FROM SALES ASSISTANT TO TOP GRADUATE: UTHM STUDENT'S INSPIRING JOURNEY

BATU PAHAT, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia’s (UTHM) top graduate, Nur Syafiqah Husna Zainul Arshad, 25, chose to work as a sales assistant to cover her daily expenses and not burden her parents as she worked towards her degree.

Her efforts paid off when she was conferred the Royal Education Award along with her Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Technology (Biotechnology) with Honours at her university's 24^th convocation ceremony today.

"During the MCO, with the uncertain economic situation my family faced, I decided to find my own money to pay for fees and living expenses since neither of my parents (who are retirees) were working.

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"Many people ask how I divided my time between studying and working ... I would focus fully in class and revise at night.

"After completing my studies at the bachelor's degree level, I plan to further my studies to a higher level at UTHM, of course," the youngest of four siblings told Bernama today.

Although Nur Syafiqah held a job while studying, she made sure she had time to be involved in co-curricular activities, and served as the secretary of the Majlis Anak Negeri Pulau Pinang.

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Meanwhile, fellow Royal Education Award recipient Chris Ng, 25, expressed her surprise over being conferred the award as she was would spend her weekends and holidays, including semester breaks engaged in outdoor activities as

She said that by holding the highest position in the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (Student Sector), she participated in weekend and holiday outdoor activities, including semester breaks.

"My family’s moderate lifestyle, my parents work as farmers you see, spurred me to study hard and get excellent results.

"I want to change my family's lives for the better... and now, after successfully obtaining a  (Bachelor of Civil Engineering) degree, I am also in the second year of continuing my studies at the Master's level," she shared.

-- BERNAMA