Page 18 - PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin 04_2020

ALUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIES
AA Issue no. 4 | 2020

My dedication to serving the nation has been impacted In general, the voices of young people in this country
by my understanding of nationhood and public service, must not be ignored or suppressed. When they do not
during my time at the Faculty of Arts and Social find the proper avenue, typically they go underground,
Sciences. and we run the risk of losing very talented and skilled
youths through this manner. From my own experience,
I have attributed much of my success in my everyday feeling as if we have purpose and support can take a
duties to the training I received from my degree in person far, and young people in this country need this,
anthropology. In my 33 years of public service now more than ever.
(including six years in the private sector in which I
worked with a large manufacturing company), I have
“...the voices of young
found that listening, even in allowing dissenting views,
and people in this country
though uncomfortable at first, has helped sharpen my
sense of initiatives, support, collaboration
must not be ignored or
commitment.
suppressed... we run
Invariably what happens next is most welcomed:
without my needing to give any orders the younger
the risk of losing very
officers will organise themselves and take up the newly
identified ideas and actions as needed. The aspect of
talented and skilled
this approach is that everyone learns; especially me.
youths through this
Ownership and commitment are high, friendship and
trust flourishes.
manner.”
For this, I will never forget the heights of success that
good education in my youth has brought me and have
made it a life mission to promote and help develop
educational processes and systems for young people in
Sabah. It was only midway in my career did I begin to
take a greater interest in my future. Several factors lead
to this: among them the family, growing and schooling
children, and for some, new challenges. I was blessed
to have wiser and more experienced seniors help guide
and advice the path I was on and helped me flourish.

In return, I do my utmost in assisting with developing
and preparing younger friends for the leadership
positions that they will one day inherit. I do not think it
fair to leave behind a vacuum filled with confusion and
unhealthy rivalry; rather it should be a legacy of
challenging environments and goals. What I want is to
be fair to the future generations and leaders, so that
they will be in a strong position to plan their own future
and the country's future.
As a first year student in 1971, posing in front of
second college, UM

PULSE invites alumni members of FASS to share with us their share of history and the amazing things they
have done since graduating. Please send your articles directly to vilasomiah@um.edu.my
(Dr. Vilashini Somiah, Ed- in- Chief) or nadhwah@um.edu.my (Ms. Nadhwah Tul Iman Mizam, Asst. Ed-in-Chief).
We are also open to receiving donations and any feedback, suggestions and questions as well.

18 | Pulse @ FASS