Joy Ethan: Push Yourself Beyond Your Limits

In the midst of 3500 Founder?s 5K Merdeka Run participants at UPH Festival 24 on Saturday, August 19, 2017, there was one wheelchair participant reached the finish line. His appearance followed with the encouragement from committees and other runners who waited at the finish line while yelling ?finishes what you start? together.

He is Joy Ethan, a new student of UPH Psychology Student batch 2017.

Although he was not in the first group who finished the race, he is very grateful that he could complete the 5K Merdeka Run Program.

?That was tired but fun. I like it since the program is interesting and I can try something new here. First, I felt like being challenged, but after I have done it I am satisfied because I accomplished one more thing in my life,?

Joy thought that UPH was just a glamorous campus only, but when he saw it by himself, he felt the other way around. It was unlike what he thought before. That is why he feels grateful becoming the student of UPH.

?UPH is a good university because it is based on Christian principles and it is true indeed I experienced compassion here. I believe that I can serve God to glorify Him more through this university and my study?.

Joy told his reason why he chose Psychology program, is because he likes to observe about human behaviors, and recently he notices that many people want to end their lives. That is why he wants to focus on helping people resolve complex emotional issues by becoming psychology. ?The point is I want to help someone with something that I learn,? he added.

When he asked a motivation message for the other disabilities, Joy stated that everything happens for a reason. ?It is merely our duty to do the best what we have to do?.

Talk about his limitation, he confessed that he needed to push himself getting up earlier at 3.30 in the morning for the preparation of 5K Merdeka Run.

?Since for me, I need a longer time to do some activities. Thus I have to start earlier compared other people?, he admitted. Even though Joy is feeling exhausted after all the things he has been through, he is very grateful to be involved and to finish what he has started.

What he felt is in line with the philosophy of 5K Merdeka Run in UPH Festival, which Stephen L. Metcalfe stated on this program?s goal, is to work up the motivation for the students; to finish what they started in the beginning of academic year.

?Start your academic pursuits, finish it. Start your spiritual life, finish it. So everything about life, start is easy, the finish is where the glory is. So we want our students to finish what they have started?, he added.

Indeed, that was a true reflection of 5K Run UPH Slogan, ?Finish What You Start.?