When You Believe
Thursday, September 6th, 2007As you all are
aware of, I’ve been publicly distressed for the past couple of months due to my
final exam results & my rejection by Newcastle.
Well, things took an unexpected turn today - I got an offer from Durham
University, UK
The Trip to MARA HQ
You see, today I was at the MARA (my beloved sponsors) Head Quarters in
KL to inquire on my options available. Since I have not secured a placement so
far through Clearing (refer previous posts) and was rejected by Newcastle since mid-August, I was preparing for the worst. I really needed to confirm the
rumour from my friend that MARA will no longer be sending students to IMU
(refer to "Goodbye IMU, Hello Bollywood?")
And so I met up with a few friends, one being my ex-roomate (shout out to Jo
Blu!!) who was very eager to go to India
& wanted assurance A.S.A.P. While my parents are giving me a major headache
not letting me to India,
this guy is getting a major hard-on from the anticipation to go to India!
Like chalk & cheese, as they say it.
(In case you haven’t heard, it’s the English version of ‘bagai langit dengan
bumi’)
So I began the Q & A session with Cik Zarisha, a cool lady at the Jabatan
Penganjuran MARA, and found out a few stuff:
- Yes, MARA is no longer sending students to IMU. She didn’t elaborate much (we
suspecting they’re finding ways to cut costs!) but did mention that it’s much easier
to fail at IMU than it is elsewhere + there will be interviews even on the
2nd year (W.T.F??)
- They’ll only send to M S Ramaiah Medical School, which is a private
medical school in Bangalore. It is
a 5 1/2 years MBBS (Bachelors in Medicine & Surgery) programme, and seniors
studying there are giving positive feedback. Plus, the approach there is more
hands-on (more cadavers @ mayat)
- Monthly allowance is US$700. You’ll practically become rich there
& you could really save a lot of money. She told me that a senior, who was
really depressed at the thought of flying to India
at first, in the end even got the chance to travel to Australia
AND UK AND Europe.
Oh yeah, now everyone would be dying
to go to India.
The Miraculous Phone
Call
Out of the sudden I got a call from an unidentified Selangor number. It happens
to be a call from MABECS (Malaysian British Educational Co-Operation
Services) which handles applications of KMB students bound for UK.
At first, the lady on the other line asked regarding my Newcastle applications, of which I told her was unsuccessful.
She said she’ll call me back, of which she did minutes
later. And that’s when the unexpected good news came, in her own words, “Newcastle University has accepted your appeal, and is offering you entry into their 5 year
Medical degree, through the Durham route”
No.
F*cking.
Way!
I was speechless beyond words; shell shocked; rocked to my
very core with disbelief; and eyed dilated and wide.
I finally got my wish.
The fact hasn’t really sunk in, and I’m still bewildered by
the drastic change of fortune at the 11th hour. Of course, my
parents were more than elated that their prayers were granted, and their son is
finally going to read Medicine at UK.
Surprisingly, my friends were overjoyed even more than I am (still in shock,
can’t even feel joy yet!)
Explanation for the
Confused Souls
Ok, let me elaborate, since so many have asked.
University of Durham (refer to Stockton on the map) is about 1 hour from Newcastle University, both located on the
North East of United Kingdom.
Durham University & Newcastle University developed a partnership, in which students applying for Newcastle may choose to do either:
1) 5
years at Newcastle University (main campus in Newcastle), or
2) 2
(Pre-Clinical) years at Durham University campus in Stockton, then 3 (Clinical)
years at Newcastle University campus.
Get it?
In the end, for both routes (either the former or the
latter), graduating medical students will obtain an MBSS (Bachelor of Medicine
& Surgery) degree from Newcastle University, so basically I will be
studying at both Durham and
Newcastle.
Or did I further confuse you guys?
Leaving On a Jet
Plane
Anyway, since I haven’t officially received the offer
letter, which MARA is asking for to quickly handle with the moolah ($$$) allocation, I don’t really
know when I’m expected to leave for Durham.
But I figured it would be around 18th
September which is when my friends going to Newcastle University will be flying.
Before I slap myself silly and say this is all a dream, I
checked my UCAS (University College Admissions Something, which handles
applications to UK universities) Track website and my doubts were thrown out the window.
When You Believe
I never thought a miracle would happen, especially since I’ve
really lost all hope with the dawn of September.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in God and his Divine
Preordainment (Qada’ & Qadar) but
I was really down when Newcastle rejected me earlier due to 1 point short of the minimum requirement. Especially
with my parents seemingly more dismayed (or maybe embarrassed?) at my rejection
and pressuring me to go anywhere but
IMU/India, I was definitely not thinking straight.
God gave me another chance. He really tested my faith, but
with the pouring support & prayers from family & friends (a few of my
friends who went for their umrah too
prayed for my success – hats off to Hafiz & Fatin the Poyo) all is well in
the end.
There can be miracles,
when you believe,
though hope is frail,
it’s hard to kill..
Who knows what
miracles,
you can achieve,
when you believe,
somehow you will.
You will when you
believe.
(Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey’s “When You Believe)
God is great.
Praises be to Allah.
Thursday,6/9/2007 (5:44PM)
