The Big Payoff - Journal of Advance Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics

I have to mark this down as a Milestone achievement.

It may just be one paper. But you'd never know how much of a payoff it is to see it in black and white.

For those of you who are unfamiliar to Journal papers, its the papers which are recognized by specialist in that field. Which will chose from a large group of prospective authors.



I came back last night. Seeing the envelope on my desk. "From Japan" was what I saw. Ah it finally came. I was so eager to open it. But instead I told my mother, Mom this is a tribute for you. With out your moral support Id never be able to accomplish this at all. My mom looked at me and asked "What is it?". "Open it, its a one year struggle in Japan with all of the money that I have ever saved on, to get this work printed in black and white." I replied.

My sister asked me whats so special about this work? I told her that this.... paper was doubted by so many, close to me, undermining me. I sacrifice and focus on the research for one whole year, starved and stayed as long as I could in Japan. Just to get a shot at publishing this work in a journal. To some its not even thinkable. For a few pages of paper, spending thousands. Professors have to at least write papers in conferences and then hope that one of it gets into a journal. And that takes a long time.

But me? I just want one paper to be published. Let it be that I did one thing. But make it count.

The story started when I was back in japan, Feb 2007. I was interested on how machine learning was able to do some thing far more than what was expected of the robot. Did a few simple experiments and got some rough results.

This was quickly undermined by my senior saying its too easy. No one will ever take this and use it for anything, let alone be acknowledge in a Journal.

My boss also shared his negative views every time I wanted to go back after working late at night. See I was working at a convenience store. And they had some unbelievable schedule for me to come to work. I had no time. I wanted to push my research. I had no money to save for my masters but I believe that this work will push me for my masters. I took a gamble. Quit that part time job. As much as I needed the money for my future. I concentrated on research.

My senior pushed me to do several writeup to enforce his papers for an upcoming conference. It was in hong kong. Sure he got the funding to go and present. Coming back he wanted to write a new paper. Asked me if I can help. I did. And at the same time I pushed for my research to be sent also.

The Conference was next year, after graduations. Our lab sent 7 papers, 2 from PHD students, 4 from my senior, 1 from me. surprisingly most of it got accepted. With mine also one of them. I was surprised and happy. But the problem was, Im running out of money. Time was not on my side. I had to pay for my mistakes of not collecting enough money to last me in Japan.

I was force to leave my study only to hear that my paper was selected for presentation in the conference. One I really wanted to go to. But I cant, Im no longer in Japan. Back in Malaysia I sought means to get some funding even going to the goverment and the Universities. They were strict saying that the paper ment nothing. They refuse to fund me.

The conference came and I sat at home... in Malaysia pondering what happens.

My senior went to present his papers and also mine since I cant go there. When he returns he suddenly changed his whole opinion about my work. He was suddenly really interested in this one work. I asked him why?

According to him, The presentation received a huge crowd with interest in knowing more about it. And this has made him change his mind on the work it self. As a result of that conference, my paper got an invitation to the journal.

Today I check the list of papers accepted for the journal. It turns out only my paper was accepted! And not the other papers that my senior wrote :)
Im grateful that I am lucky enough to get a Journal paper with my first work, only paper in the conference and had been invited to the journal. Its by far a very big payoff to remind me that im redeemed for my efforts 2 yeas ago.

Those years were by far the hardest years of my life. And I am grateful that there so many kind characters who helped along the way. I may not be able to name each and every one of them and I hope Allah will bless them by lifting their burdens from their shoulders.

The moral that I learned is that perseverance will make it through! And no matter what people say, do what you believe is right. You will get the big payoff when you least expected it. All I can say is... REVENGE IS SWEET!!! hehehhehehe

http://www.fujipress.jp/JACIII/JACII00130003.html - the website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAroMA4PUMo&feature=channel_page - the vid

Thank you all for your support ;)