BY NURUL AMIRAH MOSTAPHA
Despite being a full-time student, finding more pocket money and new experiences is not a problem.
Working part-time while studying has been an initiative for students, whether local or international, to fill in their free time at the university.
Something to be proud of, A 23-year-old student from Perak dared to step outside her comfort zone by working as a seller in a kiosk at the Faculty of Language and Communication, a kitchen assistant at Lake View in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and a food seller (Pani Puri Booth) at Summer Mall in Kota Samarahan.
Of course, some may wonder how Uvarani Veloo, a UNIMAS student currently in her seventh semester, manages to divide her study schedule well while working.
Uvarani, or Uva as she is known among her friends, said that she recently began working part-time as a seller at a kiosk as well as working at a supermarket booth at the start of the 2022 semester.
Uva shared her story, saying that her initial motivation for working was to help her parents with their expenses and to experience new things while studying in Sarawak.
“My parents are both aware of this, and they approve as long as it does not interfere with my academic performance throughout my studies.
“I wasn’t sure if I could divide my time effectively at first, but as time passed, I began to enjoy what I was doing,” she said.
Uva said that she works three days a week for three hours a day, and on weekends she works at a food booth in Summer Mall. She will occasionally fill in for her friend’s shift.
“I work outside of my lectures because I am worried about losing my study momentum and risking my final semester pointer. Regardless, studying is the most important responsibility I have.
“Despite the fact that my attention is divided between two things this semester, I intend to pursue the Dean’s Award, and this is not an impediment to my success,” she said.
Uva admits that she experiences burnout at times, but she is reminded of the faces of two people who are proud of her and that she must remain strong even when she is tired.
Being away from family is a difficult thing for children to go through, whether they are studying or working in another country.
It is incredibly painful, especially for those who are separated from their loved ones for the first time.
While other students rush home once the holidays begin, Uva will spend her time working, doing assignments, participating in college programmes, and engaging in her favourite hobbies such as swimming, handball, and cycling in the afternoons and evenings.
Uva took advantage of the last semester break by working part-time as a kitchen assistant at a booth at Lake View, UNIMAS.
Her salary was sufficient to cover her monthly house rent as well as additional tuition fees.
“My goal is to study hard and not waste any time. Never waste money on unimportant things. This is a reminder to all students, especially those from low-income families,” she said.
According to Uva, as a student, you should always try something new so that you don’t become a “katak di bawah tempurung” (an ignorant or unknowledgeable person) who only stays in the room when the lecture is over.
She also admitted that her Sarawakian friends, regardless of race or religion, helped her a lot during her stay here. In fact, they do part-time work for fun as well.
Uva has met many other students from various faculties and lecturers at UNIMAS while working as a seller in a kiosk. They become so familiar to Uva that she considers them her second family.
“This type of experience will be beneficial after I complete my studies. Therefore, I will always strive to do my best for my future,” she said.
Next semester will be her final semester in Sarawak before she graduates. She therefore wanted to make the most of her remaining time by surrounding herself with experiences that would help her create lasting memories.
She also advised that opportunities should not be wasted. Use it as much as possible, especially for students who will undoubtedly face more challenges and obstacles in the future.
- This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
