Being Struggle to Study Abroad

Study abroad is a great opportunity to anyone who have it because they can develop their knowledge, have many foreigner friends and teachers, and learn other culture. I’m thankful that my university, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Mandala (STIE Mandala) Jember, Indonesia, has a cooperation with Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) Thailand, so that students of my university can study at RMUTT Thailand for one year with scholarship. In order to get that great opportunity, students have to register and pass all the tests that are required. Here is my struggle story to catch my dream to study abroad.

On April 1^st, 2016, there was an announcement about joint degree at RMUTT Thailand in International Office of STIE Mandala’s facebook. I looked and read it all.Then, I told to my parents that I want to register. “MOM! DAD! There is an announcement about joint degree in Thailand with scholarship for one year!! May I register for it?”, I said to my parents happily. “Yes, of course. You can register. It’s very good opportunity, my girl”, my father supported me. “Are you really sure with your decision?”, my mother asked. “Yes, mom”, I answered. Actually, I am the youngest child in my family. I have one elder sister and one elder brother. I knew that my mother was worry about me because since I was child until that time I live with my family, I never live alone in another city for long time. Then, my father talked to my mother. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but at last, my mother also supported me. I was very happy at that time. After that, I prepared anything for register, such as Curriculum Vitae (CV), transcript of my scores during in university, colour photos, and any certificate that I had, like TOEFL certificate, English course certificates, and competition certificate. On the next day, I submitted my documents to my teacher who is also staff of International Office of STIE Mandala, her name is Mrs. Shadrina. She said, ”You are the first register, Nat”. I was surprised and said “Really teacher?”. She answered me “Yes”. I thought that my friends had already submitted their documents because there were many friends who were interested to register.

Announcement of Joint Degree in RMUTT Thailand

Three weeks after registration, there was an announcement that all students who had already registered for joint degree, had to come to auditorium at 10 a.m. Andi, my friend who was also register, sent me a message about it almost at 10 a.m. and it was very late to come. So I decided to not come because at that time I was at home. On the next day, I asked to Andi about information that teacher gave. He answered me “Yesterday teacher told that we have to make research proposal in Indonesia and English language in only 3 days. The next day after it, there would be TOEFL. We have to pay Rp 150.000 for TOEFL. The next two days after that, we have to present our research proposal and have interview with our teachers. The next three days, there will be academic potential test.”. “Are you kidding me now??”, I said. I was very surprised. “No. it’s true. You can ask other friends who also came yesterday. There is no enough time to do research proposal in two language, right? I think that it’s impossible to do it in only three days.”, he asked me. First, I agreed with his opinion because the time was very short. I was very confused at that time. I asked myself “There were some of my friend who gave up and didn’t follow the tests. Then, how about me?? Will I follow the tests or not?” After that I remembered with my parents who wanted and gave me support to study abroad. Then, I decided to follow the test and do the research proposal at night.

Fortunately, I had a subject which the teacher ever gave assignment to make chapter 1 and chapter 2 of research proposal when I was in sixth semester. So, I used it and made chapter 3, also the presentation in English language. Then, I translated it to English language and typed it on computer. Unfortunately, my computer was error! My computer was very old and I didn’t know why every one hour it would turn off suddenly. On the next day in afternoon, after class, I went to computer rental near my university to type my research proposal. I typed it there for around 3 hours. Then, in the evening, I went to computer rental near my house to continue typing it. I went there with my mother by motorcycle. After three hours, my mother picked me up. At that time, my research proposal in English language and the presentation didn’t finish because I needed to check my grammar, while my research proposal in Indonesia language finished already. So, the next day (the last day to submit the research proposal) at 7 a.m. I went to computer rental near my university again. Suddenly, the computer turned off. I was surprised because I hadn’t saved my document of research proposal. I asked to the staff of computer rental, “What happen with the computer?”. She answered, “The electricity turned off. All computers turned off. Usually every Saturday, the electricity will turn off in this street”. “WHAT??”, I said in my mind. “How long will the electricity turn off? 1 hour?”, I asked her again. She answered, “I don’t know, but it may be more than two hours”. I was shocked and I sat at chair, thinking what I will do. I had already spent money for computer rental and time to do that. Should I give up? NO! I went out from that computer rental and looked for other computer rental near there. I had to walk far to find it. Then, I got one computer rental and got in, but the staff said “Sorry, it’s already full. If you want, you can wait outside, but I don’t know what time you can use the computer”. “WHATT???”, I said again in my mind. Then, I walked again. When I had already walked far, I asked a student of another university, “Excuse me. I want to ask. Do you know where computer rental near here?” He answered me, “Yes, I know, but do you have motorcycle? Because I think that the place is rather far from here.” I said “Really? Can you tell me where is it?” Then he told me the way and I continued walking again because I didn’t have motorcycle. Finally, after walking far and become sweaty, I found a computer rental! I hoped that there would be a computer that I could use. Thanks to God! There was a computer for me! Then I drank my mineral water that I brought and continued typing my research proposal. After I finished it all, I paid the rental cost and went out to search print center to print my research proposal. Next, I went to my university by pedicab because the time had already at 11.30 a.m., the limit time to submit it was 12 p.m. When I had already arrived to my university, I submitted my research proposal to my teacher. On that time, I felt tired, but also happy because I could finish it on time, even there were many challenges that I had to face to finish it. Thanks God!

After I arrived at home, I learned about English for the TOEFL. My sister had some TOEFL books, so I learned from it. There were many exercises there and I could check my answers whether it is right or not because at the back of books, there were the right answers. I also learned from my grammar books which I bought and studied when I was in senior high school. Then, I also learned from my English course’s books. On the next day, the TOEFL was began. As I knew, there fifteen students who had already registered, but only ten students who followed the test. Before I did my TOEFL, I prayed first, I hoped that I could do my best in every test. After that, a man said, “Good morning students. I am English teacher from Ednovation International Course. Nice to meet you all now. Here, I will announce that you have to do TOEFL for two hours.” Then, he explained how to do the test. There were three parts in TOEFL. The first part was listening to the radio. We had to listen it well so that we could answer many questions in part 1. I realized that I am not so good in listening radio, so I just tried to be able to answer it. The second part was reading. There were some readings that I didn’t know the meaning of some words. The last part was writing. I like to write, especially if I have to write about my stories. There were some topics about economics. We had to choose one of them to write. I chose a topic about the reason why I want to study abroad. I wrote as long as I could. Before the time was over, I checked again all of my answers, whether I had already answered it all or not. Then, I submitted my answer sheet to the teacher.

  Photo during do TOEFL

At night, I learned my presentation because the next day was presentation test and interviewed. I made my presentation in brief, so when I would present, I would more explain than read it. I also made my presentation attractively. I did exercise in front of mirror while I read and explained my presentation in my room. On the next day, at night, I and my friends presented our presentation one by one. I got the first turn because I was the first register for the joint degree. I was a little bit nervous at that time. “God, please bless me, I will present my presentation. I hope that I can do my best for my parents. Amin.”, I prayed. Then, I started to present my presentation using English language. Although I didn’t really speak English fluently, but at least I tried my best. After I had already explained my presentation, two teachers gave me some questions about my research proposal. I answered it using English well. Then, a teacher asked, “Why do you want to study abroad? Explain it”. I answered while smiling, ”The first and important reason why I want to study abroad is I want to make my parents proud of me. My parents love me so much. I want to give my best for them. I want to look they smile and happy because of my achievement.” “The other reasons are I want to develop my knowledge, I want to learn other culture, I want to have many foreigner friends, and I want to be able to survive in another country,” I added. Then, the other teacher asked me, “If you can pass all the tests for study in Thailand, what will you do next?” I answered, “I will study harder, especially for English language, so that I can get good scores there. I will get more knowledge and many valuable experiences there.” After that, the teachers asked other questions and I answered it well.

The last day was academic potential test. It was like logical and mathematics test. Of course, before I started to answer it, I prayed to God first. “Dear God, I will do my last test of joint degree in Thailand. Please bless me so that I can do it well. Thanks very much God.” As I remembered, there were fifty questions. The students had to answer it in around one hour. I did it with my best.

One week after academic potential test, Mrs. Shadrina sent me a message that I and my friends had to come to the office at that time because she and headmaster of STIE Mandala will announce who pass the tests for joint degree in Thailand. Then, I told to my friends about it and we came to the office. At that time, I was nervous. I just prayed to God, “Dear God, I have already done my best. Now, it’s Your decision whether You allow me to study in Thailand for one year or not, because I know well that my decision is sometimes not good for me, but only You who know what is the best for me. If I can’t pass the tests, that’s no problem at all because at least, I have already done my best. I trust that You always give the best for Your children. I trust You, God. Thank you. Amin.”.  Then, the headmaster said, “Good morning my students. I will announce who will go to study in RMUTT Thailand for one year now. There are four students. There are Natalia Indrawati, Intan Kurniasari, Achmad Faisol, and Lutfi Syarfiyah” I was very happy!! My name was announced first. THANK YOU VERY MUCH GOD!!! I couldn’t describe how I was happy at that time. I told to my parents and siblings that I had pass all the tests and I would go to Thailand on July 31^st, 2016. They were also happy hearing that news. From this experience, I trust that there is no impossible to catch our dreams with God. There will be many challenges to achieve what we want, but we have to keep struggle and not give up easily. We have to believe our abilities and trust God that He will give the best for us. God bless us!

 

Photo with teachers, Intan, Lutfi, and Achmad.