By Muammar Hadi
GOMBAK, 20 August 2022: “Make a lot of duas to Allah and do one thing at a time,” Muhammad Ridzwan Bin Md Tahir, a graduate from the Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences (KENMS) and a recipient of the President Award, Best Student (Overall) and Best Student (Academic) award said in the 11th session of the 37th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Thursday (18 August).
He wanted students to know that there are always people around ready to support them and that they should take their studies one step at a time.
According to Muhammad Ridzwan, it is no secret that to maintain a good CGPA and succeed in anything we do, we need to plan our time, never procrastinate, and always aim for the best.
“Planning is important because without it, we plan to fail. You must aim for the best and never limit yourself to your own expectations as you’ll only know your limits once you try it first,” he explained.
Asked about his motivation to study, he mentioned that growing up in a less privileged family had led him to attain success in order to give back to his loved ones.
“I want to give back to those who supported me to become who I am today. Even though I cannot provide much money just yet, I am still able to make my mom proud with my achievements,” he explained.
Asked about his journey in IIUM, he said it was exciting and memorable as there were times when he struggled with his academics. But his biggest challenge was when he was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during his internship.
“It took me five months to really recuperate and gain back my composure. Alhamdulillah I managed to resolve the issue because I sought help immediately from experts and those around me,” he shared.
Muhammad Ridzwan receiving his scroll on stage
The recipient of the President Award, Best Student (Overall) Award, and Best Student (Academic) Award felt extremely happy and proud of his achievements.
“It never came across my mind that I could win these awards when I started my undergraduate journey and it still feels unreal. This acknowledgement will surely push me to strive even higher for my future career,” he added.
Support systems are important to Muhammad Ridzwan as university life could get rough financially, emotionally, and even physically, he expressed.
“I was lucky to be surrounded by supportive family members, friends, and lecturers who were willing to spend their time to listen to my problems and even give constructive feedback and guidance,” he said.
He also mentioned that his wife Nurul Nabila Binti Zaidi, has been a big source of motivation for him in his studies as they both graduated together. The couple got married recently three weeks before the convocation ceremony.
In his concluding remark, he adviced struggling students, “Do not keep your problems to yourselves. Find support, advice, and tips from your lecturers and close friends.”***