In a heartwarming and inspiring achievement, top student Yak Fang Ling graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Counselling with Honours from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). Yak, who was born blind, chose her degree path with a strong purpose, to give back to society and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

“As a blind person, I’ve often been on the receiving end of help. But I want to give back, to help others as well. That’s why I chose counselling. I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said after receiving her scroll from Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Originally from Selangau, Yak’s journey in education began with incredible hurdles. Without local schools equipped to support her needs, she only started formal education in Primary 5. “My mum and late father sacrificed so much for me. I want to succeed so that one day my mum won’t need to work so hard in our small business,” Yak expressed with gratitude.

Yak’s journey to her degree was not without its challenges. Accessing study materials presented an early obstacle, as most books were available only in hard copy. Yak adapted by using online resources and credited her lecturers for providing soft copies of materials, enabling her to study independently. Navigating the large university campus was another hurdle, but with the support of friends and classmates, she learned to overcome this barrier as well.

Reflecting on her time at Unimas, Yak cherishes the memories she made with friends, collaborating on assignments and projects. She shared her advice to others facing similar obstacles: “Don’t give up easily. Success is waiting for us. As long as we’ve done our best for ourselves and for our loved ones, that’s what matters.”

Yak’s achievements have inspired many since her early educational journey, which was documented by The Borneo Post. Despite achieving 4As and 1B in her UPSR, the lack of resources for visually impaired students in Sibu initially limited her options. Through the help of the Ministry of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, as well as Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, a special integration class was opened at SMK Sungai Merah, enabling Yak to continue her studies. She went on to achieve a perfect CGPA of 4.0 in STPM and received the Best Student Award in the Special Needs (Blind) category in 2019.

Currently, Yak is exploring opportunities in teaching and civil service and is also considering a postgraduate diploma in teaching.

Yak Fang Ling’s story stands as a beacon of hope and encouragement for anyone overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams.

Source / Image Credit : The Borneo Post