Making my dad proud

September 2nd, 2009 at 21:15 · Filed Under Blogging, Days in My Life, Education, Software Development, Technology 

Perhaps this is the most difficult post ever for me to write. A mixture of emotion makes it even harder to start and it is impossible to write this post without shedding tears and touching emotion.

My dad has been admitted to hospital for 8 days. He has been diagnosed hepatoma with huge lesions in both right and left lobe, metabolic syndrome X (full house), and renal impairment. Last Saturday, sonogram confirmed his hepatoma and renal impairment are in the end stage. His doctor started him on hemodialysis last week and he was doing really badly with all the reactions: fever and vomiting. Today he did much better after his 4th hemodialysis.

Yesterday, he told my sister, Mee, and I his last wishes. We broke into tears and this was the first time I saw my dad crying. I did not sleep at all last night thinking a lot of things. There are many problems interwoven and almost impossible to resolve. 4 A.M. in the morning, this idea suddenly flashed through my mind. I wanted to present him the certificate which I earned after passing a professional examination.

Actually, I intended to present to mom and dad after I acquired all three diplomas. But I should do it now to cheer him up a little and to keep his fighting spirit burning. Although the doctors said he has 3 to 6 months to live, we think that dad may do better if he hasn’t given up. You see, our dad is a fighter.

So was my decision. I went to the hospital very early at 5:30 A.M. Came home for a short morning nap at 10:30 A.M. After lunch, I was out to send lunch to Mee and to pick Dmitry from school. Then I went downtown to frame my diploma and to do other chores.

LA got the kids ready and we went to the hospital around 8 P.M. Dad was having satay for his supper. He had been taking satay as supper for the last few days. Satay is his favorite food since young. I have his influence. After he was done with his supper, I showed my diploma to him and mom.

Well, what diploma is this?

To be honest, I am no longer particular at how people see me and when they ask me question like “Where do you graduate from?”

Today, I proudly announced to the world that I am a self-trained software engineer without any tertiary education. And the diploma I am having is the certificate (level 4) accorded by the British Computer Society (BCS) after passing the level 4 professional examination in April this year. After completing the diploma (level 5) and the professional graudate diploma or PGdip (level 6), I will be able to do my Master in some accredited universities in UK.

I have three very good reasons to pursue BCS diplomas:

  1. My commitment to my clients for continual acquisition of new knowledge and skills in computer science and information technology.
  2. To pursue further in the field of Computer Science.
  3. I have proven to be able to achieve to some extent without a formal tertiary education in Computer Science. (I actually showed him my posts and photos giving seminars and judging university students’ final year project at http://adrianhoe.com and explained to him how some students and lecturers feared my questions when judging their projects. He jokingly said I like to scold them.)

When I told dad, he was very happy and gave me a thumb up. He also told me that he dreamed of me receiving my Master degree. And now I have to live his dream and take it further.

I wish he can see me living his dream and going further. I wish, I wish and I wish!

And I also like to thank mom and dad for their support as well as many those who have inspired me and given me the will to start studying again.

Explaining to dad that I have two more to go

Explaining to dad (with his intra jugular catheter or IJC on his neck) that I have two more to go.

Dad told me he dreamed of me getting a Master. Now I have to fulfill his dream and take it further.

Dad told me that he dreamed of me getting a Master. Now I have to fulfill his dream and take it further.

With Rich and Nik on his bed.

With Rich and Nik on his bed.

With Mee and dad stroking Niks head.

With Mee and dad stroking Nik's head.

Nik, the little Monster, was sharing his cheers.

Nik, the little "Monster", was sharing his cheers.

Nik: Whats up? Huh?

Nik: What's up? Huh?

Dmitry was admiring the diploma with auntie Mee.

Dmitry was admiring the diploma with auntie Mee.

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Comments

One Response to “Making my dad proud”

  • Gary Ooi on March 17th, 2010 16:45 1

    Hi Adrian,

    Firstly I wanna congratulate you on the graduation and etc.

    I would like to know more about BCS and taking their exam and study materials. I tried to search all around BCS website, but I dont see much info.

    Hope you can enlighten me on this. Thank you very much.

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