By nanauzir
For new students who have just completed their studies in secondary schools, colleges or Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), life in IIUM main campus would be very challenging for them. This is because they are entering a new phase of tertiary learning in a totally different environment, as such they are bound to face uncertainties as they go through another important stage of education in their life. It is therefore important for them to get the right guidance from the appropriate person.
In conjunction with 57th Merdeka celebration Minister of Youth and Sports, who is also Mentor Minister of IIUM, Khairi Jamaluddin was invited to deliver a speech on 5 September to the new-intake students who have just registered with the university.
The Minister’s awe-inspiring speech was intended to boost the morales of the new students so that they would face the future challenges as university students with greater patience and to instil passions in their studies to achieve excellence.
There were five crucial points that have been highlighted in the Minister’s speech.
1.Lead your own journey
Do not blindly follow what your fellows desire of. Choose what is the best for yourselves. Hence, as undergraduate students you have to think who you want to be in the future, not what you want to be doing. This is because all your actions later will be followed by what you dream you want to be. Just make sure you pick accountability partners wisely. So you would know you are always on the right track.
2. Dont let academic interfere for your life
The Mentor Minister referred to a quote from the British author and humorist, Mark Twain: “Don’t let school interfere with your education”. By this, he meant most of the students usually tend to limit themselves to seeking knowledge within the class; they should know there are so many lessons and knowledge they can get out there, especially informational and practical education where they can have them at their finger tips.
3.Extend your horizon
By broadening your circles of contacts, you can know numerous people, understand the various culture and the different ethnic groups. Especially here in IIUM, there are so many people from different countries, and this is a good opportunity for you, the community of IIUM to approach these people and get to know each other. On other hand, students are not supposed to limit themselves only by staying in campus. They should join any legal society or club so it can enhance the skills that they can’t get in class and make contacts with people outside.
4. Sense of Patriotism
National spirit among students is significant because they are the future leaders of our country. So, they should be instilled with a sense of patriotism so that they would be able to shoulder the task of leading the country in future to make Malaysia a better place for all.
5. Fulfil your potential
Determine the basic idea of what you’re targeting for in achieving your potential and be the best person you can be. “Go what you intend to pursue and dream of. Don’t leave the University with regrets that you could have done better. Make sure you use all your potentials during your degree programme. Because there’s no one else who will be disappointed except with your own self.  Some people do realise that they should not waste their time to figure out what they can do, so they learn what they can. But some people just let it pass.”
The Minister kept repeating that students should use the fullest opportunity as students to make the best of their time so that at the end of the day they do not condemn themselves or others and feel discontented about what they have not done.