Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) was never a part of my 2017 plans. Since I have only three terms left of free tuition and fees, the initial plan was to finish my Master’s thesis at De La Salle University-Manila. But as expected, the beauty of God’s will and plan never fail to enthral me. This life-changing event started in a metamorphic happenstance sometime in April 2017—some dispositions of others seemed deviating from my personal principles and non-negotiable values. I cannot negotiate. I got lost for a week and this prompted me to think my heart was not in its proper place—I should go and seek my niche. |
From approximately 2,000 applicants I was among the 100 shortlisted applicants for panel interview. In the panel interview, we only had thirty (30) minutes to prove that we were worthy of the scholarship. The interview started with a very classic tell-us-something-about-yourself command. My response included a dramatic reel off which I thought might capture their hearts but one of the interviewers (from the Australian embassy) cut me off and said: “Is it connected to your REAP (the unique component of AAS)? The interview is just for thirty minutes so we suggest you only focus on things that have to do with your REAP.” Upon hearing that I thought it was the end of my AAS journey. This wasn’t my time yet.
Nevertheless, I still hold on to my faith and to my dreams which I love to accomplish in our motherland should I awarded the scholarship. I was given a Probationary Priority Status. I attended course counselling. My initial plan was to take Master of Mathematical Sciences at Australian National University (ANU) but I fell in love with The University of Melbourne (Unimelb)—the placement procedure was the most mind-boggling part of my AAS journey. While everyone received their university offers already, I was still in the agony of waiting (but never doubted the Lord’s miracle works). After two months, I received a good news—I am now an official AAS scholar, a Unimelb student, and a Melbournian.
I guess this opportunity has to do with what I hold on as a person: Karma—“in Hinduism and Bhuddism, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.” Thus, If I could, I surely infect others with only positivity and happiness. Instead of returning the person with the same level of anger I pray for that person—I choose to love and to understand than to hate. I choose to work hard and be in my most efficient and effective self at work because I always believe in rewards from heaven. I can say AAS is my Karma. AAS is my reward from heaven.
Yes, there were blessings I had which I didn’t expect. But, I guess the imperative were those which I prayed diligently but I got way better and more than what I asked—and AAS was one of it.
Undoubtedly, this is the will of the Lord.