By Nabilah Mahadzir
GOMBAK, 16 December 2022: “Proud of myself that I can make it to my convocation while heavily pregnant with my first baby. I am relieved the baby was not born before my convocation or else I would not have been able to attend it,” said Rabiatul Addawiyah binti Aminuddin in her interview with IIUMToday.
Rabiatul Addawiyah, a graduate from the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, earned a thunderous applause from the crowd when she received her bachelor’s degree while nine months pregnant, at the eighth session of the 38th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on 7 December.
Addawiyah described her journey during her bachelor’s degree programme at IIUM as full of surprises.
She suffered from morning sickness, nausea, and fatigue while pregnant, and almost pass out during her posting despite having taken breakfast, yet she still managed to fast and never miss a posting, lesson, or presentation during that period.
According to Addawiyah, studying Pharmacy was difficult as she was the Student Union’s Assistant Treasurer II in her third and fourth years, making her juggled between study and student activism role.
“In the first year of study, I never thought about finishing my degree while being married and attending my convocation while counting the days for our first son to come into our life,” she said.
Despite Addawiyah’s struggles, she shared that her mother has become her source of motivation since her father passed away when she was seven years old.
“My mother has sacrificed a lot while supporting me as a single mother and I hope she is proud of my achievements throughout my study,” she emphasised.
She added that her husband, Muhammad Darwiis bin Mohammad Aris, from the Kulliyyah of Nursing, has also been a source of support for her during the challenging times.
They were both spotted celebrating their success at the graduation ceremony.***