GEORGE TOWN - As the country’s former squash queen and top female squash player for close to a decade, Datuk Nicol David continues to secure accolades from a grateful nation.
After an acclaimed professional career spanning 20 years with 108 consecutive months as the world number one female squash player, Datuk Nicol David is now Datuk Dr. Nicol David.
Nicol, who is said to have relocated to Kuala Lumpur to focus on her next career path as a businesswoman, received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University Malaysia today for her significant contribution to the high-endurance sport.
“I’m especially happy to be awarded by Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, who I admire dearly. Thank you to the provost Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi. I had the amazing chance to share a speech with the graduates and I wanted to share it with you,” said Nicol in her social media post.
In her own words, Nicol, who was born and raised in Penang, said that: “Playing squash professionally for over 20 years taught me great lessons and I wanted to use this short time to share some with you.
1. Life is never a straightforward path. We will encounter obstacles always in every step we take, some may be small, some may be big, but we will always have to reroute to find our path. There is no right path in life, the beauty is finding the strength in you to push through when things get tough. Hard work will always pay off and being resilient for your dreams.
2. Stay away from people that don’t encourage you. I wish we would encourage more people to dream big instead of always finding an argument why they won’t make it. Please don’t be that person, and please stay away from people that bring you down. Having a positive environment around you will make the biggest difference in your path to reach your dreams. Make it a priority.
3. Be a good person. Always remember no matter how successful you are, always be compassionate to others or the people around you. If you’re a good person in your life and in the career path you take, that really is the most important thing.
So, strive for your dreams and make this life count, said Nicol, who received a roaring response from the young audience - The Vibes, February 13, 2022
