Middle-aged civil engineering grad happy to receive his scroll
SIBU: Tay Huat Hua stood out from the rest of the graduates during the convocat ion of University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) here recently.
The 58-year- old father of five was among the 262 students who received their Bachelor and Master’s scrolls.
It was simply an unforgettable occasion for Tay, who graduated wit h a Bachelor i n Civi l Engineering ( Hons).
Born and raised in Sibu, he received his primary education at SJKC Tiong Hin and secondary education at SMK Tiong Hin and SMK Sacred Heart Sibu.
Upon the completion of his secondary education, Tay went on to pursue a Certificate in Building Construction from Tunku Abdul Rahman College before working in a quantity surveying company here.
“My passion has always been to understand how the advanced technologies work. Just looking at any building and infrastructure, I am always curious about how the construction works had been done,” Tay said.
He recalled that it was his cousin who encouraged him to take a degree in civil engineering at UCTS, when it started in 2013.
He met the entry requirements and was qualified to enrol for the September intake in 2014.
On his children, Tay said three are degree- holders, while the youngest two are still at school.
Asked on advice for those wishing to pursue tertiary education despite having left the education system for a long time, Tay said: “Age is not a factor. I am 58 years old and I just graduated with a first degree.
“If we are determined enough, we could be successful in whatever undertaking.”
Tay has started working as a civil engineer this year and he is involved in the Pan Borneo Highway project.