From domestic helper to law degree holder

Sri Lankan studied at night, during weekends while working in S’pore

- Kolette Lim

Ms Jayanthi Gamage was at work in August 2023 when an e-mail from the University of London arrived in her inbox.

It included the word "Pass", which marked the end of her seven-year journey to complete a law degree and a dream come true for the then domestic helper.

Describing the 43-year-old Sri Lankan's journey as a "long" one makes light of it. It spanned two countries thousands of kilometres apart, and saw her juggling her studies over several years while working as a domestic helper in Singapore.

A job as a helper here earned her twice as much as her previous job as an audit assistant in Sri Lanka did, Ms Gamage told The Straits Times. So, three years after starting her law course, she decided to leave the comforts of home in 2019 to fund her degree.

She quashed any qualms of venturing to a foreign country for the first time as she was determined to make her childhood dream come true. Law is a calling, said Ms Gamage, who failed the entrance exam to Sri Lanka Law College 10 consecutive times from 2000.

"It was a very long journey and took a lot of hard work," said Ms Gamage, now a supervisor at a cleaning company.

"My emotions can't be put into words, but now I know when there is a will, there is a way." Ms Gamage burnt the midnight oil aplenty and rarely had time for herself. She spent her weekends attending virtual lessons, and pockets of free time were dedicated to poring over study material.

"I didn't buy any lipstick or make-up none of those things.

Every dollar was saved for my degree," she said.

Even during tough times, Ms Gamage always found a silver lining. "I looked at everything as a new learning experience," she said.

"I thought I probably felt things were difficult because I had never faced such situations before." But the Sri Lankan, who described herself as "someone who doesn't cry a lot", had crumbled in moments when she longed to reunite with her parents.