ONLINE NEWS: UNBOWED BY LIFE’S HARD KNOCKS

The Star
Unbowed by life’s hard knocks
6 October 2024

Unwavering determination: Siti Nur Aishah and Khaikal say they are the first in their respective families to attend university and hope to inspire their siblings and others. — Bernama

GEORGE TOWN: Losing sight in one eye after a firecracker accident at the age of five has not stopped Siti Nur Aishah Abdul Rani from pursuing her dream of becoming an educator.

Now 19, Siti Nur Aishah was thrilled to receive an offer to pursue her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Humanities at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a goal she has held onto despite numerous challenges.

She is particularly inspiring as she is the third of five siblings and the first in her family to attend university. She hopes to set an example for her younger brother, who is preparing for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams this year.

In addition to her partial blindness, she also manages scoliosis and a slipped disc, which limits her mobility, yet her determination remains unwavering, Bernama reported.

“I’m truly grateful to USM for this opportunity,” she said during a press conference at Dewan Utama Desasiswa in conjunction with the registration of new students for the 2024/2025 academic session here yesterday.

Hailing from Kampung Kuala Mengkuang in Bukit Mertajam, she dedicates her success to her mother, Siti Kholijah Othman, 47, who has supported the family by selling banana fritters since her father’s passing in 2012.

Similarly, 19-year-old Orang Asli student Khaikal Jaafar expressed his determination to change his family’s fortunes, despite feeling sad about being away from home.

Khaikal, the fifth of six siblings, said his father, Jaafar Yok Tah Toh, in his 60s, works in the village collecting forest produce, while his mother, Rohani Uda, 48, is unemployed.

With his older siblings having only completed education up to Year Six and Form Five, he is the only family member to excel academically and secure a university spot.

“I want to prove that Orang Asli children can succeed and inspire not only my family but also other youths in the community. That’s why I aspire to be a special education teacher, so I can give back to the Orang Asli community,” said Khaikal who hails from Simpang Pulai, Perak, and belongs to the Temiar and Semai tribes.

Also enrolling at USM were identical twins Ainul Mardhiah and Ainul Kamilah Zolkiffly, 19, who expressed their joy at being accepted into the same university and major – Accounting – having never been apart.

“This marks the beginning of our journey to become accountants and, more importantly, to repay our mother’s sacrifices as a single parent,” they said, sharing that they had also sold hijab pins on TikTok for two months to support their education.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said 4,807 new students – 3,107 women and 1,700 men – have registered for full-time undergraduate and diploma programmes for the 2024/2025 academic session across all admission channels.

“For the B40 category, 1,500 candidates were offered placements through the main channel across USM’s three campuses, representing 31.2% of the total student population, in line with the University Social Responsibility (USR) initiative.

“USM is also responding to the Higher Education Ministry’s call by implementing the Siswa Sulung Malaysia Programme, which aims to assist children from B40 families who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

“So far, 1,008 students have received offers, with 200 students accepted for the 2024/2025 academic session,” he said.

He also highlighted the university’s commitment to inclusivity by offering placements to 20 people with disabilities (OKU), allowing them to benefit from first-class facilities at Desasiswa Aman Damai, which features amenities designed for accessibility, including accessible toilets, wheelchair ramps, and conveniently located parking spaces.

“This year’s registration saw several unique aspects, including the admission of 10 sets of twins and four Orang Asli students, reflecting USM’s commitment to inclusive education.

“Furthermore, a student from the Siswa Sulung programme, who is also in the OKU category, has registered, demonstrating exceptional determination to succeed,” he added.