Terengganu initiative for high achievers
educate@thestar.com.my SHE had her heart set on studying health sciences as she wanted to contribute to the medical field.
However, things didn’t go according to plan when Amynina Nabila Mohd Azhar was offered a degree in Electronic Physics and Instrumentation through the centralised university unit (UPU).
Although disheartened, it did not stop the determined Terengganu lass from excelling in her degree programme.
The Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) graduate was one of the five from the varsity who received the Terengganu Degree Award 2018 from Terengganu Mentri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
An initiative by the Terengganu state government, the award recognises students who have obtained a first class honours degree with a CGPA of 3.75 or an overall of 80%, in their undergraduate pro- gramme.
Recipients received a certificate and an incentive cheque worth RM4,000 and RM2,000 for professional and non-professional courses respectively.
Amynina who is the youngest of seven siblings, said her father is retired while her mother is a housewife,
She dedicated her achievement and award to her parents, saying that they are her pillars of strength.
“I was one of those students who’d sit right in front during lessons to focus, and would record my lectures.
“This way, I could always go back to my recordings to recall what was taught when I didn’t understand a certain topic.
“Study groups is something I could never do because it’s hard to focus. By revising alone, all my attention was on my studies and come exam time, I wouldn’t blank out,” said Amynina, 23.
Work hard to excel and make your parents proud, was her advice.
“Don’t waste your time on unimportant matters and don’t be stingy with your knowledge.”
Currently on the hunt for a job, Amynina has no plans to spend the RM2,000.
Proud of the graduates’ achievements, UMT vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar hopes this will act as a catalyst to inspire others.