I was born in the United States and stayed there for the next 6.5 years. A definite memory of my childhood, I remember being content, happy. My parents welcomed me to this world while studying for their degrees and master’s. They were top students, let’s just say, education measured success during those times. It still does now, doesn’t it. Education is such an important aspect in the family that they insisted hard that I’d become a doctor. But in my heart, I just wanted to be able to help another person in anyway possible. I further studied in Australia doing my bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering juggling between work to pay my fees as I was self-paying but then transferred back to Malaysia and continued here till I graduated. All of this took time and there were many challenges.
I am very lucky that my parents could afford quality education for their children. 3 things that I learnt from my childhood and youth is that number 1, yes, education can take you where you want to be yet number 2, success is subjective and number 3, you need to have good mental health to able you to make those important decisions and which path to take later on in life. This should be taught to everyone as early as possible in their lives – as a child.
Currently, I am a proud member of an NGO called Persatuan Kebajikan An-najah Selangor here in Malaysia, where we help the poor for daily supplies, helping to develop certain skills to self-earning and teaching religion. But not specifically in teaching simple literacy. My dream is to have a team, to teach those unfortunate children who do not have access to even the simplest ABCs, 123s and through my classes, blend a touch of love and compassion to reassure good mental health. All these are to help them to make decisions in the future to battle any challenges that would effect their earning potential, employment later in life and even relationships for that matter. I believe that with education, people can succeed, do good and go wherever their hearts take them. Most important thing is to work hard with gusto.
Today, I’m working in the medical industry, indirectly helping other people get access to better healthcare, while running other external activities to spread positivity and I am content. I’m a mom of 3 small children. To help another child, serves a more meaningful purpose to me as a mother and that I’d become a better person. What’s knowledge if not shared. I know I can make this change. Together, let’s build a better future.
Malaysia 