UNIMAS Alumnus’ reflections on academic journey

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By Amellda Sim Binti Percy Sim

MELVIN Jangga Anak Rupitan, 23, recounts four significant years as an alumnus of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT), pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) with Honours at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), sharing his feats and achievements.

A noteworthy chapter is ending within the academic realm, where milestones and shifts mark growth. Melvin, a Sarawakian born who graduated with a 3.63 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) on November 9 during the 27th convocation ceremony of UNIMAS, bids farewell to his fruitful undergraduate journey. In a heartfelt expression of his journey, he shares

his reflections on the profound impact he has had on himself from both academic and active participation in community programmes within and outside UNIMAS.

Resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic

It is known that the lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia has brought remarkable change to the education system by necessitating the need for online learning. This brings an unforeseen impact on Melvin’s four-year degree journey at UNIMAS.

“My thoughts and feelings as a graduate are more to the sense of accomplishment. I went through three phases in my degree journey: pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post-pandemic. Each of the phases taught me to be a better student because it allowed me to adapt to so many changes, and I am glad that it taught me to act and think fast. Overall, I feel happy to graduate on time because the four years that I attended the university as a degree student has been a fulfilling journey. Undoubtedly, I am proud to claim myself as a UNIMAS alumnus because the university has made me who I am today,” said Melvin.

Amid this challenge, the sudden shift in teaching and learning practices during the pandemic undoubtedly drives self-improvement within Melvin himself.

Proud achievements

Melvin is known for his constant participation as UNIMAS Social Media Ambassador 22/23 in countless events that are held in UNIMAS, for instance, FACA Fest and Edu Tour 2023, a collaborative event between UNIMAS and Utsunomiya University (UU). Melvin is assigned to photograph events and share them on social media. Due to his engagement with various UNIMAS programmes, he is well-known among the students, too.

Moreover, Melvin is nominated for the Pro-Chancellor’s Award, which commenced on November 6 during the 27th convocation ceremony of UNIMAS. This award is presented for Melvin’s excellent hard work and determination in contributing to the university name for both academic and co-curricular activities. The award also considers his participation with the community within or outside UNIMAS.

Aside from education, Melvin has forged many achievements in several programmes that have had astonishing impacts on him.

“I would say that 2023 has been the most eventful and impactful year because so many great things have happened to me because of the dedication that I build into myself that allows me to achieve the things I dreamt of,” said Melvin.

When asked how the programme impacted him, he said the first programme that has influenced him majorly is NASA Space Apps Sarawak because it brings opportunities that allow him to build his portfolio. NASA Space Apps Sarawak is a 48-hour global hackathon, having to solve challenges on Earth and in space. Melvin started with the programme in 2021 as a participant, then won champion in 2022, and is now one of the key people organising the programme throughout Sarawak.

Furthermore, Melvin also highlights his achievements from the highly anticipated FCSIT Ideathon 2023, where the Dean, Associate Professor Dr Kartinah Zen, entrusted him to lead the competition as a Program Director.

“I managed to get over 50 participants from five faculties in UNIMAS and obtained a prize pool of RM8,000 for the whole programme,” Melvin shared.

The FCSIT Ideathon 2023 offered an opportunity for prospective UNIMAS students to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and develop innovative ideas in computer science and information technology.

He further shared his experience in FutureReady 3.0, a programme that puts an icing at the end of his final semesters at UNIMAS. This is a national programme designed by Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Accenture Malaysia, where over 10 universities in Malaysia gathered and learned how to become future leaders. Melvin was selected as one of the 40 students who earned a seat in the programme.

Challenges of growth

Every hurdle we encounter presents a chance for improvement. We grow more robust and more resilient as we overcome adversity. We also pick up novel discoveries about things around us and ourselves.

The same goes for Melvin along his four-year degree journey.

“The biggest challenge in my degree journey is time management. I have so much going on in one day, and sometimes, it can be draining to my wellbeing. I overcome it by breaking my tasks, activities, commitment and academics into smaller chunks. I complete those small chunks in stages, which allows me to see immediate completion. It gives me a sense of relief because I am slowly completing things,” said Melvin.

There is so much we can gain from Melvin’s experience. Self-discoveries that lead to self-improvement can be seen throughout his milestones.

When asked what he would advise undergraduates still pursuing their studies, he happily said, “Do not be afraid to take risks and say yes to things. Go out and explore what you want, even alone, because every day is worth taking. Do not miss out on the things you hesitated about, but work on what you currently have and improve them.”

Melvin’s final remarks

As Melvin’s degree chapter ends, his gratitude to those around him, especially Dr Sarah, the Deputy Dean of FCSIT, is palpable.

“She is always supportive in what I do because I engaged myself a lot outside of the faculty, and I often informed her on what achievements or milestones I have made,” Melvin acknowledges.

He also asserts that he plans to further his studies with a master’s degree, but not soon, as he wants to adapt to his current career beforehand. Melvin is now working full-time as a software engineer in Kuching.

“The best thing about my employment is that I was scouted by a recruiter online through LinkedIn. I am blessed to work at a place that fits what I studied at UNIMAS. What motivates me to pursue this path is how the tech industry is growing, and it shows so much potential yet to be explored. My main motivation is that I can grow fast with the rapidly changing industry,” said Melvin.

Melvin’s reflection serves as a reminder of the impact of dedication and hard work within academia. He proudly quotes, “Even if you are unsure, just say yes and trust in your ability to figure it out later.”

• This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS.

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