By: Nazrul Rapail
Student of Bachelor of Arts (Malay Language and Linguistics), FBMK
SERDANG, March 23 – A Master of Arts (Malay Language) graduate, Muhammad Amirul Kamarudin, 29, has faced difficult moments in his life, and he almost quit his studies.
Today, thanks to the support and encouragement from his family, the fifth child of seven siblings successfully graduated at Session 5 of the 45th Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Convocation Ceremony.
At the beginning of his studies, he was offered financial assistance through the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) allowance for his expenses at UPM.
However, in his fourth semester, the allowance had ceased, causing him to face financial difficulties.
Thus, he decided to return to his hometown in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, to help his family’s business at the night market by selling food items such as dates, sour plums, and other dried foods.
“I spent most of my time running the business at the night market alongside working hard to publish a journal for my research,” he said.
On top of that, unfortunately, his mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Muhammad Amirul almost gave up on his studies. For him, the focus on her mother’s health was far more important. Despite the difficulty of accepting the reality, he was forced to abide by the destiny of Allah S.W.T and the challenge faced.
Whenever his mother was sick, he always encouraged her and gave her strengths and regularly brought her for treatment at the Seberang Jaya Hospital at Permatang Pauh, Penang.
His father had passed when Amirul was 17 while he was taking the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) examination, which made him unable to focus during the examination.
When his mother gradually recovered, she insisted on his return to UPM to complete his studies as she wanted to see him succeed like everyone else and not waste the energy and money that had been invested from the beginning of his studies.
"I was determined to continue my studies at my mother’s request, and the encouragement of my family is what propelled me to succeed at this stage," he said.
Muhammad Amirul said no matter what challenges and obstacles lie ahead, never give up, believe and be confident in the plan of Allah S.W.T, as a crusade that starts with bitterness will end sweetly. - UPM
