Looking Forward

Hello everyone, I'm Lim Jue Xin, with the matric number 66480. Just in case you were feeling confused about how to pronounce the "Jue" in my name, it was actually pronounced as "Joo-eh", but anyway you can still call me Jessie or Lim. I'm from Selangor, and this is my first time being in Sarawak.
    Today, a new tenant moved into our triple room. She's a local Sarawakian, when she got to know that I came from the Peninsular, her first question was - "Hey, so, what was your first impression when you came here?" I was not ready for such a sudden interview, therefore I paused for a while, yet without leaving me more time to think for an answer, she moved on asking, "Did you really think we lived on trees?" Ouch. Love her sarcasm.
    I have to admit, when I apply for UPU, UNIMAS counselling course was my last choice. Why did I put it last? It was not because I had least interest in this course or I detest this place, this university, if that's the case, I would not even thought of putting it in my list. So why did I even put it there? I did my research before applying for UPU, therefore I knew and I was aware that UNIMAS would provide a great study environment, plus I had interest regarding the human's mental health. Why put it last? It was because if I were to come here, I would have another expenses, which was the flight ticket. So I told my new roommate about how I really felt and how I did my research before coming here. I told her, "I've heard that you live on trees, but I've also heard that you have escalators when it comes to climbing up a tree!" She had a good laugh and said she was impressed.
    I was a STPM science stream Biology student, my teachers, my friends, my relatives, my neighbours, almost everyone who knows me, had high hopes about what I'm going to be in the future.
     "Be a doctor!" said my friends.
     "Be a lawyer!" said my History teacher.
     "Be a teacher!" said my Mandarin teacher.
     "Be an architect!" said my Form 3 Art teacher.
     "Be a dentist!" said my neighbour.
     "Be an optometrist!" said one of my relatives.
     "Be a skin specialist!" said a friend of my mother's.
     "Be a nurse!" said my grandmother.
    Yet, none of them was what I wanted.
    Then, what was I doing in science stream? Because they said it would be wasted for me to go Arts.
    Because, they said. But I really had interest in sciences, so it was not too hard of an issue. Until I realized, that I might be different from the other science students in my class. Our ways of thinking were different. I could not understand how they think, and at the same time they could not understand how I think. They could not understand why do I have to think and feel deeply about everything instead of just accepting the cold, hard facts; while I could not understand the way they try to rationalize everything with cold, hard facts. Therefore, when I apply for UPU, I had decided to do myself a favour. Other than picking a few Biology related courses (not doctors or nurses, I know where I stand), I chose soft sciences like Psychology and Counselling. I told no one, other than my parents, no one knew my choices.
    When I got to know that I was offered to do my Counselling degree in UNIMAS, I cried. Suddenly I was afraid of what other people would think about me and my choices, what my relatives would think of my mother, for my relatives had always felt that my mother did not push me enough.

Photo taken back in year 2011. They are my parents.

    "Are you ashamed of me?" I asked my mother.
    "You are my child, and you can choose to be whoever you want to be, who are they to decide about who you can be?" She replied.
    My father was there, and he said, "Hey, being a counsellor is a great profession!"
    Again, I cried.
    Then I told my STPM class teacher about my choice. She was proud and supportive.
    My tears just would not stop, until I told my classmates about my choice (they were asking me).
   "Counselling? Was this what you wanted?"
   "You have come so far, just for this?"
   "You, a counsellor? Oh come on!"
   Of course, there were supportive ones, I really appreciate their moral support.
   And of course, there would be people who's going to say this - "UNIMAS? You will be studying in the jungle!" said someone who got an offer into Universiti Malaya.
   So since he was going to be pricky, therefore I was going to do the same. I said to him, "Did you really think that you won't have a jungle in your UM? Try leaving your windows open, and welcome the guests, have fun!"
   We were good friends, so there was no hard feelings.
    First day of class on Basic Helping Skills, I found that the theories and principles, what was being taught, what was being conveyed, were totally relatable. But since it was just the first class, I would not be sure if this subject was easy or difficult.
    One thing for sure, is that I'm looking forward to the next class, and the next, and the next one to come. I hope that one day, I will be able to practice good helping skills. I would like to help others, to support others, to provide others, just like how others have showered their kindness on me.
    Thank you for reading, may you be well and happy.