Overseas Education

To say that I have figured out all of who I am would be a prevarication. There is no defining moment in my entire life that determines what I want or who I want to be, but all I know is that I want my parents to be proud.

Since I was younger, I was very driven. I never failed to complete learning what I was fascinated with learning. I was always the cream of the crop in my extra curricular activities and I always volunteered to go for service learning projects be it overseas or local. A group of friends and I even started a society to improve campus conditions and sponsorships were given by our school to execute the projects. I scored decently in my O levels and proceeded to enter Catholic Junior College in 2014.

However, things occurred during my Junior College period and I was not able to clinch a good A level score. I was disappointed because I always felt that I was destined to do great things for the world and society. I could not accept what happened and felt depressed.

This carried on to National Service and my whole first year of NS I was discouraged and demoralised. Slowly, time healed my wounds and I improved. I took up different hobbies and put my mind into thinking about other stuff. I picked up photography and videography and I have been in love ever since. I have put up some photos I took if any of you guys are interested.

I have learnt dozens of lessons that I will never forget and it is safe to say that I have definitely matured a lot over the years in NS.

I know that grades determine university placings, and thus I was declined entry into Singapore's Universities to study my passion which was in the business field.

I went ahead and applied for private universities and also decided to apply to a few universities in UK.

I received an offer for an education at the University of Exeter and I was ecstatic! However, a year in the University of Exeter for an international student costs 18k pounds, excluding accommodation and food and insurance and other external costs. I have done my part in asking companies for bonds in exchange for a scholarship but to no avail.

I feel very bad for my parents for "forcing" me to go even though I told them it would be alright for me to study a private university in Singapore because I have seen them go to Maybank and take extreme education loans for me, which breaks my heart. Adding to that, my parents do not have high income jobs. My dad is planning on retiring soon but because of my education he decided to continue working. My mom on the other hand has an unstable income which solely depends on clients and its really saddening to see her wake up at 3 in the morning to start doing work.

On my part I am also contributing by working 2 jobs while waiting for my University to start, to help ease the load off my parents. I am and will forever be grateful to them.

Any amount, every dollar is useful and appreciated. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much!

You may also deposit your donations to my bank account:

POSB Savings 248-67921-2

Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

Shaun