Growing up, financial instability was a constant reality in my household. By the time I was a teenager, both my parents had reached an age where finding steady employment became increasingly difficult. This made the idea of furthering my studies—especially at a private institution—feel almost impossible.

As the youngest in the family, I never wanted to be a burden to my parents or siblings. At the same time, I wasn’t a top scorer in school. My grades were average, and I wasn’t even sure which field of study I should pursue. Applying for scholarships never crossed my mind during my high school years.

After graduating, a relative forwarded me a message from Malaysian CARE about the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Community Scholarship. At first, I had my doubts. I didn’t think my grades would be good enough, and I still wasn’t sure which path to take. But I knew one thing—I’ve always loved planning and entertaining. That’s when I discovered Event Management, thanks to Malaysian CARE.

From that moment on, I decided to take a leap of faith.

With the support of Malaysian CARE and the scholarship, I am now pursuing a Diploma in Events Management—something that perfectly aligns with my passion. If you had told 16-year-old me that I’d be studying this today, I wouldn’t have believed you.

This journey has been nothing short of surreal. I’ve learned to stop doubting myself and to believe in what’s possible when you commit to something with heart and determination.

To anyone facing challenges, I want you to know this: things can and will get better. One quote that continues to inspire me is from Og Mandino:
“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”

I’m deeply grateful to Malaysian CARE and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation for believing in someone like me and helping me discover my capabilities.