It is a harsh realization for me, finding out that education is indeed an expensive commodity. Perhaps because I attended a public university, I took for granted the price that some people have to pay to get a good education. I never really understood how it must have felt like for smart, talented, hard-working students belonging to lower STFAP brackets (UP's Student Financial Assistance Program) who can barely afford the commute to school. I did not understand it until now.
I have always wanted to pursue higher education. I am an advocate of the value of learning. I believe it is the single best investment you can make - it is the only thing that no one can ever take from you. Over the weekend I had a Eureka moment when I figured out what and where I would like to study. With my interest and passion being inclined towards communication, I found two outstanding universities that offered outstanding Master's programs in communication. Granted that it was in a couple of very expensive cities in terms of cost of living -- London (London School of Economics) and Los Angeles (University of Southern California) -- but I still had faith that it was feasible.
I did more research, got all excited about the courses (the geekazoid in me was in heaven as I read through the course descriptions) and started thinking just how soon I could start the process and get myself back in school. Then there it was, the rain on my parade. I came to discover just how expensive it can be.
As an international student, you have to provide proof of financial support, that you are able to pay not only for tuition but also your living expenses for your first year in school. Immediately, regrets about not taking savings seriously during the past two years of my expat employment started flooding in. Two years and nothing to show for it in the bank. Of course, my numerous gadgets or travel experience or bags and shoes do not count as collateral.
I thought about aiming for a promotion come October when my contract is renewed, then saving feverishly for the next year so I can at least have enough money in the bank for tuition. And for the other half, I would have to swallow a bit of pride and ask my parents to back me up. I figured, when my brother got married when he as 27, my parents sold one of their cars to finance it and help him get started with married life. In another year I'll be turning 27 too -- so can I just have the same benefit (i.e. the cash equivalent of a car) somehow like an advance, and just promise to pay for my future wedding myself? :)
I can see a few roadblocks along the way, and of course bits and pieces of hesitation and uncertainty here and there... Would I be able to live again as a meager student after working and pretty much financing myself for the last 5 years? Will it be easy to be away from home? (C'mon, as long as you're on the same time zone as 'home', it really doesn't count as much.) Is it simply too much to dream for such expensive education when I am anyway a daughter of a developing country?
Regardless of those questions, I have set my heart and mind to this objective and I feel very very strongly about it now. And I'm putting it out there, because they say if you share with the world what you desire, then it will find its way to you (or you find your way to it, or whatever).
Here's to hoping that it does.
