| Universiti Putra Malaysia

"If It Was Not For My Grandmother, I Would Not Have Attained This Degree"

By: Azman Zakaria 

SERDANG, Oct 29 - "Two weeks after a serious accident, I sat for my third semester examination with a broken left thigh, left hand and jaw." "I failed three subjects and had to defer my studies to the following semester because of my poor physical condition," said Muhammad Izaat Firdaus Zukeri, 24, who was awarded with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree at the 42nd Convocation Ceremony of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) here. If it was up to him, he would not have wanted to continue studying; however, he eventually decided to continue because of his grandmother, Sepian Seman, 69, who had raised him from the age of seven months following his parents’ divorce. He explained that after the accident, his grandmother was the one who took the magnanimous task of pushing his wheelchair to and fro the bathroom and the examination hall in UPM. "My ailing grandmother's sacrifice is simply too big, and it made me realise that I need to graduate to recompense my grandmother's devotion and kindness” added Izaat who was beside his teary-eyed grandmother.  After the accident on his third semester, Izaat decided to recover in his village, at Pasir Mas, Kelantan. He was wheel-chair bounded for four months with his movements being aided by his grandmother. In his final year of studies, Muhammad Izaat Firdaus did many part-time jobs such as being a tuition teacher, an Al-Quran teacher for adults and repaired computers to cover the cost of his studies because his loan from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) was discontinued as he extended his study period. "Most importantly, we need to have the drive, effort, prayers and desire for success," said Izaat who is currently looking for a job to support himself and his grandmother. - UPM

SXDdHAL~