A New Journey

Excitement, scare and worries. These were the mixed feelings I felt when I was waiting for my results of application into local universities by Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU). Earlier on, I was given a false hope by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). USM offered me a place to pursue a bachelor degree in Dietetics but the next day, they said there were a technical error and the fact that I did not get a place in their university. Do you remember the blunder made by USM and it was published on the front cover of local newspapers? And yes, I was one of the victims of that blunder. Therefore, my only hope was that I will get good news from my UPU application.

On the day where UPU released the results, I went to my friend, Hua Wen's house to check out my results because my house did not have internet service back then. When I arrived, Hua Wen told me happily that she managed to get a place in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to do Nutrition and Community Health. I thought I would get a place too because Hua Wen was a victim of the USM blunder just as me. However, I was shocked and speechless when I saw the words, "Dukacita dimaklumkan...." I failed to get a place through UPU. My thoughts were "Oh my, what am I going to do now?" I told my mom who accompanied me there about it and she asked me to calm down first. Hua Wen then suggested that I make an appeal to UPU. With no other choices available, I made an appeal online and then went home.

I tried to console myself by telling myself not to feel sad and do not worry about it because I can go to a private college if my appeal failed. But to be honest, I could not help it but to feel lost and helpless, and also very scared and worried. My mom consoled me by assuring me that I will be fine and maybe my appeal will be accepted or I can even go to a private college. I felt better even though I still feel sad because most of my friends are enrolling into universities the following week but me, I am lost and I cannot see my future yet.

The following Wednesday, I accompanied Hua Wen to the mall to shop for the things she needed before enrolling into UPM three days later. As we were shopping around, I was thinking I would also be buying the things needed too, if I was offered a place by any local universities. Actually, I kind of envied Hua Wen for being able to enrol into university soon. After finished shopping, I went home and a miracle has happened. I received a short message service (sms), saying that USM has again offered me a place to study Dietetics. At that time, I was thinking whether this is true or not. Is it another blunder by USM? I was thinking whether I should believe it or not.

Then, I told my mom and my aunt about it. My aunt phoned up USM to confirm whether the notification is valid this time. The staff told her this is true and I have to register at the health campus of USM in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan on Saturday. I was like, "Oh my goodness! The health campus of USM is in Kelantan and I have to go there in three days time. But I have not prepared and buy anything yet." Frankly speaking, all this while, I thought that all the campuses of USM are located in Penang Island and I did not know that their health campus is in Kelantan. The truth is I did not even want to apply for a place in USM because I did not want to leave Kuala Lumpur (KL) and I wanted to get into Universiti Malaya (UM), UPM or Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); I applied for USM because Hua Wen asked me to apply for it together with her. I filled up Dietetics as my first choice simply because I am a person who does not have any ambition, and I do not even have any idea what to study. Yes, this is a true story and I am not telling lies. I am such a blur person in life.

My mom called my dad immediately and told him this good news. My dad came home immediately and started to source for information. He was very happy that I managed to get a place in USM because USM has just acquired the APEX status but he is also worried at the same time because we do not have any friends or relatives in Kelantan and he is worried about my well-being there. My dad told me that we will have to leave for Kelantan on Friday as it takes around 8 to 9 hours to travel there from KL by bus and the registration is on Saturday morning. I was shocked and scared; deep down my heart, I was unwilling to go to Kelantan because I have not leave home all my life and I have to go so far away just to further my studies. I have to admit that I am a pampered child. I have never done household chores; I have never washed clothes before, I have never washed the toilet before... Everything in my life is well taken care of by my mom. Therefore, I wondered whether I will be able to survive in Kelantan, without any family members and friends around.

Everything was in a rush. My dad bought two bus tickets to Kelantan and booked a hotel room the next day. My mom and aunt took me to buy some necessities and helped me packed up my luggage. Everything was done in one day's time. My father and I left for Kelantan on Friday morning. My mom did not go with us because she had to babysit and could not leave. It was my first time leaving home to such a far place, and I was afraid because I do not know what to expect in the future. When I was walking out of the house to get into the car of my dad's friend, I dare not turn back to say good bye to my mom for I knew I would definitely cry if I look at her face. So I just waved and said good bye to her with my back facing her. Tears rolled down my cheeks after I get into the car and I did not turn back to look at my mom even after the car took off. My dad's friend dropped us off at the bus station at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in KL. My dad and I went up the bus at 9.50 am and the bus started the journey to Kelantan at 10 am. I started crying silently as the bus took off. I felt depressed and scared because this is my first time leaving home to such a far place. So I kept telling myself this is one of the stages in life, everyone has to go through this and I can definitely survive.

I have started a new journey in my life - enrolling into USM in Kelantan to pursue my bachelor of degree in Dietetics and having to live on my own with no family members and friends by my side. I knew it is time for me to be independent and to live on my own. What I have learnt is do not worry when things are not in their right places because God will take care of everything and He will arrange everything for us. Just like I do, I did not get any offers from any local universities but in the end, I managed to get a place in USM. I was well taken care of and I managed to survive in such a far place away from home. I also learnt that we must not underestimate our own capabilities. Do believe in ourselves and we can definitely go through all the difficulties in life. I realised I am not that weak after all and I can survive on my own. I believe I will be able to face any difficulties in life in the future.