今天是台灣學測的日子，人在英國的丹尼爾剛確認完大學方向，等待正式offer。如果他人還在台灣唸書，現在肯定焦頭爛額，但在英國的他，下一步大致底定。所以我有感觸。
假設他人在台灣，這時候我們應該會很雞婆的陪他收集資料、給意見，幫忙他問人……..但我人不在他身邊，家裡的英國人，唸大學是50幾年前的歷史事件。我們都對英國學制一竅不通，所以完全只能靠丹尼爾自己去詢問去摸索。我是愛莫能助。
研究學校、科系、學制、學費、Gap year，英國學生貸款，獎學金，上網填UKAS(英國申請大學用）、寫自傳、台灣兵役延役文件、跟學校email往來確認疑慮、拉拉雜雜，全部自己包辦……我的角色是啦啦隊，因為我都不懂。只能慶幸我們有把他英文基礎打好、二年英國高中成績還不錯，大學還願意收留他。
不過丹尼爾有一個同學更強，上網搞群眾募資，贊助他唸大學呢。
Today is the day of the university entrance test in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Daniel, who is in the UK, has just finalized his university plans and is waiting for an official offer. If he were still in Taiwan studying, he would probably be feeling overwhelmed right now. But in the UK, his next step is more or less settled, which gives me a lot to reflect on.
If he were in Taiwan, we would probably be meddling—helping him gather information, offering advice, and asking others for help. But since I’m not by his side, and the British person at home attended university over 50 years ago, we know nothing about the UK education system. It’s entirely up to Daniel to inquire and explore on his own. I am completely helpless.
Researching universities, programs, education systems, tuition fees, gap years, UK student loans, scholarships, filling out UCAS applications, writing personal statements, dealing with Taiwan’s military service extension documents, e-mailing schools to clarify doubts—he’s handled everything himself. My role has been that of a cheerleader, as I don’t understand any of it. I can only be grateful that we laid a good foundation for his English and that his two years of high school in the UK went well enough for universities to accept him.
Parents truly see how adaptable a child is when they are not by their side.
That said, one of Daniel’s classmates is even more impressive—he managed to crowdfund his university education online!
