Sanggeetha Defied The Odds & Secured A Place at UKM Medical Faculty!

For many students, getting into medical school is a dream. For Sanggeetha, that dream came with years of sacrifice, early mornings and a determination to keep moving forward despite the challenges around her.

Hailing from Baling, Kedah, Sanggeetha grew up in a family that had to manage its finances. Her father faced health challenges after suffering stroke twice, while her mother continued working to support the family. With limited access to tuition classes and educational resources in her area, Sanggeetha knew she could not rely on having the same opportunities as some other students.

Instead, she relied on her own determination.

There were days when Sanggeetha would wake up at 3 AM or 4 AM to study. She also chose to stay away from social media so she could remain focused on her goal. As she explained, coming from a B40 family meant that studying was something she had to commit herself to if she wanted to change her circumstances. 

Her motivation was deeply personal. Her father’s health struggles strengthened her desire to become a doctor, while the sacrifices made by her parents continued to push her forward. She also looked at the achievements of her two brothers and wanted to carve out a path of her own. 

The journey was not always easy. Sanggeetha admitted that there were moments when she cried and questioned why her journey seemed more difficult than others’. But instead of giving up, she reminded herself of the reason behind all her sacrifices and the future she was working towards. 

Her hard work eventually paid off. She maintained a perfect 4.00 CGPA during matriculation and went on to receive an offer to pursue a Doctor of Medicine at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), one of the universities she had dreamed of attending since she was young. Not only did she snag the Tokoh Murid award, but she also took home the title of Kedah’s Best Debater in 2024. 

The moment she received the offer became an emotional milestone not just for Sanggeetha, but for her entire family. She described seeing her parents proudly watching her achievement as a moment that was difficult to put into words. 

But perhaps the most powerful part of Sanggeetha’s story is the message she hopes other students will take from it.

She knows that many young Malaysians, particularly those from less privileged or rural backgrounds, may feel discouraged when their first choice does not work out. Her own journey taught her that one closed door does not mean the end of the road.

“There is definitely a way,” is the belief reflected in her story. Even when she faced disappointment over her options after SPM, she continued believing that her path would eventually lead her to where she needed to be. 

In a heartfelt acknowledgment, she thanked her entire family members, friends, relatives, with special mentions to her grandfather Marapan (Mom’s side). 

Sanggeetha’s journey is a reminder that success is not always about having the best facilities, the most resources or an easy starting point. Sometimes, it begins with a student sitting down to study at 3 AM, choosing discipline over distractions and refusing to give up on a dream.

From Baling to the corridors of UKM, Sanggeetha has shown that your background may shape where you begin, but it does not have to decide how far you can go.