The biggest milestone in my life!

So here, I return to blogging after almost half a decade and it's truly because I strongly believe I will be some sort of an inspiration to people around me.

Coming from a tiny but awesome island called Penang in Malaysia, I have constantly been told I am aiming too high when I tell people I want to go to Australia. No one believed me and of course, some amazing people truly wished me luck and gave me blessings, however I would really like to take the time to thank people who discouraged me for coming this far. I am someone who likes proving people wrong, so for all the times you've told me I can't do it, I'd come back and do it again. It took my parents a while to realise, I guess, that I am never gonna listen to them and I do have a mind of my own.

Yes, thanks to our Uncle Jib, we all know how expensive it is to go to an overseas country even for holiday but I am indeed grateful to have had the opportunity in the midst of all these economic situation to land on this land safely for my tertiary education. I would like to thank my parents, siblings, my relatives who have always been supportive of my decisions, with good reasoning from me and I believe I wouldn't have taken the biggest milestone in life if not for wonderful stories from my aunt about her experience studying in Australia and my cousin who keeps talking about all her backpacking experiences. I wanted to venture out too, spread my wings as they call it.

I worked in an institution and my coordinator is one of the best people I've ever met. Quite contrasting to her, my stakeholders are not very pleasant. I do realise its not the smartest move to write on a blog but I need to speak out somehow. I had an interview to review my position in the institution and the pay was not even on par to a fresh graduate's salary, coming to think of it I had two years of experience already, my stakeholder spoke to me about how I really should take every penny she is offering because of my dad's stroke *rolls eye*. I was very frank and told her I had different life goals and I wanted to go to Australia. I explained politely about how I am already researching about the universities and what she had to say made me feel so down. I have even cried over it a couple of times but that motivated me to make my decision then and there and tell her NO! So she said, to quote her exactly, 'to go to Australia, you need two things, one is money and the other is fair skinned, with neither the chances of you ending up in Australia is slim to none, so think twice about my offer'. It was outrageous and I feel so ashamed to say this is coming from a stakeholder of an educational institution. I strived and worked hard, I will achieve my life goals and prove to her, that Australia is so unlike Malaysia where money and skin colour talks.

My dad has brought up two very bold ladies, ladies who can't be sitting at home, ladies who need challenge and ladies who are never afraid to explore. My dad's stroke more than a year ago has, however, made me reflect on my life goals. I totally adore my parents, though I never listen to them and I would love to care for my dad for the rest of my life but what about my life goals? I decided I don't want to live my life with resentment towards my family for not getting the opportunity to achieve my life goals. I am certain my family realised I am working towards better opportunity and better life.

I spoke to my cousin in Australia, who never failed to encourage me to come down to Australia. I went to an education fair and was appalled by the amount you need to study in Australia. I remember the day I called up my cousin and sadly told her about how it's too expensive. I told her I can't come to Australia, I will make do with something in Malaysia. She told me about how it is not impossible, she knows many people who are studying in Australia. So I spent the next one week doing my homework, research on various courses on offer and the cost. I was unsure if I'd be qualified, hence I wrote numerous emails to different universities and institutions. Till one fine day, this institute actually asked me to send in my applications through the education agent. My education agent was god-sent as he helped me patiently in many areas (no charges for the agent btw). I applied and got offered for postgraduate in a couple of universities, YEAY! Of course, after somemore research, I picked the university that I didn't know much about in terms of campus life, to continue my studies.

I spoke to my parents about how I am gonna pay my fees and every other expenses that comes with it. There were days I sat down blankly thinking about if it would work out, plenty of questions and fears. I found quite a number of study loans and scholarships in Malaysia and other international scholarships that I bet many Malaysians don't know of, very few for education but mostly for science, medicine and engineering field. I took the biggest step, probably a few at the same time but I am glad I took the first initial step.

Often times, we refuse to move out of our comfort zone, resulting in us not experiencing life to the fullest. I am glad to have been given the chance to explore my options, spread my wings, strive for my life goals and I hope to be an inspiration to others just as how some people have been to me. My most exciting life journey has just begun at 24 but its never too late to try!

Good day!