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As students studying overseas in the UK and Ireland, we are a handful of the lucky ones on track to living life the predetermined ‘good’ way — trying our best to study hard in ‘good’ universities, get ‘good’ grades, and graduate in a field with good ‘career’ prospects. Once all that’s done, we are meant to go on and work in ‘good’ companies, contribute to society in meaningful ways, and start the process all over again with the partner and children that we are supposed to have. With the golden rule in place, life becomes boring with a fixed template; at different points in our lives, we might wonder if there really is more to life than it seems.

While there isn’t a true ideal of living, certain starting points in life just benefit us more, and our roll on the dice of life has been blessed so far. We are young adults blessed with the grades and intelligence necessary to pass university entrance tests abroad, fortunate enough to be born into relatively well-to-do families with sufficient funds to pay for an expensive education package overseas, or meritorious enough to pursue that with scholarships and sponsorships of our own, while so many others, such as the 64.4 percent of labour force workers in Malaysia, toil away with no opportunity for formal education. 

We are lucky enough to be given a chance to grow independently outside of our comfort zones, with the exposure to develop our sense of character to further excel later on in life, while 8.4 percent of our country’s population live below the national poverty line with no proper food, water, or shelter. According to findings by UNESCO, we represent the current 59,144 Malaysian students studying abroad. As run-of-the-mill privileged students, many of us are living ‘pre-approved’ lives, and this can be quite lonely at times, even if it comes from a position of privilege. What if, by looking at the hidden corners of how others live in unique and undiscussed ways, we learn more about ourselves in the process?

Our perception of the world and the societal rules we are meant to follow are shaped distinctively from our early childhood years. I remember being jokingly threatened with being carted off to the orphanage or dropped off at the side of the road dumpster should I not do my homework, take my shower, or do things that ‘good’ children are supposed to do. If I didn’t feel like studying, I was told that I would not get a good job and that I would have to live out the rest of my days as a road sweeper or maid. With such ingrained societal nuances in mind, so prejudiced against specific lifestyles and jobs, it is no wonder the vast majority of us are pre-conditioned to strive for only the templated, ‘perfect’ way of life. But this begs the question: when all of us are rushing towards that preconceived, tunnel-visioned notion of perfection and ideality, what happens when some of us fall short of achieving our ‘ideals’ — an inevitable that will simply happen due to sheer demand that exceeds the available supply?

I wish more people would speak about the fact that there is no true ideal. The majority of people follow the prescribed template as societal conscription and diverge from their originally planned paths due to unforeseen circumstances such as illnesses, debt, or a sudden spark of their passions. Lots of them still end up being extremely successful and happy, with many coming from unexpected backgrounds too. We have heard of people constantly defying the norm, be it athletes achieving an unexpectedly big break in the world scene or political activists making a stand about a cause they care deeply about. No matter where we diverge in life, we can always find happiness and fulfillment. Momentary setbacks are oftentimes just redirections to something better.

History is constantly being shaped by inspiring people to make a dent against the social norm, one tiny spark at a time. UKEC’s flagship [i]MPACT Stories, happening on 17 December 2022, aims to do exactly that — encouraging everyday people like you and me to tell their stories. If this sounds like something up your alley, come listen to our star-studded line-up of speakers sourced from some of the world’s most interesting professions and share their inspiring outtakes on life. 

Sign up here today.

References

• • • Malaysia – Country Commercial Guide | International Trade Administration 
    • Labor force participation rate in Malaysia in 2021, by educational attainment | statista