17/10/2026
I used to learn because I was afraid of not surviving. Today, I learn because I am curious about life.
Finally, another graduation. My Master of Psychology, specialising in Industrial & Organisational Psychology.
Looking at my graduation photos, I feel grateful. But beyond the happiness, there is a deeper emotion that is difficult to describe.
I often consider Love of Learning one of my greatest character strengths.
But I don’t think this strength simply came from my DNA.
Looking back, I believe much of it was shaped by my adverse childhood experiences, family circumstances, cultural expectations, financial insecurity and countless encounters with trauma.
For many years, learning was not entirely driven by passion.
It was driven by fear.
Fear of being left behind. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of having too few choices. And perhaps, most deeply, fear that without knowledge, qualifications and capabilities, I might not be able to survive or change my circumstances.
Learning became my way of protecting myself.
It helped me find opportunities, build independence and gradually create a different life.
And for that, I will always be grateful to the younger version of myself who refused to give up.
But something meaningful has changed in recent years.
Through my own coaching journey, particularly the reflective space offered by coaching supervision, I have gradually learned to revisit the narrative I have been carrying about myself.
I began to realise that a strength developed through adversity does not have to remain driven by adversity.
I can still love learning without constantly needing to prove my worth.
I can pursue another qualification without fearing that I am falling behind.
I can grow because I am genuinely curious, because I find meaning in what I do, and because my learning aligns with my values.
The behaviour may look the same from the outside, but the motivation within me has changed.
From fear to curiosity.
From survival to meaning.
From needing to prove myself to choosing who I want to become.
And perhaps this is one of the most meaningful gifts coaching has given me. Not a new skill or another achievement, but the opportunity to recognise that I have some freedom to reshape the story I tell about my life.
Today, I also see my graduation differently.
Behind this qualification are years of balancing professional responsibilities, family life, further studies and more than 1,000 hours of supervised practicum.
I am deeply grateful to my wife, family, colleagues, teachers and supervisors who made this journey possible.
And I want to acknowledge myself, too.
Not only for completing another degree, but for slowly learning how to live with less fear and more freedom.
As I continue my journey in Occupational Health Psychology, I hope to bring this understanding into organisations.
Because I believe the same question matters in our workplaces:
Are we helping people grow because they feel safe, supported and inspired, or are they constantly pushing themselves because they are afraid of what might happen if they stop?
Through leadership development, team coaching, job crafting and workplace wellbeing initiatives, I hope to contribute to organisational cultures where people can develop their strengths through curiosity, autonomy and meaningful work, rather than fear alone.
Perhaps real growth is not always about becoming someone new.
Sometimes, it is about discovering that the strengths which once helped us survive can now help us live a more fulfilling life.
To the younger me, thank you for learning so hard to keep us safe.
To the person I am becoming, I hope we can continue learning simply because life has so much more to discover.
