If the universe made you a cup of coffee

If the universe made you a cup of coffee, what would it look like?

Allow me to reintroduce myself and tell you my story.

I was born and bred in Melbourne, Australia. You know, where there are four seasons in one day and where the best coffee in the world is brewed.

Growing up in school, my whirlwind of an education involved going to a Greek Orthodox elementary school, a Methodist all girls’ high school, learning Vietnamese every Sunday and going to Buddhist temples every month. I learnt English, Vietnamese, Japanese and Greek. I didn’t do the so-called “Asian 5” subjects either. Instead, I excelled at English and Multimedia Design.

After school each day, I helped my parents sew garments because they were working-class clothing machinists for Australian brands like Country Road. That kept me quite busy.

At the age of 19, I co-founded a tutoring business called FreshMinds Tutoring, hiring top VCE tutors. It was here that I taught children from kindergarten to their senior years, in environments that were interactive, easy to learn in and fun (did someone say the outdoors?).

Whilst I was teaching, I also studied a Bachelor of Podiatry to make my parents proud that I was studying a science degree.

But I almost became a college dropout.

I thought I sucked at anatomy and physiology and wasn’t sure I wanted to work in a confined space all day everyday. But one (special) day, a man from New Balance came to the rescue. He spoke in one of our classes and held up a pair of sneakers. It was at that point - I knew I wanted to fall in love with making a product grow. I wanted to learn how to make those sneakers, promote those sneakers, sell those sneakers and make a profit.

But I didn’t know how.

Since I hadn’t mustered the courage to confess to my parents that I was soon to fail and drop out, I convinced them that I wanted to transfer courses to study Psychology. And I did. I fell forward. Secretly, I did a year of an Arts degree to study psychology, anthropology, linguistics and creative writing. Boy, did I love that! A year picking and choosing my subjects and expanding my knowledge and creativity? Hell yes! After one year of receiving some High Distinctions, I transferred to a Commerce degree, and finally graduated after working full-time for what felt like a lifetime in the Marketing industry.

When one of my university lecturers asked me what I wanted to be, I said “a Brand Manager”. When he asked “why?”, I broke down crying. I cried because I was going through turmoil in my personal life which affected my studies. I did not know that my ‘why’ was to help and guide people and companies to become creative, think outside the box, evolve and do their best.

Fast forward to now, I never imagined I would be where I am today. I can now connect the dots on so many levels (will have to share in other articles). The universe was telling me to stick it out, pivot, and never giving up.

And when I think of the human race in the universe, I always think of only one race: the human race, working towards the goal to be the best that they can be. We are so powerful and so influential on many levels. We need to embrace our differences, celebrate our winnings, welcome change, different perspectives and retain one’s culture.

I’m living proof that you can start something, pivot, and finish it in your unique way.

I’m living proof you can do anything you set out to achieve.

I’m living proof that if you get beaten down, you can get back up, no matter where you’re from, what ethnicity you are, what you’ve learned or not yet learned.

Because there is no failure. You just learn. And fall forward. And keep going.

So do what you love. If you’re not sure what you love, love life, and will love you right back.

And you’ll soon find what the universe has brewed for you.