When setbacks lead to luck

DESPITE going through a bad time when his Public Service Department scholarship came to an end, *Alex was determined to move on.

Upon returning home, the 21-yearold student applied for as many scholarships as he could, but luck wasn’t on his side.

“I did not get any scholarship to pursue my A Levels. So, my father had to put our house on mortgage,” Alex said.

Alex’s father is a chef while his mother sells kuih at the market.

He came across the Star Education Fund after completing his A Levels and decided to give it a shot.

The Terengganu native is now pursuing his studies in Business and Finance at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.

From distributing flyers to promoting various drinks in supermarkets, Alex works part time to pay for his day-to-day expenses.

Sharing the same sentiment is second time Star Education Fund scholarship recipient Tong Shyn Kae who commended the Star Education Fund for it covers every aspect of her tertiary education.

As her father is the sole breadwinner in the family, Tong took it upon herself to apply for scholarships.

“I didn’t want to burden my father,” said Tong, 21.

The bubbly lass is a second year Bachelor in Advertising and Design student from IACT College who previously received the scholarship to pursue a Diploma in the same course.

In fact, Tong did so well in her Diploma that she was offered an exemption to skip the first year of her degree. She now has dreams of opening her own animal shelter.

And how will she combine her background in advertising with her passion for animal activism?

Tong has an answer: “Many NGOs have a lot to say but they don’t know how to promote their cause to the public and attract them.”

She believes her background in advertising will be an extra asset to help such companies or NGOs support their objectives.