Friday, March 25, 2011

Day 1

2011 has started with a bang. Perhaps I will never forget this year. It
marks the end of one long journey and the beginning of a new journey towards a
Master's degree.

I'm a single mom, just graduated from a Japanese university. When I say
just, I mean yesterday: 25 March 2011. But I'm not one of those young and
beautiful teenage moms. I'm in my 40s. There are those who might think that
this puts me way past my prime. You need to look at me carefully: I imagine
that all my external signs of beauty have become internal now.

Graduating with a pretty awesome GPA of 3.65 was way harder than I had
expected. It was quite a bumpy ride. But I have somehow managed to do so,
thanks to the great support from friends and family. I'm so grateful for the
strength they gave me by being my cheer leaders. My daughter, Momo, my
11-year-old little philosopher, is the best cheer leader of all. And she is the
biggest motivation for me to continue with my uphill academic adventure.

This year, my plan is to score high enough in the International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) test to be accepted into a Master's degree
program at a British university. Next spring, I hope to enrol in a distance
learning course in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
for Young Learners at Aston University in the UK.

Only 4 years ago, this would have appeared to be just a unrealistic dream.
But achieving a good GPA as an undergraduate student has made me realize
that I have the possibility of reaching my goal. M.A. Mama is what I'd love
to be. Of course it is to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, but it is also
to bring stability to my daughter's life. And perhaps it is the best way I
can show her how to live her life fully under any circumstances.

Especially now, when my country is in crisis after Japan's biggest
earthquake on March 11th. This is the best time to begin this journey to M.A. Mama.
My Motto is Carpe Diem. Going through so much ups and downs and
life-threatening experiences as well as the birth of my daughter has made me live with
more appreciation and excitement.

Today, this is my status: a single mom, with no partner, no well-paying job
and no promising future. All that I have got is a hopeful song in my head,
so bright and catchy that it light up my eyes.

Today, I set out on my journey!

3 comments:

  1. Way to go, M.A. Mama!

    "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."

    George Bernard Shaw - Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893

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  2. Great post! You will walk the IELTS test, I am sure.

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  3. Thanks my followers;-) lol
    Your comments are much appreciated.

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