By Sarah Rashdi
“I was not born with differences in ability. Yet, life turned out hard for me when I slipped from the staircase at the age of nine. The doctor who treated me said that I have become permanently paralysed after faced with complications during the surgical process. Glad I received uncountable support from my parents. I do not think that I would make it without them.”
Muhammad Ghufran Bin Musa, a special needs student from Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT) shared his heartfelt moments as an IIUM student throughout his years of studying.
He was first enrolled as a student of Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE) in 2012. However, his failure to adapt with the non-disabled friendly environment led to the dismissal from the kulliyyah. Two years were wasted yet leading the way to no avail.
Despite letting the sorrowful to fill the emotion, he decided to pursue the study in KICT.
“Indeed Allah knows when the best time is for me to be successful in my life and gave me the opportunity to make my parents proud,” he said.
Failure is also part of learning. Muhammad Ghufran’s journey as an IIUM student was not a piece of cake as what people thought it would be. He also emphasised on the pivotal role of the environment that contributed a lot to his successful story.
“Being different is insufficient to deserve you a special treatment. Reminiscing to the years of my study, students have less awareness in regards with the issue of special needs student. Sometimes, it was hard for me to find myself a parking space and also when I was about to use the lift, they have lack of common sense to prioritise the disabled students,” he added.
Indeed, despite of every hardship there is ease. “I would say spending two years on Foundation, two years as KOE student and four years as KICT student was not an easy route for me.
Although to some people, receiving a degree scroll at the age of 27 was kind of late, I am still grateful that I can make it up until here. Shout out to my parents for their sacrifice.”
Muhammad Ghurfan successfully ended his degree journey with CGPA 3.67. On Saturday (23 November), he received Ibn Ummi Maktum Award from the Constitutional Head of IIUM, Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Raja Permaisuri Agong.
Muhammad Ghurfan’s father, Assoc. Professor Haji Musa bin Ahmad, said that providing full support and trust towards his son most probably became the main reason that helped to reduce his son’s lack of confidence and boost his spirit to go further.
“We always pray to Allah regarding our son’s health condition. Hopeless is not something that we hold on to. Alhamdulillah, he could walk a little bit even though I realised that it was hard for him to go through the painful process,” he said.
“Not to forget, his mother’s sacrificial. There is no day she would miss to give her dear son a call. She played the biggest role behind our son’s success,” he added. “It would be such a great deception if there are parents who do not feel sad about their children uniqueness. However, I am glad that Ghurfan chose to embrace it despite hiding in his own shadow,” said Assoc. Professor Haji Musa.
He would also like to grab this opportunity to encourage the parents who have disabled children to always undertake any circumstances and unleashed the brighter side of their children.
He expressed that parents should never underestimate their children’s special ability. “Every cloud has a silver lining. Hence, it is essential for parents to provide full support alongside with their children’s journey.”
IIUM held its sixth session of the 35th Convocation Ceremony on 25 November at IIUM Cultural Centre. It included the involvement of students from Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), Kulliyyah of Education (KOED), Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT) and Kulliyyah of Science (KOS).***