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TWO leading institutions of higher learning in Penang marked their annual convocations with several students earning their academic stripes despite their apparent disability and family hardships, including poverty.
Among those getting the attention was visually impaired Ernest Teoh Zan Feng, aged 24, who graduated with a BA in Literature (majoring in English) and whose path to academic excellence was made possible with sacrifices from his parents.
Teoh lost his eyesight within a day of his birth but his father Alvin Teoh and his mother Goh Bee Hiang became doting parents after realising that they had a "special child."
Goh decided to quit her job and become a housewife to care for Teoh, while both parents learned Braille to allow them to teach Teoh when he was not in school.
They trained him until Teoh was independent enough to enrol in a mobility camp in the USA for six months, so he could learn to master his loss of sight.
"I learnt to be a normal child and adult despite my disability," Teoh said.
Being born without legs did not stop Nor Elisha
Nor Elisha Mohd Zaini earned a BA in Literature despite being born without legs.
She now moves around with artificial limbs and despite hailing from Tumpat in Kelantan, the distance and disability were no barriers in her quest for education.
Both students now aspire to return to USM to earn their Masters degrees.
Nor Elisha sharing her proud moment with her parents
Autistic student gets his Masters
Meanwhile, at the Wawasan Open University (WOU), an autistic student earned the honours of graduating with a Master of Arts in Psychology.
The student who is currently in the USA had previously qualified to become a medical doctor - another achievement in the long line of gritty students, who overcame the odds.
USM marked its 62nd convocation ceremonies from Nov 19 - 26.
A total of 8,971 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate students will be graduating in the convocation, graduating from 34 academic schools and research centres that offer various fields of study at the nation’s sole apex-status university.
WOU celebrated the success of 805 graduates at its 2024 Convocation, held over six sessions on Saturday and Sunday at its main Yeap Chor Eee Mansion campus.
This event marks a significant and rewarding milestone for these working adults, who demonstrated exceptional discipline and perseverance in earning their degrees while balancing the demands of their careers, personal lives, and numerous responsibilities.
WOU mostly caters to working adults, who want to further their education.
This year’s graduating cohort, comprising 160 postgraduates and 645 undergraduates, represents a dynamic and diverse group of individuals from various industries, including business, technology, and healthcare.
They join WOU’s thriving alumni network, now surpassing 8,800 members. - November 24, 2024