Excuse me as I proceed to meroyan for awhile. You don’t really have to read this.
Yup, the blogpost that I linked in my previous post is a dated entry, tahun 2007.. but mind you, this is not the first time I got such opinion. Somehow tonight, I feel the need to say something about this. Kawan-kawan sendiri pun ada yg memperlecehkan golongan pensyarah IPTA dapat biasiswa study abroad. Katanya.. korang dapat biasiswa senang la.. Hello?? Kalau nak biasiswa study PhD, kenapa tak nak jadi pensyarah IPTA?? Gaji sikit yer?? Tak glamer la.. tak duduk dalam industri, rugi je penat2 ada ijazah profesional, tapi jadi pensyarah, waste of talent etc.. lagi teruk.. ada yang kata.. Those who can’t do, teach.
Oh really?
Do you know, my friends with such opinions, that us who you claimed to be lucky to get scholarships to study abroad, that we will be bonded to our employers for a number of years once we completed our studies, and most of us will happily remain in this profession until we are no longer needed. We, first and foremost, are lecturers. We want to teach. We want to build the nation. We want to nurture the future leaders so that they will lead our beloved homeland to greater heights. We want to do our part in expanding the boundaries of knowledge, so our nation will become a nation of intellects. A nation that could stand on its own, a nation that can be looked up to, a nation that can protect the destiny of their future generation in the best way they know how. That is our purpose.
Nak jadi tok guru, kena la pegi menuntut ilmu kan? Who would want to learn from someone who don’t bother to expand their knowledge? Takkan nak bagi ajaran sesat kot? I believe in order to teach, one must learn all they can. Not just by doing PhD, but in all other aspects in life as well. It is essentially the journey. What you have to do to get there. The triumphs, the agony, the heartbreak, the sacrifices, the joy, the pain… all are part of the learning process. To get that 3 alphabets that you could put after your name. The end of formal learning. Well, for me, at least.
To the outsider, studying abroad may seem glamourous. That we get to spend the tax payer’s money on a long vacation (oh btw, I pay my taxes every year ye, tak pernah miss lagi, Alhamdulillah). So you see pictures of holidays, snowman, beautiful sceneries, wearing seasonal attires.. scenes of perfect, wonderful happy moments. But think of it this way, would I post pictures of me up burning the midnight oil, of me when I was up for an entire week looking like a zombie while completing a write-up, or of me going to strangers houses collecting their unwanted items, or me rummaging through bundles of clothes up for sale at carboot markets? Buying things at budget/clearance sections? Would I show how pathetic my bank statements are every month? Would I share that I am seriously considering growing my own vegetables? Would I tell the whole world I shop at charity shops, eBay & discount stores? Menangis jugak mak ayah atuk nenek kami di Malaysia. Layanan orang pun lain macam je kat sini, kalau kena herdik/tengking/cemuh dalam bas/tempat awam tu perkara biasa, ada yang kena baling batu lagi… they don’t care if you are a lecturer from a university, they only know that you are a foreigner. If it wasn’t for my husband, the graduate, working as tukang cuci (kat Malaysia, illegal immigrant je keje mcm tu tau!), we wouldn’t have any extra money to spend. Or buy things at proper shop for that matter. I am far from complaining, mind you, I am so thankful for this golden opportunity.. but that is just how things are. In reality.
If there is one thing I can say to people with such negative opinions about me and my friends who are studying for their PhD abroad… it all comes to rezeki. What God had chosen to bless you with. Better you stick with what you know best, and let us do what we know best. If you are still complaining, well maybe you need a career overhaul, or do some serious thinking, the least. The world will be a much happier place if everyone knows what they should do to make it better, instead of complaining about others.
3 alphabets. After my name. Why should I bother?
Because that is one of my purpose in life. The central obligation I have to my Creator, my family, my employer, my students and my Malaysia.
Sekian, terima kasih.
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