Perseverance is gold
DR Elexson Nillian knows what deprivation means.
He grew up in a place starved of adequate facilities. Life was no bed of roses and most families had to make do with what little they had to get by.
Dr Elexson, however, also knows if there is a will, there is a way and hard work always pays off.
Armed with this knowledge and a steely determination not to let deprivation stand in his way to a higher education, he persevered in his studies, working doubly hard to go on and earn a double degree — a Bachelor’s Degree in bio-technology at Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) in 2011 and subsequently, a Master of Science degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
He also has the distinction of being the first Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduate from the Sebob (Kenyah) community.
The 30-year-old said success is attainable if one has ‘extraordinary perseverance’ to fight an uphill battle, regardless of one’s family background.
That’s the message with which he hopes to inspire and motivate youths, especially from the Dayak community, to scale greater heights and make their dreams come true through diligence, commitment and perseverance — like him.
Dr Elexson attended Sekolah Kebangsaan Long Aton in Long Selapun, Ulu Tinjar, Baram, and after finishing his primary education there, followed his family to Miri where he studied at a secondary school — SMK Bakong — before furthering his education at Unisel and UPM.
“The hardships experiened during my school days motivated me to strive for higher education which I believe is the only way to change lives for the better, especially to someone from a poor background like me,” Dr Elexson told thesundaypost.
“Education is the key to success and a better life,” he stressed.
All the hardships in his life did not weaken his resolve to scale the academic ladder. On the contrary, they made him work even harder, graduating in three years with Bachelor’s Degree in biotechnology at Unisel in 2011.
Subsequently, he obtained a Master of Science degree before proceeding to graduate with a PhD in Food Safety in 2014 — both at UPM.
He returned to Sarawak after studying and living in peninsular
Malaysia for about eight years and is now with the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). Lack of resources Dr Elexson who believes hardship builds strong character, admitted he was never told how important education is in shaping a better future when he was a teenager.
He pointed out that there was not much exposure to the importance of higher education with the lack of resources and the absence of motivation from parents in Ulu Tinjar.
As a result, he said, most of the people in the area did not let their children study beyond primary school, adding: “But I’m glad I was still aware of the importance of education and persevered until I obtained a PhD.”
Dr Elexson acknowledged there were several individuals who helped him out with various forms of support, especially finance.
He did part-time jobs, including as a sales assistant, sales marketer, librarian and personal assistant to his lecturer.
“I got used to working while studying,” he said.
While still in universities, Dr Elexson was already producing manuscripts for both local and international publications.
He represented Malaysia in several programmes, organised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Japan in 2012 and in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the following year. He also presented talks, especially on academics pertaining to the Borneo community.
From then on, he realised his PhD was not meant just for him to have a better life but also to enlighten people from rural areas in particular, that “education changes lives” for the better. And he was determined to serve his people in Sarawak and become a role model to them. Resisting temptation He sacrificed a lot time spent with his friends to focus on his studies, and resisted the temptation to return to Sarawak as his sole intention at the time was to make full use of the opportunity to accomplish his academic pursuit. And he did just that — by finishing his PhD on time.
Dr Elexson received his Senate letter from UPM and was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy title at the age of 27 on Jan 20, 2015. He was immediately offered the post of a lecturer under Biotechnology Resource program in the Faculty of Resource Science & Technology, Department of Molecular Biology, Unimas.
Apart from Unimas, he also got offers from Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu and Universiti Malaysia Pahang but chose to work in Unimas as it is closer to his family.
“I felt so relieved I finally got a job,” said Dr Elexson, currently the only Sebob lecturer at Unimas.
Six months after joining Unimas, he obtained a grant under the Research Acculturation Grant Scheme (RAGS) and the Small Grant Scheme (SGS).
Beside Food Safety, he expanded his research on biotechnology that is relevant to clinical diseases, focusing mainly on the rural areas where he came from. Education — top priority Dr Elexson frequently gives talks to several secondary schools in the rural areas, including SMK Bakong. He is determined to motivate the students to make education their top priority.
Every year, he celebrates Christmas at Long Selapun, organises a variety of sports and participates in community-based activities to engage people of all agesi n his hometown in healthy living.
“During one of these gatherings, some Sebob leaders told me I am the first among the Sebob community to obtain a PhD.
“I never thought of being this person but it has always been rewarding for me as the people recognise me for the title and make me feel all the stuff I went through is well worth it.
“Of course, becoming the first Sebob PhD holder means a lot and I try to make the best of it and give back to the local community,” he said.
Dr Elexson added that he was looking forward to seeing more of fellow Sebobs becoming successful but stressed he did not want them to set the benchmark that success meant having to get a PhD.
“I just want them to realise although some may not be highly educated, if they do things with a strong passion and perseverance, they can also become successful. PhD is not the benchmark of success.” Motivational talks To help the local community become successful, Dr Elexson will organise several programmes soon.
“I plan to hold motivational talks at several rural areas with some prominent Sebob figures. I hope someday I can come up with an association not only for the Sebobs but the whole Dayak community as well.”
Dr Elexson loves watching movies, hiking, jungle trekking, farming, fishing, boating, travelling and working out in the Unimas gym. He also plays the sape — which he learned from a French talent Julien Cottet.
Born into a family who carries on the legacy of village head, Dr Elexson has been actively promoting Sebob culture and heritage by participating in cultural pageants.
He was second runner-up in the Mr Sarawak cultural pageant of the Pride of Borneo Hornbill Festival 2014 and won the subsidiary title of the same event. He also emerged the winners of two other cultural pageants — Keling Unimas 2015 and Mr Gawai Kaamatan Penang State 2016.
Together with some close Dayak friends, he formed an organisation called Dayak Pride which has become a platform for organsing academic motivational seminars, especially in the rural areas.
Dr Elexson loves acting. Since he was in primary school, he had been exposed to acting and took part in several plays in peninsular Malaysia apart from helping his friends with movie scripts.
“If I still have the chance, I wish to become an actor,” he said.
Standing on his principle — we struggle, we fight and we overcome, the best is yet to come — Dr Elexson is determined to help the Orang Ulu community produce more graduates to contribute towards developing their own community and the country.
“I hope to give a new ray of hope to the younger generation, especially among the rural Dayak community, to continue struggling, never giving up or stopping to dream to become successful and realise the promise of a better future.
“To become successful is one thing but helping to contribute to development of your people and community is more important. I do believe one day, if there are many successful people, Sarawak will become an even better place to live,” he added.
Success is attainable if one has ‘extraordinary perseverance’ to fight an uphill battle, regardless of one’s family background. — Dr Elexson Nillian, first PhD holder from the Sebob (Kenyah) community