A Story of Pride, Struggle, and the Pursuit of Self-Sufficiency in Australia
Change is an unpredictable beast. It can be exhilarating, terrifying, and everything in between. Some people ease into it, gradually adjusting to new circumstances. Others, like me, take the deep dive—the kind of risk that feels like skydiving without checking if the parachute works first.
For me, that dive is moving to Australia, my neighboring country, with the goal of standing on my own two feet. I’ve been here for less than two years, and now, the transition is going full throttle. It’s a journey that is equal parts ambition and necessity, an attempt to build a new life and prove that I can make it independently.
There’s just one problem: money.
The Guilt of Adaptation
I’ve had plenty of people tell me to “just adapt.” Take whatever job I can. Be a cleaner, a barista, work in retail—just survive. And I know they’re right in many ways. I do those jobs. I settle for whatever pays the bills. Many immigrants and expats do exactly that, and there’s honor in it.
But my journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about transformation. I’m not just here to get by; I’m here to grow, to build a career in tech, to make something of myself. This isn’t just a change of scenery—it’s an attempt to reshape my entire future.
There’s a guilt in that decision, though. Because people have handed me the easy answer, and I’ve turned it down in favor of something riskier. I’ve chosen to struggle when I didn’t necessarily have to. It’s a weird guilt, one that lingers whenever I feel the weight of my financial situation pressing down on me.
The Ego and the Support That Keeps Me Going
Some say my pride gets in the way. And maybe they’re right. I have an ego, and I won’t deny it. I want to be paid fairly for my work. I want to be in a role that reflects my skills and ambitions. I want to be able to say, I made it, without feeling like I compromised my dreams just to make ends meet.
But pride isn’t the only thing keeping me going. My friends, my family—they are watching from the sidelines, but their support is still there. They don’t always understand my choices, but they respect them. I’ve also been lucky enough to receive unbiased help from people outside my circle—mentors, connections, even strangers who’ve shown me kindness along the way. And for that, I owe it to them—and to myself—to see this through. To keep pushing forward even when the path is uncertain.
Proving My Worth
The truth is, no one is going to hand me what I want. If I want to be in tech, I have to prove I belong here. I have to put in the work, build my portfolio, network, and show the world that I have something valuable to offer. It’s not enough to just say I’m worth a fair paycheck—I have to make people see that I am.
And that means seeking out opportunities, no matter how small. That means continuously skilling up, learning, and adapting—not just to survive, but to thrive. That means embracing every challenge, knowing that each step forward is one step closer to making this dream a reality.
The Struggle Is Part of the Story
This journey isn’t easy. It’s not supposed to be. If it were, it wouldn’t be worth writing about. But every struggle, every setback, every moment of doubt—it’s all part of the bigger story. And one day, when I look back at this chapter of my life, I want to be able to say: I took the risk, I embraced the struggle, and I made it work.
So here’s to adaptation—not just surviving, but truly becoming. Here’s to the skydives, the pursuits of happiness, and the bold, sometimes reckless choices that define our lives.
Here’s to making it happen.