Public Mutual Berhad, Damansara Perdana, January 2016.
I am an agriculture graduate. I majored in Animal Production Science and my final year dissertation was focused on Halal Meat Quality. Our initial plan was for me to continue my studies at Masters level either in the UK or more preferably, US at Cornell University. Where they had a Halal Initiative Department looking into substituting the use of ruminant gelatin in Halal foods with fish gelatin. And also, because I found a warm prospect supervisor named Joe Regenstein if ever I further my career doing PhD in Food Science. Joe was generous enough to give uplifting comments about my dissertation and directed me to another professor in Iowa University whose current project was on Halal meat quality then.
But, being biased into enrolling Cornell University I didn’t mind researching into something that Joe’s department was looking into because I’ve heard that most of the times, your supervisor plays a very big role in the success of your research. Though I am unaware until what extend this is true but it is possible. Regardless of that, my scholarship applications were not successful. I was shortlisted for Chevening Awards for Northumbria and/or Glasgow Caledonian though. But, Chevening’s email came in after I have touched down in Malaysia and that time, our priorities have changed. No more looking into furthering studies but building a base for our family.
So, a week after touchdown I went to Langkawi to see my father’s organic project he started in early August, 2015. It is a partnership between him and another friend. The project was looking good growing corns, legumes and soon leafy vegetables. But, after some careful considerations between my husband and I, we decided we couldn’t join the project yet. Because as for me, I was impatient to wait for the revenue and to farm under the scorching hot sun. Yes, honestly. So it was confirmed that when I was ideally taking agriculture as my academic path to end world poverty, I wasn’t thinking of growing the crops myself. But just managing it or owning a company who directs such deeds.
Not long after, I knew I had to decide what to do asap. Time is money and both weren’t waiting for me. Everyday I thought about what to do, I could be a motivator – I love uplifting people’s spirits and make them believe in themselves like never before. I could be an author – for my love for fantasy tales. I could be a proofreader – but that was not good enough for me according to my husband. I could be a model, starting just by posting pictures at my IG and soon talent seekers will notice me – but my husband has a different idea about modelling. I could be an actor, hahahaha. That was funny. But honestly I have always thought being an actress is cool. Because you get to explore the sides of yourself you never will if you weren’t being asked to act different characters. You get to try new things ultimately adventurous things. You get to travel the world and be as influential as Jolie. And surprisingly, my husband nodded to that. Adding,
“Yeah, why not. And make yourself eligible to be in quality movies like late Yasmin Ahmad’s and Ola Bola. Not just random Suami Aku Ustaz drama and the likes. Hahahahaha,” so we both laughed.
“Of course, if I ever became an actress, I would go for the internationals. Just like Yuna penetrating the US music industry not long after she became a singer. She’s absolutely inspirational,” added I.
“Yes, and soon we will build our own production house and start a theatre just like how we always wanted,” added my husband and we both smiled.
Both my husband and I like to think that we are artists. Only that he really is a musician but I am either a ballerina or a theatre actor in my dreams. I used to be the main actor in sketches at school; direct, narrate, script write and manage a theatre in college. But that was it, no further. I could have pursued it professionally but I didn’t – thinking that being in music and film industry might make myself contradictory to my beliefs. So, I kept that interest and moved on.
Then, I was offered a lecturing job. Only for three months to replace my ex-lecturer who will be on maternity leave. It was a great offer, thinking that from replacing my ex-lecturer I could start building my career in academic line once again. Great, great opportunity. But, I ended up not taking the job because I knew I didn’t want to be tied up to the place I used to have so many commitments at. I could be a freelance motivational speaker to the students, I like the idea but to be there for a few months, I contemplated on that. Yes its only three months, but then my decision has been made as I strongly wanted to go somewhere new, explore something edgy.
Ultimately, I want a job where if I work really hard, I can earn more.
“I could be a financial consultant like my mother!” So it hit me. “Yes yes!” She has time for the children and for herself. She invites people to save money to secure their future and help people live a comfortable life. She manages people’s wealth, help grow them and then distributes them. And after sometime, she already has passive income. “Actually very ideal for me. Besides, I love people and helping where I could. Even though I can’t yet end world poverty (yes very idealistic) food wise, I can help people stay away from poverty by helping them manage their financial matters. In time, I’ll be freaking wealthy and I can really start contributing to end world poverty food wise”.
Freaking wealthy, yeap.
So here I am, as a unit trust consultant, taking takaful license soon as lots of my clients ask if I offer takaful too and sooner will be covering wasiat writing. As believe it or not, some really ridiculously wealthy people really forgot to prepare wasiat before they head to the heavens. Leaving their wealth not benefiting their family nor the community (sedekah/amal jariah), and managing the unreleased wealth involved service charges by the trustees. So be wise and have your wasiat written ok. God wills, taking Islamic Financial Planner (IFP) license to take this profession at a more professional level.
At the end of the day, the field you graduated in might not be your real life career because as you grow; your goals are modified, your priorities are changed along the way, you adapt to the changes of the technology and you embrace the fast-paced moving world. That you realised pursuing something the way you used to picture it to be executed might have to be tweaked here and there in order to for you sustain your life, yourself and your family.
And it don’t matter too.
Because if you don’t know it, you can always learn. As life, is a life-long learning process.
Learning never ends.
