Turned 18

My baby boy just turned 18 yesterday. He's a strapping young man now, but to me he will always be a baby, that scrawny little thing that gave me and his Mama sleepless nights. And right now, I am worried about what he wants to do next. He doesn't seem to be interested in anything else apart from his computer, his coding, his programming, and some of his language. Computer language. How can I blame him? He obviously got the interest from me, and he ran away with it, leaving me behind. I practically have almost no understanding what he is doing anymore, and I am one of the more advanced ones in my age group.

As I continued to worry and stew over it, I called my dearest friend to ask how he was doing. He recently lost his aunt, his mother's sister from Covid-19 and I know he needs someone to talk to.

He suddenly brought me to a realisation, he asked me this question, do YOU know what YOU wanted to do at that age? So, I begin to recall, what I was like at that age.

I have already obtained my SPM results by that time, and I missed the deadline for my application to UM. I submitted my application to UKM on the final day. Just went to obtain the application form from ITM and my father was slowly getting furious that I was almost shipped into the army! His friend even came with a form to apply for a Military Scholarship. All I had to do was serve in the armed forces for 10 years. At the end of this tether, my father said it's not too bad you know being a Short-Commissioned Officer. With luck you might even leave as a major or at worse a captain.

He was ready to sign the document and his friend said it will be processed and consider it done. At the very last possible second, he said let's think about it first and his friend said take your time. And that was that.

We decided to visit my grandmother at that time, so we left for the North. We were away for a few days and then when we arrived home, I saw a letter from UKM. Even before we entered the house, I tore it open and saw what it said. I was rejected by UKM. That was that that was my last application, and I didn't get it. Trying hard to hide my disappointment I walked in slowly. That's it, I was destined for the army. Maybe I was meant to follow my father's footsteps. I was ready to tell my father, okay, let's go to MinDef (Ministry of Defence).

Picture of an old telegram from Telekom Malaysia.

Suddenly I heard a toot from a motorcycle. It was the postmen. This time he delivered a telegram (no not the app, in the past a Telegram was a wire text.) That's a telegram up there.

The telegram was to inform me that I have an offer to attend an interview for a government scholarship! The message stated that details will follow. Do I know what I wanted to do? Well, I went to get the form where we had to put 3 options. In illusions of grandeur, I chose to be an Accountant, Lawyer and Economist even though my Maths suck and my Accounting was almost non-existent.

When did I decide? Right before I filled up the form and forming ideas in my head as I headed for the scholarship interview. So, should I blame my son for not knowing what to do next? Well, I shouldn't be, but as parents we tend to worry about our children's future and where they will be heading. On hindsight, he is in a much better shape than I was. He was already armed with a possible 3As before he sat for his SPM, with 2 more possible As. He is already equipped with a few computer languages, coding and programming skills. So in a sense I did quite well getting him hooked on computers at a very early age.

I am not telling him yet but there's a major surprise coming for him for becoming 18 and if he achieves results better that the 3As? There are more surprises coming. In the meantime, I need to equip him with what it means by turning 18. Open a bank account under his name, register as a voter, register for driving lessons. open an ASB account.

Whatever he wants to do I will try to provide any form of guidance so that it will the best for him. Even though there's many more options available for this and future generations but having a paper qualification wouldn't hurt.

As for me? Yes, I secured my Legal Degree in accordance with the terms of my scholarship. At the same time too, I pursued a career in Internal Audit with Certified Internal Auditor qualification. I didn't become and economist however my next progression was in risk management, business development and I am working in an economic development agency. Therefore, I can tick the 3 in the list. I hope and pray that opportunities will also open for him to pursue his passion and dream that will be lucrative.