Let me start with a little introduction to my family. I grew up in a big and lovely family with around 130 cousins. My great-grandmother had 12 children, so you can understand where this big number comes from!

In my family, we believe that learning can change our lives. Many of my family members are working on their Master's degrees and PhDs through part-time study. This is partly why I feel so confident that I am doing the right thing by pursuing my higher education at OUM.

The saying, “Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching” has made such a huge impact in my life. However, my learning journey did not start out smoothly. After completing my SPM, I had a hard time choosing a suitable higher education programme, just like many other teenagers. I decided to enrol in a foundation course, but after one semester, I found that I could not commit to being a full-time student. It was boring!

After that, I discovered OUM and decided to enrol there. I completed my Diploma in Management last year and it has benefitted my career as a secretarial assistant. More importantly, the degree has helped me get a raise, and also made me more confident when handling tasks at work.

My most memorable OUM experience is the Special Convocation last February. Kudos to the OUM team for organising this event for graduates during the pandemic!

Looking back, I definitely faced several obstacles while completing my diploma. I had many sleepless nights, especially when examinations were around the corner, and also when I was faced with an overwhelming amount of information to understand when revising. I struggled a lot back then, but I’m happy to have made it through.

Currently, I am working and studying non-stop, every day. Other than pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme, I am also a student at the Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries. I have enrolled at OUM once again, this time in the BBA programme, as I believe that it can further benefit my career and help me improve my knowledge.

At the end of the day, I realise that I like being a learner as I can discover many things. Learning also helps me to relax my mind after a hectic day at work. I have to admit that my schedules are fully packed these days as I am juggling work and studies at the same time. However, I still find time to wind down. And when I do, I like arts and crafts, such as playing with wax seal stamps and crocheting.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family members who have always supported me during my study journey, and OUM for giving me the chance to achieve my dreams.

Amigo Tiong Lui Fung hails from Bintulu, Sarawak. This 23-year-old Sarawakian is currently pursuing the BBA programme. She graduated with distinction from the Diploma in Management programme in 2021.