Through a voyage of discovery II
Before relocating to Switzerland, I lived in Korea. Few weeks upon arrival in Korea, I wrote about my experience through my voyage of discovery here. I wrote this article in my very authentic voice, fresh in South Korea with a deep passion and desire that I ignited upon arrival that saw me through the rest of the years of my stay there. My article ended with “Whenever we find something we have been looking for, we start looking for something else. And yes, I finally found myself in Korea. So, I’ve got to keep looking for other things as I dig and explore with the beautiful dreams that will keep me going on.” That dream was actualized, I graduated and I am currently on another journey.
My higher education life has always been coupled with scholarships. Sometimes I add together the scholarship amounts that have been invested in educating me and wonder how best I can pay that back. This is something that I do not take for granted. My way of paying back is through passion, tenacity, drive, and grit. I was blessed with the gift of seizing opportunities whenever they come my way. I got into Schaffhausen Institute of Technology for my Master’s in Computer Science and Software Engineering on a full-ride scholarship. Sometimes I always feel how privileged I am to be able to get an education without worrying about student loan debt or even accounting for tuition. And getting this in the middle of a pandemic is something to be grateful for.
Normally, the beginning is always the hardest. The start of my Master’s program was not an easy one, to say the least. There were countless times I felt very conflicted about how I was even going to make it through. This was because lots of learning shifted to remote and on my very first semester I was working throughout the day and taking my classes at night. The huge time difference between Korea and Switzerland never made things easier. I never had mental breaks. But the thought that I needed to fill the gaps I had on the fundamental computer science concepts pushed me through. Plus, the network I had already made. I wondered how much I would lose if I chose not to continue.
Moving to Switzerland made things a lot easier. As an SIT student, beyond academics, I also value the experiences and connections I make here. Surrounding myself with people who push me beyond my limits. Being surrounded by students from several countries and getting to interact with several cultures in one single space. In here, I found my tribe and flock. It is also humbly inspiring to be taught by world-class scientists and academics. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment and refreshment of being near the Rhine River, beautiful sceneries, and great places to visit.
Of course, there were several times when I felt like I didn’t deserve the good things that happen to me. I randomly messaged mentors who worked towards making me better. Asking for help was a sign of strength. One mentor was able to give me several feedbacks on my resume that was very useful. Another mentor has been doing pair programming with projects that I have been working on. The other has been helping me work towards my goals. And eventually, I started getting more confident. I learned to count myself that I am enough. I deserve all the good things that happened to me. I am not an impostor. Having role models beyond campus was a great resource and guidance in giving me the right direction that I wanted for myself.
Why am I saying all these? To bring my level of energy up. It is now about three months of living in Switzerland and I have been looking for time to write this. Because this is how I talk to myself. I am here to keep an open mind, explore, and make the best out of it. I am still in the process of finding my potential in this new journey. I hope to write another beautiful story when I graduate.
Of course, packing my bags and leaving home and close connections to faraway lands in the name of getting an education is not for the faint-hearted. But I must add stepping outside my comfort zone has led to tremendous growth and change in my life. My biggest joy is following my heart. Even if it takes crossing miles home away from home to get it.
