Congratulations!

Today is a special day because 2 of my 2nd cousins (or whatever you call it) from Buru have finally got that scroll in their hands.
Alhamdulillah..

All the hard work has paid off. And it's definitely not easy. Unlike us in Singapore, where education is served on a platter (and which many of my kids in school take for granted), it is not as simple for them.

Money is of course, the main hindrance to the pursuit of higher education. They could, like many others, gave up on their studies to work immediately after secondary school in order to help their parents put food on the table. They could also, like many others, not have dreams that go beyond living their lives as sailors.

But these 2 dared to dream further. And worked their asses off.
And it finally paid off.

Not without any bumps, of course. I remember the day, ayah rushed off to Pekan Baru where the 2 were studying after receiving a frantic call from Firman's desperate father. Both the boys had problems settling the school fees and also their rent. These 2 boys were in total despair and were too heartbroken at the thought of their dreams being dashed that they just went missing. Ayah found them in one of the mosques there as they had nowhere else to go.

After discussing with ibu, they agreed to sponsor Firman & Kamal's education. It's not much really. Just $50 per person per month. What's that to us here? But to them, it makes a whole world of difference.

And today, they are graduates.
I hope that they will be able to help their respective families lead better lives, cos I am a strong believer of education being the most powerful way out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

And to my 2 adik sedaras, I am damn proud of you, guys.
Once again, congratulations!



Kamal: Bakal ahli politik?

Firman: Bakal pengetua?