“The excitement of that night is still with me. This is just the beginning. This blog, “Across the Oceans to the Rockies,” will be my chronicle of this journey—from preparation in Malaysia to six weeks of learning and cultural exchange at the University of Northern Colorado. It’s a story I cannot wait to share with you.”

Attend the MACEE Summer Soiree Annual Dinner on June 27th, 2024.
Photo with His Excellency, Mr. Edgard D. Kagan, the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.

The application was a labor of passion. On March 31st, 2024, I carefully filled out the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program form, each field a chance to articulate my vision as an educator. It was more than just a form; it was a testament to a lifetime of navigating the world differently. I wrote not just as a teacher, but as a Deaf Neurodivergent individual with a cochlear implant, believing that this perspective was not a barrier, but a bridge to understanding.

Weeks later, my phone buzzed with an email that sent my heart into my throat. I had been shortlisted for an interview. The timing was a plot twist only life could write: my slot for interview was from 10:00 to 10:20 AM on April 24th, 2024. And on the same day at 11:00 AM, just forty minutes later, I was scheduled to be on stage as a Panelist for a TED Talk at a Malaysia National Education Convention in Port Dickson.

The next morning, perched in a quiet corner backstage amidst the buzzing energy of the convention, I felt a dizzying duality. One part of me was mentally preparing for a talk on ideas worth spreading, while the other was steadying my nerves for the most important interview of the Fulbright Call. My heart wasn’t just beating; it was a drum solo competing with the hum of stage lights. I took a deep breath, connected to the Zoom call, and for twenty minutes, poured my heart out about my teaching philosophy, my identity, and my dreams. The moment the interview ended, I switched gears, walked onto the TED stage, and let the adrenaline fuel my passion. It was the most intense, exhilarating hour of my life.

The silence that followed was agonizing. Until June, when another email arrived—an invitation to the MACEE Summer Soiree Annual Dinner on June 27th, 2024. The invitation felt hopeful, but nothing could have prepared me for the night itself.

The air at the soiree was thick with anticipation. As speeches began, I listened intently. Then came the moment. The announcement of the Fulbright TEA grantees. When my name was called, time stretched. I was invited walking to the stage, and the microphone was placed in my hand. In that breathtaking moment, my mind went blissfully blank, as I did not prepare to talk. I forgot what I’ve sharing on the stage, but my heart spoke a universal language of pure, unfiltered joy. A single, triumphant thought surged through me: I did it. This was more than an award; it was a validation of my entire journey, a dream realized under the bright lights.

I had the profound honor of meeting the incredible people who make this dream possible: Mr. Curtis Johnson, the Executive Director of MACEE, and His Excellency, Mr. Edgard D. Kagan, the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia. Most thrilling was finally meeting face-to-face with Ms. Leena Rajagopal, the wonderful person whose name was on all those emails, and thanking her in person. And perhaps I also met with Ms. Karenjit Kaur and Tze Imm, Teoh from MACEE as well that evening, but I am so sorry—my memory of that exhilarating moment is a joyful blur, and I have forgotten.

That evening, I proudly shared my story with fellow attendees. “As a Deaf Neurodivergent individual with a cochlear implant,” I explained, “this grant is more than an opportunity; it is a powerful affirmation that diverse perspectives are not just welcome, but essential in global education.”

The excitement of that night is still with me. This is just the beginning. This blog, “Across the Oceans to the Rockies,” will be my chronicle of this journey—from preparation in Malaysia to six weeks of learning and cultural exchange at the University of Northern Colorado, U.S. It’s a story I cannot wait to share with you.