Link Things

Hey there, fellow dreamers and learners! Today, I want to share some personal stories that have shaped my perspective on life and choices. Life is full of twists and turns, and sometimes, we get so caught up in the idea of having just one perfect solution that we forget to explore the plethora of options around us. So, let’s dive into my experiences and how they taught me the importance of being open-minded and curious.

Story 1: The IELTS Obsession

Recently, I had the chance to chat with some ambitious friends who were all gung-ho about pursuing the IELTS certification. While I appreciate their enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were limiting themselves by focusing solely on one path. So, I delved into the admission criteria and explored other certificates accepted by universities abroad. Two months ago, one of my students’ parents was adamant that their child should take the IELTS test to apply for a bachelor’s degree in Australia. After some research, I found out that the university they wanted to go to in Australia accepted many other certificates. In the end, the student met the entrance requirements of the school after taking the Pearson Versant Test. At that point, the parents agreed with me that IELTS was not the only answer, and even for my student’s case, it was a hard answer to find (due to the academic nature of the test), harder than other certificates that suited his age better.

Story 2: Breaking Free from Scholarship Shackles

Dreaming of studying abroad for my master’s degree, I once believed that a full scholarship was my only ticket. I thought I needed a scholarship. I thought that without a scholarship, I couldn’t afford it. I thought that without a scholarship, I wasn’t good enough. The media’s influence played a part in shaping this belief, but life experiences taught me otherwise. 

Like some other students, I started working part-time while I was in college. I realized that I could save some money every month to choose the master’s programs that I wanted, even if I didn’t get a high scholarship. I also talked to my parents about my plans, and they agreed to financially support me a little bit. I also learned from my high school friends, college friends and my teacher, who were all very talented and also wanted to study abroad. They showed me that there were other options and opportunities out there. So, I learned that a scholarship was not the only way to study a master’s degree abroad. It took courage, but I’m now on my way to the UK, funded partly by my savings, my family’s support, and a financial aid grant from Lancaster University. I realized that I had the power to shape my destiny without waiting for a scholarship to come knocking at my door. I don’t just have one option.

Story 3: The Flight Dilemma

I received my student visa a few days ago, and the next thing on my agenda was to book a flight. Booking a flight to the UK was no easy feat. I began to compare them. Hmm, the Vietnam Airlines and Emirates flight had the best price, but it required two stopovers. The Qatar flight would get me to Manchester at night, but then who would drive me to Lancaster? There was another Qatar option, but it meant a longer layover in Doha and a slightly higher cost. Maybe I should choose Turkish Airlines, which would land in Manchester in the morning… but that was even more expensive than the others. Numerous choices and various prices have left me in a spin. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, I’m embracing the challenge with excitement. At least, I have more than one option.

Reflecting on these stories, I learned the value of staying open-minded and embracing alternatives. Life rarely presents us with just one fixed path; it’s a canvas filled with countless shades of opportunity. Lately, I’ve been chatting with some of my juniors in my department who feel overwhelmed by the workload they have to deal with. They seem to think that there is only one right thing to do to achieve their goals and they have to whole-heartedly follow that one path regardless, but that’s not true. There are always alternatives and trade-offs. Having more options helps us to reflect on what matters most to us and to avoid getting trapped in a dead end. Of course, there is no perfect choice, only the best fit for us. But wouldn’t you rather have more than one option?