When the light shuts out

Papa PME was a successful professional and about to retire quite comfortably. His only son, the darling of the family, had completed his A level and applying to get into a local university.  Unfortunately he did not get the course he wanted to do and went back to Papa PME with his disappointment. Papa told his son not to worry. Go apply to get into a reputable university overseas and pursue his dream and his favourite course.  After a successful lifelong career and with some decent savings, life was convenient and options were plenty when money was not an issue.

Son was successful in getting himself admitted into a reputable university in Australia. Everything ended up well as expected and it was time for a big celebration. All the kakis of Papa, all PMEs, were invited to a big send off party for Son on the eve of his departure to pursue his dream in Australia.

The next few years were all happy stories from Australia. Son reported his academic achievements year by year and was in the Dean’s List. And he graduated with a good honours degree. Papa was a very happy man. You could se pride oozing out from all his orifices.  He was the toast among his kakis when they met for a drink. Son was doing Papa proud and it was money well spent.

Son did so well and was offered to do his masters. Papa was again joyous with the good news and told Son money was no problem. Time passed so quickly and son was soon home with his gleaming masters’ degree. The whole world opened up to him. Another big party was thrown on his return. And Papa was the envy of all his kakis. In the party they were looking admiringly at this young man and offered all the advices they could for a wonderful career ahead. There were so many options with such a fine degree and a fine young man. Getting a good job was not a problem.  All the doors would be open to this Son of Papa PME.

After the mandatory one month of holiday to see the world, a reward from Papa PME for doing so well in his studies, Son came back and started to write his beautiful resume. He shared with Papa’s kakis in their drinking sessions of his aspiration and ambition. There was so much confidence in the young man and he was looking for a very bright and illustrious career ahead.

A few weeks passed. No news. A few months passed, all Son could get were a couple of interviews but no job offer. As the days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, the smile and confidence on the face of the young man disappeared. He started to get worried. The kakis and Papa PME told him not to worry. There were many applicants and competition was tough but with his good degrees, a masters’ included, and from a reputable overseas Australian university, it was only a matter of time for him to land a job.

More than a year gone by. Son lost all his confidence and hope of landing a job. He suffered depression. He could not believe that he was not good enough to get a job with his good academic records.  He withdrew himself socially and hid in his room most of the day. Papa PME too stop joining the drinking sessions. He was so disillusioned, disheartened and feeling so ashamed that his son was still unemployed after more than a year from graduation. Papa turned into a recluse.

There was no one to talk to. It must be their faults. The son was not good enough, no good for employment. It was as if the light shut on them. All the hopes, promises, confidence and the dreams of a better life, of a successful young man were doomed. There was no more light. Someone snuffed it out for them.

More than $300k and 6 years of slogging in a reputable Australian university and Papa and Son could not believe they were all wasted. And Papa’s savings started to look perilous. He rented a room to a couple of young foreign talents. And they could not understand why they were so happy, and could get jobs so easily, earning more than $4,000 each. And better still, their degrees were from their 3^rd World universities, unknown, unrated.  Papa and Son were so ashamed to tell them that Son got a masters’s degree when the two tenants advised the Son to study hard to get a degree and to get a good job. Son ended up doing some temp job quietly for $20 a day.

PS. The story is genuine though with some dramatics to make it sound interesting. How many Singaporeans, how many papas and mamas, are disappointed after spending a fortune on their favourite children to get a good education only to find out it was a vain hope, a wasted effort?  And the poor child ended up in depression or a broken person, losing all faith and confidence in himself or herself? Does anyone care? Would our responsible and caring govt care? Do they know what is happening?

I was so depressed after hearing this story. I am so angry.