AN Orang Asli student from the Temiar tribe in Gua Musang became the first student from the community in Kelantan to obtain 8As in the 2024 SPM examination.
Nur Syafienaz Nazri, 18, a student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Panggung Jaya proved that her living conditions and family background were not obstacles to achieving academic excellence.
Growing up in Kampung Merlong, Rancangan Pengumpulan Semula (RPS) Kuala Betis, she was among eight Orang Asli students in the state who passed all subjects but was the only one to score 8As.
"I want to prove to my community that we can also succeed. This is my first step to achieving my ambition to become a teacher," she said as reported by Bernama.
Nur Syafienaz said her success was the result of discipline, focus, and unwavering support from her teachers, friends and family, especially her mother who works as a seamstress and is the backbone of her education.
"I want to change the fate of my family and my mother has sacrificed a lot. I have held on to that resolve since Form One," she said.
The eldest child said that although her house is only about 25 minutes from school, she chose to live in the dormitory to ensure she does not miss out on extra classes and learning activities.
Nur Syafienaz intends to continue her studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in the Foundations of English programme as an initial step towards a career as an educator.
Meanwhile, her mother Siti Norsyakila Kamarzaman, 36, said Nur Syafienaz's success is a motivation not only for her siblings but also for other Orang Asli students living in the interior.
"I hope this is not the end but the beginning for more Orang Asli children who dare to dream and strive to achieve their ambitions," she said. – April 25, 2025
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