KOTA SAMARAHAN: Despites facing hearing challenges, Nur Balqis Mohd Nasir successfully graduated with a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Development with Honours from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Originally from Selama, Perak, the 23-year-old has been relying on hearing aids in both ears since being diagnosed with hearing impairment in Form Two, which was caused by nerve damage in her ear.
Throughout her undergraduate experience, Balqis said her main challenge was having to depend on her friends for assistance with her studies, especially in class.
“During my time studying here, there haven’t been any issues overall. However, when it comes to assignments, I need to interact with my friends to complete them.
“I have to check my list before starting. As for communication, sometimes people speak quickly, and I struggle to catch up, so I rely on my friends.”
She said this when met by reporters after her graduation at Unimas’ 28th convocation ceremony on Tuesday (Nov 5).
As someone who travelled far from her home in Perak to pursue her education in Sarawak, Balqis draws inspiration from her family and friends, stating that their support has been invaluable throughout her academic journey.
“Every week, I call my family for encouragement and words of support. Sometimes when I feel sad, I rely on my family for comfort.
“And I am quite fond of my time in Sarawak as I find it enjoyable, together with my friends, we would explore Unimas, Kuching, Kota Samarahan and more.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue a teaching diploma at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), eager to gain new experiences in the field of education.
“My hope is that students here can inspire and motivate each other, especially those with disabilities,” she said.
