Meet the pretty young lady, Maha.
Maha is from a low income family. Her father is a daily-rated worker and her mother works part-time. She has two younger school-going siblings. Money has always been tight for the family, but they never gave up.
And now, Maha is amongst the recent batch of graduates from the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)’s Global Education programme. Her parents still beam with pride at the thought of their daughter, now a graduate with a Bachelor of Psychology.
1. Live within your means and save all you can!
Like the movie – Live within your means!
“I knew from young that my father had a saving habit. Right from the day we were born, he would set aside a sum of money every month for our future. In all times of difficulty, no matter how difficult, he never touched those savings,” said Maha.
2. Be resourceful
Resourceful – Giphy
Maha’s father is a member of the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers (AUPDRW) and over the years, the union has also helped relieve the parents’ financial burden with bursaries and NTUC’s Back-to-School vouchers for the children.
3. Get ready to work hard
Get ready to work hard – Giphy
Even though both her parents work, the combined income still barely covered the cost of running a household of five. Maha started to take on part-time jobs from her polytechnic days. She gave tuition to younger children and also worked as a retail assistant.
“Others in my school were sure having it easier, but I had to fight a tougher battle. Through this, I gained more than an additional income. I’ve learnt to be independent and grown more determined to achieve what I wished for,” she shared.
“I worked late after school to manage my own expenses like transport, meals and school books. I stopped asking my parents for allowance after I started working,” she added. This way, they could spend on the needs of her two younger siblings.
4. Never give up
Never give up – Giphy
When she completed her diploma at the polytechnic, Maha wanted to further her studies. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure a study loan from the banks as her parents’ income did not meet the minimum requirement.
“I knew from young that my father had a saving habit. Right from the day we were born, he would set aside a sum of money every month for our future. In all times of difficulty, no matter how difficult, he never touched those savings,” said Maha.
His savings and his union AUPDRW’s help by way of bursary helped Maha realize her dream.
5. Your Dad is the best mentor
Daddy is the best
Although Maha’s father is not highly educated and, she has learnt a lot from him. “I want to thank him for constantly sharing about his life journey with me, his regrets and his hopes. That has motivated me to work really hard.”
6. Don’t hesitate to get help
Don’t hesitate to get help
Maha has received bursary awards from the union for three consecutive years, which have helped to support her education. In fact, many union members’ families have benefited from the bursary awards from AUPDRAW and other unions.
7. Union Do Help Workers!
Help when you need it – Giphy
Maha recalled that her first laptop was bought with the money from the bursary award from AUPDRW a few years back. That laptop had accompanied her and was a godsend throughout her degree course.
Last year too, she received a bursary award of $650 from the union for the third time.
“My part-time jobs brought me $300 a month. So, the $650 ‘gift’ from the union was actually more than two months’ income. I used the money on my school fees and also bought course books; it’s at least $100 per book,” she said.
