So... Last year I went to an interview for a scholarship to do my Masters. The scholarship is like a 2 in 1 offer. They give you a paid study leave from work, and also pay for your tuition fee. So it's something that everyone wants, and it's not that easy to get. I took a chance and applied the scholarship. One of the documents I had to prepare was a research proposal. Unfortunately, I hate research. I hate collecting data and I hate analyzing data. Why? Because no matter what new innovation you can come up with, nobody's gonna use it.
Because it was compulsory, I prepared the proposal anyways. In one day, I managed to prepare a 15 paged proposal. ONLY. Everyone else had like at least 50 pages of idea. While me? Well I had ONE lazy idea and the best i could do was expand that lazy idea into 15 pages of nonsense. At least for me it was like that. My confidence level? Z.E.R.O. So when I got the call for interview I was like, oh what the heck... I'll do this for the experience.
I have to point out that last year was one crazy year. I was busy everyday. There was always something I had to do. In between hectic schedules, I managed to attend the interview. Thanks especially for mum and dad for driving me from south to way up north for the sake of my career. At the interview waiting area I looked around and noticed people carrying files and files of what i assumed were proposals and related documents. All I had in my hand was a suitcase of certificates and that 15 pages of expanded rookie idea which I was too lazy to improve.
Masters participants had to be interviewed in pairs. I think I was paired up with some lecturer from Port Dickson. I was too nervous to observe people so I just took a deep breath and went with the flow. There was a professor and a man (probably some scholarship representative) in front of us. My partner was interviewed first. I could tell she was more nervous than I was, her hand was shaking as she tried to explain her proposal using short notes. Something about windmills. As soon as I saw her struggling with both her idea and her English skills, I took the chance to take over. Nope. No notes-referring weakling was going to steal my scholarship.
I didn't have notes. I had a copy of my proposal in my hands. I closed it. I sat up straight and I asked politely to "try" explain in English what my idea was. I was on fire! My proposal turned out to be 15 pages of sincere honesty. Everything I wrote in that booklet was from my own head and heart. Every single word of it. Using all the skills and speaking talent I have, I sold the product. The professor was interested in my idea, he congratulated me for doing well, and I knew at that moment I had a chance.
Weeks later, I checked the results of the interview. I got the scholarship. I could only thank God for my luck and giving me great parents who were with me all the way. However, even today, a year after that, I still have a long way to go. So many things I have to do before I actually pursue my masters. I hope, with great intentions and great effort, I can do it.
