Three Graduates, Three Stories

OUM has more than 4,000 success stories this year! All of them belong to the amazing graduates of cohort 25 who received their scrolls early this month. Three of these special individuals share their experiences with OUM Education.

Nor Zorrenee Zorkaphy, 45
Sarjana Kejururawatan
Ketua Jururawat, Jabatan Obstetrik dan Ginekologi, Perak

Saya bertugas sebagai jururawat terlatih U29 dan mempunyai impian yang sama seperti semua penjawat awam iaitu ingin melanjutkan pelajaran demi peluang kerjaya yang lebih baik. Keputusan saya untuk memilih OUM adalah tepat kerana sistem pembelajarannya yang fleksibel sesuai dengan tuntutan kerjaya saya di barisan hadapan.

Atas dasar minat terhadap kerjaya kejururawatan, saya bertekad untuk menyambung pengajian ke peringkat sarjana muda pada tahun 2011. Oleh kerana hanya saya yang mengambil keputusan untuk menyambung pengajian pada ketika itu, ada rakan-rakan yang berpendapat saya akan menghadapi jalan yang sukar jika belajar tanpa rakan sekerja. Saya endahkan pendapat rakan-rakan dan meneruskan hasrat untuk melanjutkan pengajian kerana saya memegang prinsip untuk tidak menunggu sesiapa jika ingin berjaya.

Semasa mengikuti program di OUM, cabaran pertama yang saya perlu hadapi ialah kos pengajian. Oleh kerana saya mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi pada ketika itu, faktor kos tidak lagi menjadi beban dan fokus hanya tertumpu kepada pengajian dan tugasan yang diberikan.

Cabaran kedua ialah pengurusan masa. Sebagai seorang petugas barisan hadapan, kami bekerja tidak mengikut tempoh masa yang tetap. Ketika inilah kemahiran mengurus masa amat penting supaya tugasan disiapkan tepat pada masanya dan prestasi pembelajaran dapat dikekalkan.

Saya juga telah dinaikkan pangkat pada November 2011 dan diarahkan untuk berpindah ke Hospital Pulau Pinang. Dengan bantuan OUM, urusan perpindahan saya ke Pusat Pembelajaran Seberang Jaya dapat diurus dengan mudah. Saya kekal menghadiri kuliah di Pulau Pinang walhal keluarga saya berada di Ipoh. Pengorbanan inilah yang membuatkan saya lebih bersemangat dan Alhamdulillah saya berjaya memperolehi Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains Kejururawatan dengan Kepujian pada tahun 2013.

Perjalanan mencari ilmu tidak terhenti di situ dan pada tahun 2018 saya kembali menyambung pengajian ke peringkat Sarjana. Kali ini saya perlu mengikuti kelas di Pusat Pembelajaran Petaling Jaya. Saya amat berterima kasih kepada suami kerana sanggup memandu di awal pagi untuk menghantar saya ke Petaling Jaya pada setiap dua minggu. Sokongan daripada keluarga sekali lagi menjadi motivasi dan saya berjaya menamatkan pengajian untuk program Sarjana Kejururawatan pada tahun ini.

Perjalanan getir tidak akan mematahkan semangat saya untuk terus berjaya. Benarlah seperti kata pepatah, genggam bara api, biar sampai jadi arang. Semoga generasi sekarang tidak alpa dan mampu memanfaatkan setiap peluang yang datang demi sebuah kejayaan.

 

Devaraj Yanasekaran, 44
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
Teacher, Selangor

I studied at Petaling Jaya Learning Centre (PJLC), and I feel great and thankful that I have completed my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education! With deep and heartfelt gratitude, I would like to take this opportunity to share my story and thank people who helped me along my journey.

I decided to sign up for further studies when I was 40 and a father of two. Studying, working, and taking care of my family became a great commitment. But I got to do it all, thanks to a supportive family, especially my wife, sister, brother-in-law, and mother. I’m thankful for my young children too: even though they are just in primary school, they were very cooperative and understanding of what I was going through. Sometimes, I would sit with my kids and we would study together. I’m proud that I’ve had this opportunity to be a good role model to them.

Back in my very first semester, I had few friends so I gave all my attention to the lecturers. I am especially grateful to Mr Faizal, who guided me through the Principal of Management. Getting an ‘A’ for that course gave me a great boost in motivation.

Although I am an international school teacher, and have been teaching for the past 14 years, I became more and more excited about the topics taught by different lecturers as my journey progressed. I could use some of the theories at my workplace, and apply them to different students, even those at the secondary level.

There were 13 of us in my batch and I was the only male in the group! I also stood out as someone who lacked a background in teaching young children. In spite of this, I was lucky, as I got great support from one of my course mates. Katherine was always generous with her time, experiences and knowledge, and became my study partner. I appreciate all her help, from proofreading my assignments, to video recording, brainstorming and going through the toughest part of the programme: the practicum. Even with the pandemic, we did not give up and worked even harder. I am overjoyed to have made the Dean’s List four times.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all my course mates, lecturers, and OUM staff for the wonderful journey. I am ready to embark on a new one and will always strive for the best. I look forward to taking on another level of study at OUM.

 

Katherine Chong, 37
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
Teacher, Selangor

Like Devaraj, I also studied at PJLC and have just completed my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. I’m proud to be one of the graduates of Cohort 25. I would like to take this opportunity to share the remarkable experience I’ve had and thank those who have helped me along the way.

Spending three and a half years as a learner while also managing a full-time work commitment was not easy. Before I joined OUM, I did not realise that academic qualifications could make such a huge difference. I took over someone else’s business and started running my own kindergarten several years ago, but with only a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and 14 years of working experience with young children were not enough to run the business smoothly. Unfortunately, I gave up my kindergarten after just one year. So, I am especially grateful that I could enrol at OUM!

The semesters progressed, and I continued on my journey and made new friends. After my first year studying at OUM, I switched careers: previously a kindergarten teacher, now I am an international homeroom teacher handling primary school students. I’m also enjoying better pay and working hours too!

There was only one male learner in my class, and that was Devaraj. He became my study partner and I’m so grateful for that. He is an international school teacher who teaches older students, and together we could exchange ideas, brainstorm, and proofread each other’s assignments. He also helped me with video recording and we went through the practicum together. Like Devaraj, I’m happy to have made the Dean’s List twice in my study!

Lastly, I would like to thank my family members, lecturers and OUM staff, colleagues, course mates and friends for their support. Life became brighter after I decided to further my studies, and I hope to continue learning at OUM in the near future.

 

By Nor Zorrenee Zorkaphy, Devaraj Yanasekaran and Katherine Chong