The world of Tzu Chi January 2020 (Vol.118)

TZU CHI 118 23 to the volunteers for keeping him on track, checking on his academic progress with every visit to his home besides delivering well wishes from members of the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (also known as Tzu Ching) to motivate him on his road to gaining university admission. The volunteers also regularly invited him along to participate in recycling work, instilling in him the philosophy of “transforming trash into treasure” with a piece of wisdom: “The volunteers told me to never underestimate myself as every individual or object has its own inherent value, even an aluminium can.” Overcoming hurdles Razman lives by a motto imparted to him by the volunteers, which he calls to mind whenever he is faced with challenges: “Rather than dwelling on your own misfortune, spare a thought for others who are suffering worse and find a way to liberate yourself from misery.” He successfully qualified for admission to university with his STPM results, but the stress of coping with university life was inevitable as he had to skimp on meals and other necessities in order to save on expenses. “I turned to exercise to release steam and keep my emotions in check,” he professed, adding that he believes in letting go of pent-up stress instead of suppressing it. Razman was finally able to heave a sigh of relief after his application for a government-funded student loan was approved, covering his tuition fees. However, he was left high and dry after spending the entirety of the first instalment of his student loan on purchasing a laptop for his schoolwork needs. The helpless Razman had no choice but to phone his mother back home, sobbing for help. His mother wasted no time in contacting the volunteers to request for assistance. Upon receiving the distress call, the volunteers relayed Razman’s plight to the volunteers nearest to Razman at the Tzu Chi Ipoh Liaison Office without further ado. Two days later, the Ipoh-based volunteers located Razman and learnt that he received a RM100 monthly meal allowance from his participation in the voluntary military cadet corps. The meal allowance was suspended for that particular month as it was the fasting month, during which the cadet training sessions were deferred. The volunteers conveyed Razman’s predicament to the volunteers in Kota Kinabalu, who subsidized his living expenditure until he regained his meal allowance. The incident was a memorable episode for Razman, who professed, “I’m deeply grateful to Tzu Chi for providing financial assistance and supporting me in my studies.” Furthermore, he acknowledged the volunteers’ guidance in encouraging him to take challenges in his stride by adopting a positive mindset. His parents decided to file for divorce during his sophomore year in university, plunging him into emotional Opening Doors to a Brighter Future