Article Summary
Title: Making sacrifices in life is meaningful independence

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Oleh: Nur Syamila Kamarul Arefin

By: Nur Syamila Kamarul Arefin

An independent society always appreciates the meaning of sacrifice in life. If freedom fighters sacrificed to fight the colonisers in the past, the spirit of sacrifice is needed to deal with various forms of trials.

All these tests are a sacrifice to achieve victory and freedom from being burdened by difficulties and challenges. As a student, it is a struggle for them to change the direction of their life with education for the sake of their family.

This sacrifice can change a person’s fate through education for the betterment of family life, from difficult to easy.

A second-year, second-semester student of Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Muhammad Afig Iskandar Adrel, had to work three jobs while studying to survive as a student.

Muhammad Afig Iskandar Adrel,  Bachelor Pentadbiran Perniagaan dengan Kepujian UPM

Two years ago, his life was tested when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the whole world, and his parents lost their jobs. He was forced to work hard to help his family earn a living while attending online classes.

“What I can say, as a student who has three jobs, it is not an easy thing. This made me think forward so that I never give up working to continue life,” he said.

The eldest of two siblings works 6 to 7 hours while dividing his time for classes at UPM.

“Education should be prioritised even while working. In the future, with the education gained and the experience I have, I would like to become a food entrepreneur and a police officer to change the fate of my family,” he said.

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela.

Everything can be changed with education and effort. But it is unfair for a child out there yearning for education but not given the opportunity due to life’s hardships. 

Realising the importance of education in changing lives, a UPM student of Bachelor of Human Development with Management, Normarina Misuari Baharodin, 24, could not remain silent as she saw her race being neglected and left behind when everyone had the right to get an education.

Normarina Misuari Baharodin,  Bachelor Pembangunan Manusia dengan Pengurusan UPM

 

This Rompin, Pahang native stepped up to help the neglected teenagers in her birthplace to get an education to change their future since Form Five.  

“When I was volunteering in Rompin during the past pandemic, I saw five siblings who had to be raised by their sister because their mother and father were imprisoned. The eldest sister, who was supposed to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), had to take care of her younger siblings.

“Some teenagers in Rompin, Pahang who dropped out of and fell far behind because of the surrounding circumstances preferred to get married instead of going to school. They get married and have kids as early as 15.

“This firstborn obtained 8As in SPM, but due to her responsibilities of caring for her younger siblings, she had to sacrifice. Therefore, the Pahang Youth Assemblyman (ADUN) and I helped her further her studies like other teenagers her age,” she said. 

Normarina is very patriotic and always helps the youth in Pahang. Because of this, she received the National Youth Premier Award (APBN) 2021 in the women's category. Not only that, she is also the Assistant Secretary of the Rompin District Youth Council and a female Vice President of the Pahang State Youth Council.

It is not easy to achieve a dream. Everything requires sacrifice and effort – to change someone’s fate.

The story is different for a UPM lawn bowl athlete. The sacrifices made by the UPM’s Bachelor of Business Administration student, Mohd Iskandar Zulkarnain Sukardi, since the age of 16, have not been easy.

Mohd Iskandar Zulkarnain Sukardi,  Bachelor Pentadbiran Perniagaan dengan Kepujian UPM

“My journey as an athlete started at a sports school in Johor, far from my family in Sarawak. My sports training routine from a very young age starts as early as 6.30 am until 8 am every day. 

“It is not just the sports training that needs to be focused on, but also our lessons which start as early as 9 am until 4.30 pm. Lawn bowl practice starts at 5 pm and continues until dusk. Before tiredness is wiped away, I have to join extra classes from 8 to 10 pm with the teacher,” he said.

He added that even though they are athletes, education is also very important. Do not consider those who participate in sports to be less intelligent. However, education and sports need to be well-aligned to guarantee the future of athletes.

“I want to prove to everyone that athletes have a future. My sacrifices now teach me to strive and never give up achieving something in sports and also education to change the fate of the future,” he said.

Surely the struggles, sacrifices and tears will result in blessings. Without sacrifices and struggles, we will not be able to achieve anything in life. - UPM

Date of Input: 30/08/2022 | Updated: 07/09/2022 | hairul_nizam