Top student wants to reward his mother
GEORGE TOWN: Years spent hitting the books have paid off for Lim Yen Ruen and he wants to reward his mother.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia graduate won the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award for best final year student in all fields and the USM Gold Medal Award for best student in Electronic Engineering.
“My mother tries her best to put food on the table for my elder brother and I,” said Lim, 24, who was raised by his single mother, a general administrator.
“One day, I hope to ease her burden and let her enjoy life,” he said.
As for his academic achievements, Lim said he had always paid full attention in class.
“I won’t wait till the last minute to do my revision. I would always prepare early,” he said.
His mother Pay Huey Min, 51, said Lim was always self-motivated without needing anyone to remind him to study.
“He is well-focused and clear about his goals. I’m only worried about his health since he often stays up late to study,” she said.
Lim is among 4,579 degree holders who will receive their scrolls at the USM 54th convocation from today until Thursday.
Wheelchair-bound Norhamizah Idros, 23, will receive the USM Gold Medal Award for the best disabled student and also the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award.
Norhamizah, who has been paralysed from the waist down since birth, said she had never let her disability slow her down.
“I would always remind myself that life has to go on and not to use my disability as an excuse,” she said, adding that she would pursue a Masters in Microelectronic Engineering.
Two other students, Mohd Hijan Mohd Razali and Benedict Weerasena Samarasena, will receive the Royal Council of Rulers’ Education Award.
USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail said 5,941 USM graduates would be getting their scrolls, including Toray Industries Inc Japan president Datuk Akihiro Nikkaku, who would receive an honorary doctorate in engineering.
USM Chancellor Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail will grace the first session today.