“As a Johorean, dad used to fetch me back and fro to the bus station whenever I make the trip back to my university in KL. Soon after dad left us, I have got to learn to drive all the way from Johor to KL by myself on our family’s Kancil.
My life turned upside down after dad left us. For the remaining time in university, I was barely myself. I pretended to be happy and cheerful when deep down, I knew I was not. I almost gave up in my studies. But I persisted.
Looking for a job in my hometown was not easy either. It took me 7 interviews before I got a job offer as an accounting assistant in Senai. In fact, every time I was rejected from a job interview I felt like giving up.
Instead, I decided to improve upon each rejection by rebuilding my CV and practicing prior to each interview. In between the interviews, my friend asked me to come back to KL for more opportunities. But as the eldest of 5 siblings in the family, I have to stay close to my grandma that is nearly 80 years old as well as my siblings that are still schooling.
As an Economics graduate, people around me felt that I am not qualified for the job in accounting as I am not familiar with the accounting field. At times, I got scolded while trying to pick up the skills and techniques in this field. But I take this as a great opportunity to build my network and gain knowledge in this field.
I find it fulfilling when I am able to help people in one way or another. Lately, I have been volunteering in an initiative by a friend in my hometown to provide support to the unemployed individuals and those who are from challenging family background.
For now, I have yet to know what I really want in life, but I aim to learn as much as I can from my job. One thing for sure, by 30, I will do the things that I truly enjoy doing in life.
In a few weeks time, I will be officially graduating from University of Malaya (UM), and I dedicate my jubah (graduation robe) to dad that will be watching me from the other side. I am sure dad will be proud of me.
Photostory by Chin Yi Xuan
Edited by Mushamir Mustafa
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(This post was first published on October 25th 2018)
