JERTIH: The death of their beloved mother just before the start of an important examination would have dealt a severe blow to any strong-willed individual, let alone a village girl.
However, despite losing her mother just before the Sijil Tinggi pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) 2023, Nur Ain Sofea Iqlima Mohd Baharuddin turned grief into determination by emerging among the top achievers in the state of Terengganu.
Nur Ain, 20, was among the top STPM 2023 achievers in Terengganu with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0.
Expressing her grief, Nur Ain said her mother, Che Fauziah Che Awang a teacher, passed away while receiving treatment for tyroid at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ II) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Nov 13.
“When my mother was in hospital, I will travel 126km from school to HRPZ II and back everyday to look after my mother but always brought alone my books to revise by my mother’s bedside. My mother passed away about four months before I sat for the examination and it was a very difficult period.
“However, my mother’s final words and advise continued to inspire and motivate me to excel in my studies. I continued to focus on my studies to ensure I make my mother proud, even though she is not around,” she said.
Nur Ain was speaking to reporters when met at the announcement of STPM results at the Terengganu state level at Dewan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Nasiruddin Shah, near here yesterday.
“This achievement is really very meaningful to me and I wish to dedicate this to my parents,” said the third of four siblings from Kampung Seberang Jertih.
She now lives with her father, Mohd Baharuddin Mohd Salleh, also a teacher and awaits an offer to enter the Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG).
Apart from Nur Ain Sofea, seven other students achieved CGPA of 4.0 in Terengganu. – BERNAMA
