Hi – You’re about to turn 30 in approximately 2 weeks, and i'd like to share something with you.
You are probably sitting and scrolling Friendster in that room of yours, Block G for Gandhi in Inti International University - taking a break from understanding the infamous case of Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932) , for your final Law Paper.
Venoshia, luck wouldn’t be on your side (yet again), you’ll be scoring a C Minus which will only qualify you a partial pass certificate in A levels, halting your plans to continue the Bachelor of Arts Programme in Inti University in March 2008.
Tomorrow, you would miraculously forget the essence of Donoghue v. Stevenson; you will forget the story of the snail in the bottle. Nonetheless you would walk out of the exam hall feeling extremely excited about that Bachelor’s programme that you would walk up to the faculty to sign up for the Jan 2008 programme , using your trial grades – because you thought despite forgetting the case study of D V. S, you would have nailed the others. (You still have this very odd sense of confidence)
You didn’t obviously.
Come March 2008, you would be looking at your laptop screen, aghast. You would hyper-ventilate a little bit, before you call your confidante (and mom) Kalai Chelvi to share the unfortunate news.
Kalai Chelvi as a believer of miracles never would feel hopeless or say things that would let you down regardless because she never believed in a dead end. NEVER.
She would calm you down, tell you to first shower and to pray for a good 15 mins, and then walk to the cafeteria to grab something quick before you make your way to the faculty to discuss ‘possibilities’.
Like a religion, you would listen to her, because that would give you hope. Every step you take to the faculty would question your chances of scoring an exemption to this. You are 2 and half months down the Degree programme, you are about to complete the first semester – and this happened.
As you walk towards the faculty, you would try so hard to digest Kalai Chelvi’s aspirations and beliefs. But you would just listen to her at that time, because whatever she said to you on the phone was more or less like a Sermon on Hope.
You would then experience what we fashionably call the ‘Worst Case Scenario’ – where this person you had to call your ‘Head of Department’ would question your faith in God and you would get extremely upset – BUT, you would remain calm because your belieF is stronger than his filthy mind. You would be in your best behaviour and 9 years later – I must say that I am extremely proud of you!
You would find a corner in campus to call up mom then and cry like a hungry baby – you would be sad and everything else would seem hopeless. I must warn you that during the conversation, Kalai Chelvi will try to fit her wisdom about things you neglected along the way – it would annoy you but you would not say anything because you accept and respect her, although you know it was not really the time to highlight things like that – again Venoshia, I am proud of you.
The pep talk would last about 10 mins before she comes up with another brilliant idea- asking you to pen down an appeal to which she will ask you to personally hand it to the co-founder of Inti – Prof Dr Lee Fah Onn.
You would die a little inside when you hear this, you would be afraid to approach him- But the feisty ‘little’ Kalai Chelvi will not let you walk out. She would push you with multiple phone calls – until you would have to explain to her that you need some time out to prepare the appeal letter.
In the next two hours, you would score an appointment with Dr Lee, who would read your letter and ask you :
“You have the first set of Communications exams in April 2008, and the next round of A-Levels exams is also in April – in fact a week after your Degree papers – we are talking about 8 theory papers here all together”
With a heartbeat – you would say “Yes, Prof I’m up for it”
You would be given a second chance to redo your final set of A-Levels papers to qualify for the Degree programme that you are already in – and the rest is history.
10 years later, I am proud of you, 20 year old Venoshia. With a little push from Kalai Chelvi, you strive.
You were a zombie for about 30 days ; but you survived 6 pre uni papers from 3 subjects (Law, Economics and Business) and 4 first year papers (Comm History, Comm Theory, Human Comm and Sociology).
When you walk into the second semester, you would tell yourself ‘You did good Venoshia, you handled a storm’ – Well, you underestimated yourself then babe.
That's your face after you passing the papers #mandatoryselfie (Hashtags, you will learn soon)
In the next 9 years, you would be looking at hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons - same weather conditions but of different names to explain different situations. And every time these happened, you would recall this little incident of self discovery.
And 9 years later, Kalai Chelvi is still the same person. Forever beautiful in and out. You still question her beliefs, but then you would recall these little things she had done over the years to hold on to that inner spirit of yours. You would always thank her for not letting you ‘shut down’.
9 years later, you would hear of Prof Dr Lee’s passing, and you would cry recalling the good times he gave you throughout your time in Inti. You would recall walking to his office to share your plans and progress and how he saw you as the ‘PR Girl’ before anyone else. You would cry that the world lost an excellent educator like Prof Dr Lee.
Emeritus Prof Dr Lee Fah Onn, the man that made things happen. RIP Sir
In March 2008, you would walk up to that HOD of yours and politely tell him how fate continues to strengthen your faith in God. You would tell him to reevaluate his values and approach as an educator.
Otherwise, 9 years later, after a handful of incidents and a few extra pounds - you are ok.
And that's you in 2017, you are 29 and part the coffee drinking cult (I know!)
till my next letter..
Love,
The Almost 30, You.
