Ha kau, tajuk. Haha.
Ok la, better than "Uluit... Uluit tapak kakai!!" :P

Today I nak cakap pasal empowerment. Apa kaitan dengan tahi lalat? Dan kaki?

When I was young, my own makcik-makcik and the rest in the kampung would say to me -
Jauh jalan ni besar nanti... (repeatedly!)
Just because I have a tahi lalat di ibu jari kaki sebelah kanan.
It is bigger than normal tahi lalat but it is not even a tahi lalat hidup.
Whoever say that nowadays? Ada lagi ke orang read people fate with moles?

I however, grew up believing in that particular potential.
Of being away. But not exactly wonderlusting. Just away.
This was in November 2015.

So when I first flew off for my industrial attachment (practical training) in Kuching
at the end of my 3rd year degree program, I knew I'd be doing more of it.
I had 5 flights in total for a stretch of two months and a half. Twice in Boeing,
twice in 19 pax turbo-prop to & fro Miri (there was only 3 of us onboard =D)
and once on VIP helicopter hovering Kuching city.

BUT I also knew I do not want that kind of life on daily basis (aircraft maintenance engineer,
flight engineer) because honestly, flying is not something I'm really into, unless I really have to.

Coming back, I knew I do not want to work in a hangar too and I wanna be in an air-conditioned office, but I also want to have certain physical engagement with the flying machine.
Never knew such work existed.

Thus it became so real when I was employed by Honeywell Aerospace (M) where I get to sit in an air-conditioned office in an aircraft engine workshop. Getting my first passport, being sent out to foreign land for multiple times (Singapore je pon - to our parent company)
and Japan for some meeting (alone!).

Whenever I'm away, it always ring me.
The statement from makcik-makcik seems to be more like a prayer that I believed in.
How such a simple statement had unintentionally planted a seed in my mind.
How the empowerment was done right without even realising.
It might not be the tahi lalat (or it could have been a sign).

It's about how important conscious & unconscious empowerment done around us.
What kind of seed we are planting in our children or community.
Be it good or bad, it is us who decide.

Once I'm done with my Master (if I got the scholarship),
I think I'm going after a PhD. Just to see how far it gets me.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a JV with Singapore Aviation Academy,
and the course is available online (with minimal campus residency)!
All in all, it is in Allah's decree.
InsyaAllah.

Jauh nak jalan ni...

I took the urge to kick-ass learn & study in my new year resolution
(to dive deeper into the knowledge and experience required for my job function)

...pretty much oh-so-literally.

My initial intention was to take on all the technical literature review to have 'em all at my fingertips. In this line of work it is convenient to shut people off with numbers 

e.g. CS 25, Subpart E, 25.903... or CAR 2016, Part 16, Regulation 140 to 144.

Bunyi macam lawyer tapi bukan. Rasa macam Donna. Eh tetiba haha.

Hottest redhead.

Within the first week of 2017, I found myself looking at some options with a specific field of study that I had bookmarked for years but had never considered them seriously.
So I went to weigh them again, having less than 5 shortlisted selections. Easy peasy.

When I asked myself what's the drive to have it materialised this year,

it become so obvious to me that I needed a break (padahal baru je berangan nak jadi Donna).

I wanted MEng (not MSc or MBA) with the shortest duration (I hate missing out daily on-goings at the office), I prefer coursework rather than research, adaptable livelihood and possibility of getting any available scholarship (since JPA has stopped the fund for overseas studies).

So for the same field of study, University of Cranfield in UK only offered 2 years program, France ENAC-ISAE-EOAA has interesting 1 year advanced master program but there will be language barrier undeniably and France government has an age limitation for their postgraduate scholarship (up to 30 years old) and the final one is RMIT in Melbourne, Australia
(1 year program, possibility of postgraduate scholarship from their government
and ease of livelihood). So here I am.

No, still here, not there yet.

So why a Master? Because I've always dreamed of some forms of engagement with higher learning institutions, advocating awareness and exposure on aviation industry, pouring out all the knowledge, skills and experiences back to the younger generations to empower our nation.

And a Master degree is a prerequisite qualification for our local university lecturers

(even for part-time). I call that patriotism done my way. I see myself as a bridge of knowledge.

*why am I all teary writing this? sheesh!

When I voiced out my intention to pursue a Master to my superiors, they have no objection and given me their consents. My Sr Deputy Director upon knowing my selection said,

"Are you going on one year holiday???"

Oh well, I'll try getting a good set of GPS & GPA =P 

 But again, it all depends on whether or not I get a scholarship.

I can't barely afford the course fee.

So I started the journey signing up for IELTS (cost me RM 800+, I better make it worth it), researching the subjects, updating my resume after 10 years, multiple online communications with the RMIT representative and Australian education consultant in Malaysia, making them the agent to facilitate my application (its FOC!) and finally making the online submission.

Spent weeks figuring out the best options for accommodation (apartment/studio that's a walking distance to the campus and Qyrin Aulia's school, only renting cars when needed). 

And Qyrin Aulia's primary school looks sooo Hogwarts-ly!!! 

 And I got RMIT offer letter on the 3rd day of the application despite expecting it to come within
2 to 4 weeks because the campus is presently hectic with 2017 new intakes. It was delightful.

What a journey, I'm all excited it's like I'm already there.

Pray for my excellence in IELTS next weekend!