KUCHING: Being a wife and a mother of two children did not stop Monica Langgong from winning the Sidma College Sarawak Chairman’s Award at the college’s sixth convocation ceremony yesterday.
The 38-year old woman, who graduated with a Diploma in Early Childhood Studies, said she did not expect to win the award as she had to juggle being a wife, a mother, and a student.
“For me, being a mother, a student and a wife all at the same time was not easy.
“I had a lot of responsibilities and I had to divide my time properly. I was only able to study at night because that is the only free time I have to myself,” she said.
She said this to reporters after receiving her scroll at the Sidma College Sarawak’s sixth convocation ceremony held at Kompleks Islam Sarawak hall, yesterday.
She also shared that her journey was full of ups and downs.
“Throughout my studies, I actively participated in student activities. I was a former president in the Students’ Representative Council in 2018 so I had to divide my time being a student and the organisation’s president in the institution, and as a wife and a mother at home.
“At that time, I felt like giving up but I was determined to prove to people that I can succeed, as well as to prove that a person who has their own family can also succeed like other students,” she said.
Sharing about her earliest memories on how she showed interest in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), she said she had always shown interest in child development and often wondered how she can help nurture other children.
“My background was in nursing and I quit in 2016 to focus on my family. After that, it struck me — what if one day when my children have all grown up and I decided to restart my career, what can I venture in since I have already quit nursing?
“That’s when I thought about ECCE and I discussed with my family and husband about furthering my studies. I am lucky that they support me in furthering my studies full-time,” she said.
When asked whether she had any advice to those who wish to be successful, she stressed that age should not be used as a barrier to achieve success in life “because life is a learning process so don’t put an obstacle between you and your dreams”.
“Try. If you won’t try, you will never know,” she said.
Monica added that comparing the past and at present, there were a lot of differences and improvements in ECCE. However she opined that the existing syllabus should not just be theory-based, but must also include hands-on or practical learning.
“The existing ones are great but the current syllabus should be strengthened and implemented effectively,” she said.
Monica is an Iban who came from Kanowit to pursue studies in ECCE. She enrolled into Sidma College Sarawak in June 2017 and graduated yesterday.
