End of My Master In Public Administration Journey

It's been 2 years since i began the journey of my Master in Public Admin studies at the NUS LKY School of Public Policy - something that was driven originally for the purpose of being on campus and getting 'legitimate' access to the campus for campus ministry.

I recall my entries (Accepted into Masters Program) on Multiply 2 years back and now i can only look back and look up and give back all the glory to Him.

One of the things that i was grateful for was the 2nd chance to be a student but do it in a way that would glorify God. For all my pre-Christ student life, i've always been a deliberate, achievement/ goal-focused person, but doing it in my own strength and for my own self-satisfaction. And I just hoped that this time round, i'd be able to do it in a way that would now point pp to Christ, rather than me.. and hopefully also be an example for the younger students I was hanging with- that it is possible to honor and bring glory to God with our studies, even in the stressful education system in Singapore.

This would mean honoring GOD with our Sabbath day, even when deadlines are coming up; taking time to minister to people even when it way-lays your plans for revision; viewing certain interruptions as "divine appointments" when you'd prefer just to rest; seeing your classmates as more than classmates, but people whom God loves and desire to know Him and extend His love to and being alert to His work in their lives.

Essentially, it was now putting God's will and desires above your desire to ace the class or any other" pride-feeding" activity, while still honoring God in your attitude as a student by being diligent, being a good project team mate and Singapore host to the internationals. It is a balancing act that is made possible only by God's grace. Now, i must qualify that i was NOT the exemplary student, neither was i a perfect SG host to my classmates, but the awareness that i was there not just as a student and to get a MPA degree made a difference.

I've come to the end of my journey, taking my last exam for the REST OF MY LIFE (hopefully!!) on the 9 July and gotten the results of my last exam just in the last one hour, and it is a MIRACLE because my final Cumulative Average Point is 4.8/5.0!!! which is also an improvement from my CAP of 4.3 of my undergrad days. It's amazing because this time round i made conscious effort to rest one day a week(tho sadly, i did miss a few), WHILE still working the other part time, and taking time out for the rest of my social life without letting my life centre around my studies.

I look to God and I am amazed at His faithfulness. I was unable to do my Honors year during my undergrad days though i qualified for it because of my mother's illness those 8 years ago, but now God has "returned" to me even more with a Masters degree and provided the finances for it AND allowed me the good grades for it through it all. And all that with the amazing experience and privilege to see how God lifts a person up when we honor Him in our Sabbath day of rest and our time and studies in general.

I am grateful to the support, love and prayers of the many people that have walked me thru the last 2 years of my part time-full time studies: Rachel Ong, Ps Jun Escosar, and Mr Khoo who wrote the referrals for me when i was applying for the school; Ps Larry who allowed me a flexible work hours so i could take some modules in the day and trusted me to manage my time well and with integrity as i worked part time; my dad for helping out with the finances ; my bro Gary for the petrol and time in taking me home after school in the car; Praise Mok, my very wise mentor who's always there when i tell her about my victories and fears during the course; my very amazing coursemates who have been so generous and kind with their note-taking and sharing and tips through it all and of course my many many friends that i've also shared my joys and sorrows with and who first encouraged me right in the beginning... Thank you all so much! the experience has been all the greater because you were a part of it.. life is so much more fun with you in it! :)

For those of you now embarking on or still in your graduate studies, I wish you all God's power and grace in it! Your experience will be entirely different from mine, but im sure no less DIVINE as you continue to allow God to lead and guide you through it all! :) Tap into the Divine and watch the miracles unfold as we give God our intellect, minus the pride!

Well, another milestone has been crossed.. and i don't know what lies ahead.. I wished God would show me really really soon!!! but i have to wait. and for a person like me, WAITING on God is alot harder than the 8 hr capstone exam i had to take and prepare for the school.. and i suspect the WAIT is the real test, so God, pl give me Your grace to help me pass this one with flying colors!!!