My story is that of an average girl belonging to a middle class family in India. I had relatives living in Australia and was excited when I got a chance to visit them for a short holiday in 2013. I fell in love with the place and all I could think of from then on was that I wanted to live there in Australia. Since I had already completed my Bachelors in India, I thought I could study a Master’s course at the University in Australia.

I applied for the course and aced the IELTS with a 8.5. Everything was going well until I got a rejection from them for March 2014. The business course I was seeking to gain entry to wasn’t available for someone like me who had a non-business previous degree unless I had at least a 2 year of work experience. They did offer another course of accounting to me that didn’t have any pre-requirements. As expected, I was gutted. I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that this wasn’t going to happen. Anyways I decided that I’d work 2 years, get the experience and then re-apply.

As a couple of days passed I just couldn’t get this Australia thought out of my head. I just wanted it. That was all I spoke of, dreamed of, sometimes even waking up in the middle of the night thinking of it. This went on for 2 months. Then one day I suddenly thought it would do no harm to take a chance with the accounting course they offered me. So in May 2014 I wrote back to them asking for the accounting course.

I couldn’t believe the reply they sent me. They re-assessed my papers for the business course again and I was eligible. I got the conditional offer letter and then began a series of miracles one after the other. My parents didn’t have lots of money or enough savings, so when I was asked for sponsorship papers, I crossed my fingers and submitted whatever I had, hoping for a miracle. And it happened!! I got the Offer Letter 6 days before the course was due to begin. I was elated!!

Then came the hurdle of applying for a visa as all I had was 5 days left. Anyways I put together all my paperwork, which took me 2 days. Meanwhile I checked tickets for flights to reach Australia in time. There was only one flight that week and I had to get it no matter what. I took the risk and booked that flight. My papers were sent to immigration on a Thursday and my flight was booked for Friday night. Only a miracle could have saved me, and it did!! I got an email from immigration in 4 hours, stating that my visa was granted! And in less than 24 hours I had my bags packed and was on the flight to Australia. Once here, within 7 days I got a job. It’s now been 4 years working with them.

Four long years and the miracles have never stopped. I got a promotion within 2 years, and am currently in the process of getting my Permanent Residency visa. It’s surreal. These 4 years have been a miraculous roller coaster. But you need to believe that you will have it, no matter what. Ask, believe and have faith, even when it seems impossible. Hang on to what you want.

P.S: My Mallu who I am really close to is an ardent follower of The Secret. Before all of this began I got to reading her copy of the book and managed only 4 pages, yet it worked!! I now have my copy of the book and must confess to being a true blue follower!!