Big shoes to fill but legacy beckons

“Depending on the day, the mood, the weather, or the time of day, a sister can be a companion, an adversary, an enemy or a soulmate.”— American writer and editor, Bonnie Louise Kuchler

LAST week, my sister published her first ever article with the New Sarawak Tribune – it was part of an assignment for her News Writing course.

I cannot begin to describe how excited and proud I was coming across her article, so I had to share it with family and friends as well as on my social media. 

My sister, Farah, and I are four years apart. Like any siblings who have a large age gap between them, our relationship dynamic is like the cartoons Tom and Jerry sometimes.

As much as she hates to admit it, I do think she is my biggest and number one fan. 

When we were younger, it used to irritate me how she always wanted to do and have the same things as I me. 

As we grew up, this changed to her wearing or borrowing my clothes and things without prior notice.
Thankfully, she was not the type to invite herself for outings and hangouts with my friends. 

After completing her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Farah decided to go for Form 6 at St Thomas Secondary School like I did. 

She was offered to pursue a Foundation in Law programme at several public higher institutions of learning (IPTA) in Peninsular Malaysia, but she was unsure whether law is something she wanted to do. 

My parents and I were sad to see her turn down a great opportunity. 

We were also slightly worried that she did not know for sure what she wanted to do. 

Having said that, we knew that it was not right to pressure her into pursuing something halfheartedly, so we supported her decision, and we were happy to have her stay put in Kuching. 

During her Form 6 days, Farah often received remarks like ‘I know your sister’ and ‘I used to teach your sister’ from teachers.

It did not help her case that she decided to take the exact same subjects I did, so the same teachers who taught me ended up teaching her.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think she had a big shoe to fill when I left St Thomas, especially when it comes to beating my 3.87 CGPA. 

After her Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Farah decided to enroll at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and selected the Strategic Communication programme at its Faculty of Language and Communication. 

The Strategic Communication programme is a revamped version of the Communication Studies programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

There it is again, Farah copying or following exactly what her big sister did.

I was part of the last batch for the Communication Studies programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

The revamped version incorporated new courses spread across four years instead of three years like the old programme. 

Similarly, I accidentally set a high benchmark for Farah’s days in Unimas – to achieve six Dean’s List Awards in a row like I did and to surpass my 3.83 CGPA.

She is doing well so far with four Dean’s List Awards in hand, but she still has four more semesters to go. 
Farah has always said, “I don’t want to be a reporter like kakak”, but I have a feeling that when the time comes, she will be doing her internship at the New Sarawak Tribune like I did.

Of course, she has set her heart out on not making this prophecy come true, but I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that I will be right about this. 

I think it will be interesting to have my sister in the media industry, to see her flourish and grow in many ways through various opportunities that are out there. 

Even if she decides to do her internship at a different newspaper agency, it would be nice to see her attend the same events or press conferences and make her own mark in the media industry.

I am also equally excited to share and impart the knowledge and skills I have garnered over the past three years as a journalist to my little sister.

The saying ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ describes Farah and me aptly as our parents began their careers in the media industry back in the 1990s – somehow, we are following in their footsteps.

Like Farah, it never crossed my mind, and it was not never in my wildest dream to see myself becoming a journalist like my parents. 

During my university days, I set an ambition to work in public relations or event management and to stay away from the world of journalism.

It still amazes me when I look back and compare what I have become and achieved today – I have no regrets.

The prospect of Farah exploring the media industry, whether at New Sarawak Tribune or elsewhere, adds an exciting chapter to our family’s media legacy.