Though my initial plan was to start immediately after completing my degree, Visa issues became my first year-long stumbling block in my road towards getting my Master’s degree. But with every problem presented, there’s always a silver lining — which I’ll get back to you in a bit. After a year of waiting and going back and forth, I was finally able to start the programme in February 2020. 

My second stumbling block was the fees. I was completely startled after registering for the programme. Let me get real with you. If you want to be an international student here, you’ve got to break the bank. But being ambitious and equally stubborn about my goals was the main reason that kept me going despite it being expensive. 

But why did it leave me startled? 

Firstly, international students weren’t granted scholarships, but due to a delay in my programme from the Visa issue (Here’s the silver lining I was talking about earlier!), the regulation was lifted right before I began my programme. That meant a scholarship was on my way! I couldn’t have been any happier. 

Coupled with the financial support from my parents, I got lucky and I firmly believed that things were going to get better.

And as I was the ONLY student from my batch, I enjoyed the privilege of getting taught by lecturers one-on-one which allowed me to receive more attention from my academics. Even though I only had online classes, thank you Ms. Rona, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Since my master’s is full-time research, I’m mostly found on my laptop reading through articles, collecting information, theories, and whatnot, all for a project I am a part of. The collection of data for the research comes next and honestly, I’m not too ready for all that! 

Balancing between the different responsibilities of owning a home-based food business, managing house finances, being a Public Relations Director for the Post-Graduate Student Council, as well as being a writer and a content creator is not a piece of cake for me. One of the most difficult tasks that has been causing constant stress is time-management and juggling everything that’s on my plate. 

But, as I have always told myself, “You did not come this far to only come this far!” which has pretty much kept me going.

I have had my fair share of stumbles and falls. I started off as a girl thinking that culinary was easy enough to pursue her Diploma in, only to realise the difficulties that came with tackling long hours in the kitchen, getting burns, and knife cuts. Then, I continued on this path to undergo the painstaking preparation for the food and beverage service. Trust me when I say this, it was tough. But as years passed and I gained more experience, I grew even stronger and even more ambitious to pursue my passion for culinary.

As stated from personal experience, culinary arts is a journey that isn’t for the faint-hearted. You’ll face your own stumbling blocks as did I but what matters most is the lessons you’ll learn out of it and the attitude you take towards it. I was both too stubborn and ambitious to give up what I wanted!

Remember, no matter what path you take, you’ll always be faced with different challenges — whether they’re the comments made by your loved ones or roadblocks along your chosen path. What matters is that you do your research and measure your preference before you enrol into any programme. For me, it was a Master’s in Philosophy. 

Currently, as I am halfway through my Master’s degree, I feel that what I had chosen is strongly suited for me. I am and will always be a chef but, somewhere in the future, I do wish to be a Food Journalist. In the meantime, I’ll see what life has in store for me and tackle it head-on! 

And for any criticisms about my education pathway, I’ll remember to answer them once I reach the mountaintop.