That Once In A Lifetime Chance

While doing blogwalking and scrolling down Zety's blog archive, I stumbled upon her post about what she missed out for not taking the chance she had for once in her lifetime. So I thought to write about mine. 

This would take me back when I was 18, a high schooler graduate. As long as I remembered, my ambitions I wrote in the three sections in my report card had never change in this sequences : 1. Architect, 2. Teacher/Lecturer, 3. Policewoman. 

I wanted to be an architect because I love drawing so much and I knew I have talent in that area but my parents wanted me to be a language teacher/lecturer. I mean, I'd love to be a teacher/lecturer but instead of majoring in language, I preferred mathematics or art. So my parents agreed to let me apply for a mathematics teacher in Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG). For UPU application, I applied for architecture-related course for the first 5 rows and language-related course for the last rows (upon my mom's request).

I was called in for an interview for both in IPG and UiTM (architecture). Unfortunately I failed IPG's interview (till this day I'm so disappointed that I failed) so I waited the result for UiTM's. I was more than ecstatic when I was offered a place in UiTM for architecture course that I applied so I accepted it without hesitation.

I can't remember when was the result but I had to wait for nine months until the semester started. So one day, I stayed at my uncle's house in Ipoh, accompanied my brother who had a squash tournament. I went out to see my brother and left my phone at home that day and when I returned, I found three miscalls from an unknown number. I'm not someone who's eager to know who the hell called me so I ignored it. 

Exactly at 4pm, that unknown number called me again and turned out it was from IPG! They're offering me a full sponsorship program to be studying in Beijing, China and will be offered a job as a teacher when I return back home in Malaysia. I was so happy I got the offer to study abroad but the major I got offered was Chinese language (I swear if it was Korean, I wouldn't hesitate to accept the offer, hiks). Also, I had to give them the answer by 5pm and my parents were nowhere near me to give their opinion at that time so I made the decision to decline the offer. Besides, I already had accepted UiTM's so I think it's not much of a regret to decline it.


I think the offer was made to me because nobody wanted it. I mean, it made no sense that they offered me the place since I applied for mathematics, not Chinese language but I'm glad I was offered anyway since it'll forever be an unforgettable offer I got.

Now that I've gone through the hardship in architecture course and how bad our economy is currently in (I even lost my job due to lacking of projects) I sometimes regretted that I declined the offer. I even have a wishlist to learn Chinese and if I accepted the offer, I'll be fluent in Chinese by now already.

But every choice happened for a reason and mine turned out not that bad after all. I'm doing what I love and I've met really good people, Anarchive, my batchmate whom I know will always be there for me if I ever need them. I also got to brush up my sketching skills and I believe, having knowledge in building-politic-related things is a gift from studying architecture itself. 

The good turn out actually could overshadow the regret I feel so I still am happy with my life. Who knows what the future hold for me, I might have the chance to study abroad again, hope so.

Do you have any once-in-a-lifetime chance that you missed?

Till then,
Lya.

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28 Comments

  1. This story is really a once in a lifetime chance. Who knows that call we missed can be a life saver. Anyway the choice we had made sometimes happen for a reason kan

    XX Atheera | http://atheeradayana.com XX




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    1. Yes, just believe that everything happen for a reason. that's the only way for us to not regret the choices we made.

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  2. If I were you, It would be really hard for me to decide which one I want to go for. I would prefer to do things that I love but studying abroad is cool too! You can visit new places and learn new culture. However, we can only plan but God is the best planner :)

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    1. It was hard for me too since my parents weren't with me and I had to make the decision in less than an hour so I decided what I thought the best at that time. Yes, He is the best planner, I'm sure I made the right decision, under His guide.

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  3. There is one, but I'm glad by what Allah's planned and I think just embrace the moment. Haha. I do actually wanna learn chinese, I've been ponder a lot about it lately. :3

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    1. I know right, we just have to trust Him and bear in mind that what He plan is the best for us.

      Still no progress on learning Chinese though, tell me about procrastination. hahah

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  4. "I swear if it was Korean, I wouldn't hesitate to accept the offer" Me too girl, me too. Hahaha.

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  5. Reading this made me to write mine.. But not now la kot.. haha..
    I do learnt Mandarin once but stopped at the middle since I had a hectic schedule.. But if korean vs chinese, I'll go for korean.. haha

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    1. You should write your story, I'd love to read it!

      I know right, I wouldn't have hesitate if it was Korean language instead hehe

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  6. If you accept the scholarship we might be friends.

    btw, I'm so going to do an entry on this topic. Thank you xD

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    1. You're welcome, couldn't wait to read yours!

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  7. kahkahkah aku ingat lagi. kesian gila engko time ni. nak gi obersi tapi dapat kos yang tak berapa berkenan di hati, yelah aimin engko dah dapat kos architecture yang more dekat di hati. ahahhaha =DD

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  8. selalu pikir what will happen if we choose different path kan

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    1. Memang pon and bila fikir mula rasa menyesal but actually everything happens for a reason kan so we just have to trust His plan :)

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  9. This is quite an amazing story. I'm happy that you finally feel all the good stuff and not let that one time thing brings you down.We should always trust Allah and everything will fall into pieces.

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    1. Yeah, though sometimes I regretted for not taken the other path but I'm still happy and think that I made the right decision :)

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  10. Dalam kehidupan, sentiasa ada untuk kita membuat pilihan kan. Kita sentiasa juga fikir apa akan jadi kalau kita buat pilihan yang lain. Always..

    Everything happens for a reason. Percaya akan plan Allah untuk kita. Pasti yang terbaik :)

    Mana tahu Lya dapat peluang sambung belajar di luar negara dan dalam bidang yang Lya suka :)

    "I swear if it was Korean, I wouldn't hesitate to accept the offer" - me too!!! 😉😉

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    1. Betul sangat tu. Selalu je terasa macam menyesal and sepatutnya pilihan yang dilepaskan tu lebih menguntungkan tapi everything happens for a reason, so kite kena redha.

      Kan! Kalau Korean memang terus cakap OK je!

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  11. You're exactly where you are doing exactly what you're doing because of Allah. And indeed, Allah knows best. This is a lovely post, I enjoyed reading it! :) All the best in everything you do!!!

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    1. Yes, everything get back to Him, only then we'll be okay. Thank you :)

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  12. I can't think of any once in lifetime chance I had, there are some... I think.

    Things right now are not actually going the way I planned at least when I drafted how my life would be in 5 years time (in 2011). It's 2017 now, things happen accordingly and I believe Allah has planned our life so well that all those life experiences do teach us a lot to be more mature. :)

    Love to read your experience anyway, architecture was in my consideration but I admit I lack creativity so I am glad I am not in this course for now hehe

    hanisamanina.com

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    1. Well I'm regretting the decision a lot these days but I still try to believe that everything happens for a reason. Redha, tu yang paling penting :)

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  13. I experienced similar situation. Everything happen for reason(s) and HE is the best planner afterall. Thank you for this entry, I might write my version later ;)

    https://nunuwahidah.blogspot.my/

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    1. I'm glad you liked the post. Can't wait to read your version :)

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  14. Banyak nya dapat offer, u must be a very talented person.

    I had one. I received my first interview job's offer after graduation but then i declined it eventho it was soooo sooooo good! I declined it because I already accept my sevond iv job which is i regretted it till today. If we can turn back time i really wanna accept that offer :(

    People said everything happened for a reason but i still cant find any blessing from that stupid mistake that I did.

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    1. Yeah, everything happens for a reason even though it's a bad one, we could learn from it. At least you had the experience. You can always try to apply for a different job if you're determined to resign. We're never too old to try something new ;)

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