Balancing leadership and academics: Former IIUMToday Managing Editor reflects upon life at the IIUM

By, Sarah Jamil

GOMBAK, 20 November: Former Managing Editor of IIUMToday 2023/2024, Athira Liyana binti ABD Latiff, reflected upon her bittersweet journey through life as a student at the IIUM in an exclusive interview with IIUMToday. She was one of the graduands that was conferred her Bachelor of Human Sciences in Communication (Honours) degree in the 40th IIUM Convocation Ceremony held at IIUM Gombak, on 18 November.

“I feel really happy (to graduate), but at the same time, I have mixed emotions. It all went by so fast, especially since the first two years were during the COVID-19 pandemic. It feels like it was just yesterday that I started studying,” she said.

She commenced the first year of her degree during the COVID-19 pandemic and this made it particularly challenging for her batch in adapting to online classes and being away from campus life. It was tough, but she managed to persevere in her study despite the challenges. She recalled that her previous experiences had made her grow.

Athira’s journey was marked significantly by her dual responsibilities as a communication student and the Managing Editor of the IIUM news portal, IIUMToday. She shared insights into how she managed her time effectively.

“I balanced my responsibilities by prioritizing the tasks came first. IIUMToday tasks often involved fast paced news stories (to be written, edited and published), so I would complete them first if I had more time for my assignments and study. At times, I worked on both simultaneously,” she mentioned.

However, there were moments when I felt lost and unsure of where to begin, Athira admitted. “The pressure of balancing studies and club responsibilities sometimes led to burnout, but I learned to navigate through it,” she said.

Furthermore, cooperation and considering others’ perspectives are crucial. Embracing a new leadership role was a significant shift for her, but it taught her to put others’ needs and emotions first.

She learned to be Managing Editor by being part of IIUMToday that improved her writing skills, especially in journalism. Also, she learned to work with different people, both within the club and externally to enhance her networking and engagement abilities.

Her last words for IIUMToday journalists were, “Go out of your comfort zone,” she encouraged. “This is the place to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow as a person. Don’t be afraid to adapt and evolve. Enjoy the experience and embrace every opportunity,” she continued.

Athira’s reflections, perfectly captures the spirit of learning and the flexibility that characterizes university life that allows for the balancing of several responsibilities.***