A degree may be the reason you begin the journey, but what you learn along the way can shape you just as much. Dr Udaya Rathnayake reflects on resilience, family, financial realities and the lessons he gained while pursuing his PhD in Australia.

This Mother’s Day feels especially meaningful for me because, for the first time, I truly feel like I am embracing motherhood without the negativity and constant voices telling me I am not enough. There was a time when I questioned my worth as a mother every single day. I carried the weight of hurtful words, criticism, and the belief that I was failing. But over the past year, with God’s help, I have grown in ways I never imagined. I’ve made difficult but necessary decisions,