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Briefly introduce yourself and how are you related to STK. I served as the former Assistant Head Prefect during my final year of secondary education at STK and of course, a proud alumnus of this school myself (2014-2019)!
One of the first pictures I took in front of my university.
Describe your THREE BEST/STRONGEST QUALITIES. I'd like to start by saying that I have a strong sense of determination. I'd go to any length to acquire what I want, which might sound inspiring at first, but trust me, it can also be really overwhelming at times. Second, I don't hesitate to step outside of my comfort zone.Despite the cliché-like nature of it, I've come to realize that this is often the time when you grow and discover new facets of who you are. Third, I own my shortcomings without attempting to project an image of perfection. Since I am true to myself, I have never felt inferior for needing other people's assistance.
Describe ONE best moment you had in school. The atmosphere of the regular Form 5 classroom frequently comes to mind whenever I think back about high school. It wasn't until I graduated from high school that I realized how much fun I had every day with my classmates. It is not an exaggeration to state that we were all super close to one another and that we were always there for each other. Michelle, I have not forgotten your longkang water, the random singing sessions with Vaithes, Faith, Yameera, Akhilesh, Dina and Kishen, not to forget the calm Vibi, the amazing short story that Dina wrote about the always-sleepy Zakwan, for which Dina received so much praises from Cikgu Habibah, the very sweet Lukman, Najihah and Areena, not to forget the impromptu jokes with Chai, Eng Vi Xuan, Wong Yi En, Hong Ru Yi, Peong Jing En and the others were all the best moments I had in high school.
Describe what you are currently doing (what, where, why). A JPA Scholar, I am currently a second-year student at the European School of Political and Social Sciences in France pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations.
We danced for the Diwali night organised by an association of the university.
Describe your experiences studying abroad. Studying abroad has transformed me so much as a person. Travelling all the way from the other end of the world to study in France didn’t merely mean getting into a whole new education system, conducted entirely in a language that I learnt from scratch a year before starting my degree. I also had to take a deep dive into a pond of new values and people of contrastingly different norms from those in Malaysia. To have lived in both Malaysia and France wouldn’t imply that one is superior to the other; rather that these two worlds complement one another in driving my visions. Having said that, one molded my passions, while the other provided me with a platform to learn how to translate them into service to the people. As daunting as these transitions might be, studying abroad, especially in the political school I am in, empowers and motivates me into finding a purpose. Writing on behalf of ESPOL’s youth’s association of AMNESTY International grants me the medium through which I can advocate for great causes. Next, when I was chosen to be a writer for the university journal as a first year student, due to the fact that all articles were published in French, I had little room and opportunity for writing. I recommended to the high committees of the university magazine that a new section be established as a means of representation for the overseas students because they too should be given the same opportunity to write as all the other students. So, at the start of the new term of 2022, a new English section was established, which I currently head. Thirdly, I am currently interning as a journalist at The Borgen Project, a nonprofit organization based in Washington working to make global poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy. I am incredibly pleased and appreciative of the fact that my experience as an international student can best be encapsulated as being the voice of the silent.
Share the tips on how you cope with the challenges.
I reached out to people instead of waiting for them to approach me first. I sought out friends and lecturers for assistance with my classes. I simultaneously met a number of new people! I spoke with lecturers during office hours to get my questions answered. To assist me with the French methods, I met with my academic advisor, and ever since then, I've made great strides! It goes without saying that ever since I started interacting with friends and professors more, my French has been perfecting itself. I am continually trying to improve, but reading, learning, speaking, and writing in French now seem a lot easier than they did at first.
Describe the path that you took that gets you where you are. I was raised in a loving, middle-class family and I always knew that I wanted to pursue my tertiary studies abroad but I also knew that only I could make it happen as there is no way that my family can afford sending me abroad without a scholarship. In the aim to materialise my vision, I studied hard, received 9A+ in SPM and then applied for many scholarships. The fact that I failed certain applications despite having a perfect score made it quite another nerve-racking phase. Thankfully, JPA called me for an interview following an online test. I was accepted into the Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia France Institute after being selected as one of the 24 Malaysian JPA scholars. Here, I did Foundation in Political Science for 10 months while learning French. After ten months, I moved to France, where I spent two months attending a French summer school. I was living with a foster home at the time, which provided me with the invaluable opportunity to immerse myself fully in French culture. After two months, I began my degree program in Lille, France.
POV: Getting out of my university.
What advice would you give to the current STK students?
Success is defined differently by me and you. Studying abroad and receiving scholarships shouldn't be considered every student's ultimate goal. You blaze your own route, even if it doesn't seem relevant to others. Never use a lack of resources as a justification for not succeeding in your endeavors. I can guarantee you that when there is a will, there is a way. If you don't serve yourself to challenges and invest your passion and determination into anything you desire, the sky's the limit.
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