Disabled but Not Disheartened

Hi! I’m Khairunnisaq binti Khairuddin. I’m 26 and I have a physical disability.

When I was a baby, my legs didn’t kick like those of other babies. At 10, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II. It affects the development of my motor neurons so I have fewer of those than a healthy person, resulting in weak muscles. My spine is bent because I also have thoracic kyphoscoliosis. As a result, I’m wheelchair-bound, semi-dependent, and need help managing myself.

When I was 19 turning on 20, I enrolled at the Johor Bahru Learning Centre because it was the most convenient choice for me. Even though I was offered another university, flexible learning at OUM made it the first choice for me.

I took Bachelor of Psychology because I found psychology fascinating. I enjoyed learning about human interactions and how our brain works. I also wanted to understand myself better and how I could improve as a human being. It was such a fun subject to learn!

The programme consisted of all the basic topics that we need to know if we plan to pursue this field. I was stunned when I had to learn statistics. I thought there was no maths anymore after leaving school. Thank God, I nailed it.

The tutors and e-tutors were very helpful. They didn’t mind if I asked a lot of questions and provided me with guidance for my assignments. My fellow learners were also very active. We constantly had discussions going around on how to get the best marks out of assignments. If we were feeling down, there’s always someone who could motivate us. The moral support was amazing.

I never thought I could find work anywhere with my condition. But with this degree, and a little experience in writing, I was hired as a work-from-home writer for a media company. I craft short stories and flash fiction for a mobile application called Cereka. I have lots of opportunities to apply my knowledge of psychology in my writing, especially in creating characters and a storyline.

To those just starting or considering this programme, I say, “Go for it!” You will learn a lot of new things that help you to understand yourself and society better. You will learn where emotions come from, why everyone has different perceptions towards certain topics, and what factors contribute to somebody’s personality development. It’s interesting!

Enjoy the process. Every up and down in grades is normal. Allocate some time to study, at least 1 hour every day. Read the modules provided. Eventually, you will want to learn more. For the assignments, the rubrics given provide amazing guidance. Follow the rubrics and it will save you marks.

Ultimately, don’t compare yourself with others. Everyone has different circumstances. Just focus on yourself and do what’s best for you. Doing your best is more important than being the best!