39th IIUM Convocation: Aina Basyirah in disbelief at being valedictorian

By Sarah Nur Safiyyah

GOMBAK, 27 November 2023: œEver since I was in school my father kept showing me the video of being valedictorian, I never believed it was within my imagination to become one, said Aina Basyirah Binti Ahmad Razali at the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony.

Aina graduated from the Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE), and majored in Biochemical-Biotechnology. She received her scroll in the fourth session of the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Monday morning (27 November 2023) at the Main Hall of the IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC), IIUM Gombak.

œI remember four years ago; we were here in the same ICC Hall for the Baiah Ceremony as IIUM students. It was the beginning of our journey towards embracing responsibility as students in the university, said Aina.

She reflected that despite facing four years of hardship, today will be the day all graduates celebrate the happiest day of their lives for successfully completing their studies.

œI recall my lesson in Newton’s first law of motion that states every object will remain at rest unless it is acted upon by an external force, so if you’re a book this is the end of our last chapter, so it is up to us to either remain at rest or to use external forces to push ourselves to fly higher, said Aina in her speech. She also highlighted the importance of moving forward as khalifah, and that we are responsible for the choices we make.

She encouraged the graduates to always express their gratitude to family, friends, and lecturers who have supported them in their study and made sacrifices for them during their time at the IIUM.

œWe could not have entered this world without the support of both of our parents, and our roots continue to grow to this day,” she concluded.***