Why I.S.A.?

Yeah I know it has been banned, replaced and repealed by the Security Offences Act in 2012, but I wasn't talking about that I.S.A. This is the another kind of I.S.A.; Information Security and Assurance of Computer Science. (I know people would normally associate the acronym I.S.A. with Internal Security Act) -_-

Anyway, this entry is dedicated to our juniors who are still kind of confused, wondering what the heck is I.S.A. is all about. There are basically three kind of reactions to the offer letter that got to their door. Some are freaked out, anticipating this might be some kind of a trash program that the university just randomly throw to any unlucky students; some are the kind of student who just don't care, just accept whatever they got without whining and go with the flow; and some others are very much intrigued with the word I.S.A. and wanna know more about it.

Apparently, the word I.S.A didn't tell much.

Well I've been there too. I was once like you. Perplexed, confused, and pretty much freaked out too. I mean, yeah, what on earth am I supposed to learn taking computer science? And Information, Security and Assurance? What, am I gonna end up being a security personnel or something?

When most of my friends decided just to stick with the course and the path of computer science, I took the drastic move of changing the course and appeal for the other courses. There are several other choices in the faculty, but I chose Food Biotechnology. I guessed that lil bit of enthusiasm in biology I had when I was in school will serve me right.

So did I. Flash forward, a few weeks later, I received a letter telling that my application is granted. Yep, I now stand a chance to be a scientist by pursuing Food Biotechnology program, rather than studying something which I have no idea what it is about, and ending up in a security post with a computer, or something. I now have a chance to embrace a brighter future.

But you know what I did? I turned it down at the very last minute, and decided to stick to the I.S.A. program. Why?

Because there was one day I let myself sunk deeply in thought, thinking about what kind of field of expertise would the world mostly demand on in the future. I mean, I know we should be choosing the field of study in which you're mostly interested in, but seems as I didn't really think that my interest in Biology is any less than being in computer science, then I chose to make a choice that gonna get me job in the future. Enthusiasm will catch on. Don't worry about it.

I believe in the future, which presumably just a few years ahead, the world would heavily cling on the application of computer in our daily life. I mean, just look at the way it is today. In light of the era of Information Age today, the application of computer is so vast and fast growing. In every institution or company in the world, every single data is keyed in into computer and managed electronically. Even today in school, the government are introducing and encouraging the application of technology (computers) that replace text books and physical notes, so that students won't have to carry heavy bags ever again.

Realistically, it is possible that one day pen and paper would cease to exist..

That is the main reason why I chose not to switch courses, and stick with the computer science program. That is the basis of my reversion. And you what, that imagination of the future has slowly beginning to come true. Some of the seniors that have graduated from this course that I met told me they don't have any problems getting a job. Some of them even have more than one job offers, which is, looking to the never ending unemployment problem today, actually quite surprising.

And now, so far, after two years studying I.S.A., all I can say that I have chosen the right choice.  I have never regretted it. Alhamdulillah.

If you're wanna know more about what I.S.A. of computer science is basically all about, click here. I have explained a lil bit about it in the I.S.A.'s official blog.

I know this entry is more to a personal thought rather than explaining what is I.S.A. is all about, but I was just wanna let you know that I have been in your shoes before. I just don't want you to make the same mistake that I have made.

*If you're thinking of applying for another course, its utterly your call. But I suggest you think hardly. Weigh both pros and cons before deciding, for your decision will determine which path are you going for the next four years.

So long. :)