all the diving activities, relocating turtle eggs, tree planting, beach clean - up, turtle and shark talks and many more. Being here on Tengah Island with TIC for the past 4 months as an intern really opened my eyes and thoughts to see and think from a different perspective.  

I'd be lying if I said the staff wasn't mad at me. HAHAHAHA. Let’s just say sometimes I could be a little bit mischievous and make a lot of mistakes. However, I accept all criticism and advice, the reprimand does not mean the staff doesn’t like us or anything, it's just that they want us to improve ourselves to be the better version of ourselves. Here, to be honest, there are many things I have improved, especially in terms of diving skills, communication skills, and all other things that are useful in life. Apart from that, being on an island really unleashes our brains to creativity in yourself, especially when you need to craft something with limited resources. 

But the most interesting that I do here is, I got the chance to drive boat which is the thing that I really want to do since I got to the Island, very grateful because they were all willing to attend and endure my various whims from the beginning until the end of the internship on Tengah Island Conservation.

Last but not least, at the end of every day the sky has been given the most mesmerizing view to watch together when we’re on the way to have dinner. After I left the Island, things might be a whole lot different for me. Even though the sunset is nice, it will be nicer with you guys.

The world keeps spinning, and the tales keep turning, and people come, and people go, but they're never forgotten.

“Everyone has their own treasure to cherish, to me this is the one treasure that I don’t want to lose. These are my One Piece. My friends, families and memories.”