Recently, in the Facebook private group called "Lok Yuk Secondary School KK Old Photos", a former schoolmate recounted her story after she completed her Form 3 in 1964 in Jesselton then (Now called Kota Kinabalu). She was told by her father to discontinue her study and instead to look for a job. Even though it was not what she had hoped for, she obeyed and found a job as a Receptionist in a newly built hotel. But fortunately, the school where she studied had a very kind principal who took the trouble and went to look for her at the hotel and convinced her to resume her study. That gesture emboldened her and she then pleaded with her father (in tears) and her father finally consented. She then resumed her Form 4 four months late!
In those days, it was rather common for parents to stop the older children from continuing schooling and to start working to supplement the family income. Families were comparatively large and 5-kid families were not uncommon in those days.
I too had a similar experience liked this schoolmate of mine. Even before I took the Form 5 government examination in 1969, I was told by my parents not to continue to Form 6 but to look for a job. Much against my liking, I too consented, But privately without my parents' knowledge, I applied to do Form 6 in Sabah College. I also applied for jobs and I managed to secure a job as a laboratory technician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I was successful in my Form 6 application and Sabah College offered me a place in the Lower Six Science Class. I told my parents about this offer and at the same time also reported for work at QE Hospital.
Somehow, my parents could sense my deep disappointment for not being able to continue my study. Just two days after reporting for work at QE Hospital, they told me to stop work and instead to report to Sabah College. That decision turned out to be one of the major turning points in my life.
Of course, that was not the end of the story. After I passed my Form 6 government examination (HSC) in 1971, I could not afford to do a tertiary education and had no choice but to get a job. I managed to secure a job as a Draftsman in the Structural Engineering Design Office of JKR Hqs.
Still, my desire to continue further study did not end after securing a job at JKR. I applied to a few Universities in UK to do a civil engineering degree course. Among them, University of Southampton made an offer to me. However, a letter of support from someone who was financially sound and had a bank account was required. A kind friend managed to convince her mother who ran a sundry shop to get her bank to write a letter of financial support which was sent to the University. By then, even with an offer from a university in UK, the idea of taking up such offer was still a monumental challenge because of the lack of and uncertainty in finance.
Just when I was caught in two minds about whether to pursue the offer, I saw an advertisement in a local newspaper of an offer of scholarship to do an engineering degree course in a local university. I applied and I was successful and secured a place in the University of Malaya. Finally, my dream to pursue a tertiary education in civil engineering became a reality in 1973.
Upon my graduation, I had my father to accompany me to witness my convocation where I was conferred the Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering in June 1978 at the University Auditorium. It was the only trip that I had travelled with my father alone. He was indeed a proud man and though I had never asked him about the past, I am sure that my dad must have been happy that the decision he made to allow me to continue my Form 6 was the right one.
Looking back, the pursuit of an education particularly the tertiary education had almost been an impossibility. Yet, in the end, it turned out well. Best of all, it was in the University where I studied that I met my wife!
Life would have been monotonous if it is smooth sailing all the way. It is the twists and turns and the unpredictability that enliven the journey. True to Roman 8:28 - In all things God works together with those who love Him to bring out what is good.
