By: Ngo Zhen Hong and Law Kai Wei
Students of Bachelor of Consumer Studies, FEM
SERDANG, Jan 11 – The hardships experienced by the only child, Shanty Somahsundram, who must work to support her mother after her father’s passing, does not deter her from pursuing her ambition and succeeding in her studies.
Shanty, 26, received her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Linguistics at the 44th Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Convocation Ceremony here, today.
She was also the President at the Faculty of Modern Languages ​​and Communication, UPM, for the 2018/2019 session, and a master graduate in TESL (Teaching of English as a Second Language).
After her father's passing, Shanty had to lead a rather different life by earning income for her family, working as an instructor at a tuition centre and as a restaurant worker.
"I have to get up at 6 am and usually sleep only at 2 am to make time for work and assignments," she said.
She added that her 60-year-old mother also reminded her that "We must learn to be independent; we must not depend on others and trouble them."
Shanty also said the situation she had gone through was not an obstacle for her to continue her studies because life as a student required her to experience phases of stress and constraints.
"I intend to further my study in PhD (TESL) and hope to serve as a lecturer in UPM in the future," she said.
She had represented Malaysia on a mobility programme to South Africa, where she represented UPM as a speaker and moderator.
She also said she still remembered the ‘Happy Birthday’ greetings from her father on her birthday and stated that she did not expect that to be his last words to her. - UPM
