My OUM Journey

 by Dr Soo Wincci

After being crowned Miss World Malaysia 2008, I felt totally lost with regard to my career path. I tried to venture into the entertainment business for a year, and then decided to pursue a PhD. I looked for a flexible learning university as I did not want to stop working.

I remembered googling online and finding OUM. It was the only university that offered online and distance learning back then in Malaysia. Without a second thought, I drove to the university and had a discussion with the enrolment team. Within a week, I was enrolled as a new PhD candidate.

Honestly, the first 2 years were tough for me as I was not well trained in research. I felt like giving up loads of times but my supervisor did not give up on me. In my third year, after much struggle, I finally passed my proposal defence. Since then, I would always wake up early in the morning to polish my thesis before starting work. I had sleepless nights before each presentation. The viva voce was really tough for me.

In my fifth year, I was told to extend my studies by one more year. Once again, I felt demotivated and started thinking I might not graduate. However, with strength, determination and hard work, my efforts were crowned with success in the 6th year of my PhD journey. When the examiners announced, “You did it, Dr Soo Wincci”, tears poured out of my eyes. At that moment, I did not know whether it was sweat or tears. I cried in my car for almost 1 hour.

On my graduation day, I made the headlines as I was recognised as the first Miss World Malaysia to attain a PhD by the Malaysia Book of Records.

This tough journey proved that nothing is impossible and one must go through hard work and true education to become a better person. Only with education can we unlock our potential and achieve our dreams.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to OUM, and to all graduates of the coming 26th Convocation, I hope you will do better than me and soar high with flying colours.

* Dr Soo Wincci graduated with a PhD (Business Administration) at the 19th Convocation on 31 October 2016. She will be receiving her second PhD soon, this time in Artistic Production from the University of Polytechnic in Spain. She is now an associate professor in the Faculty of Music at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam.