One night, I was lying in bed when something whispered inside me, "Rachy, turn on your phone."
I didn't know why, but I obeyed. The moment I switched it on, a call came in — from abroad.
The voice on the line said:
"Congratulations. You've been awarded a scholarship."
What?!
I froze. I hadn't even applied for one. How did they find me? How did this happen?
Maybe that's just how life works. Sometimes, you don't chase after opportunities — they come chasing you.
Victory doesn't always make noise when it's coming… it just arrives.
After the shock settled, I started preparing everything I would need. Honestly, I still couldn't believe it. A scholarship to my dream country? God really works in mysterious ways.
I was scheduled to leave that Saturday. And while I was grateful, I was also nervous. Not about the country itself — but because it would be my first time boarding a plane! Just thinking about it made me both excited and jittery.
Since I was still a university student, I had to get permission before traveling. Thankfully, everything was approved. My bags were packed, documents ready… now all I had to do was wait.
Friday night, I couldn't sleep at all. My bed and I basically held an all-night vigil together. I kept tossing and turning, but sleep refused to come.
At midnight, I finally gave up. I bathed, sat quietly, and kept watching the clock. That's how it feels when you're about to travel for the first time.
By 8:00 AM, we were at the airport. My parents came along to see me off. It was emotional — we even cried a little. Tears of joy.
I went through the check-in smoothly, and now… here I am. Sitting at the gate, waiting for my flight at 10:00 AM.
My first ever plane ride.