Malaysian student is the top of her class at Virginia Tech with 4.0 CGPA

MALAYSIAN student Irdina Shahriman, 24, has come out at the top of her class of almost 10,000 graduates at Virginia Tech, a highly regarded technical university in the United States.

Marking her accomplishment, she received a Phi Kappa Phi medallion – an award conferred to senior graduates with the highest academic results – from her university's College of Engineering.

The Yayasan Tenaga Nasional scholar had achieved a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 throughout her four years of study from 2018 to 2021, ending with her obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

"I am not a 'genius' by nature, so I worked hard. I did not skip classes, I took notes diligently, and more importantly, I took the initiative to connect with my professors and classmates, which enhanced my understanding of the subject matter," Irdina told StarEdu.

The Subang Jaya native, who graduated in December of last year, said it was challenging to experience a foreign education system, as well as a male-dominated field of study. Being halfway around the world from home was another challenge.

"They put a lot of emphasis on expressing your views, being more creative, and thinking beyond what is being taught," she said. 

She also said the education system at Virginia Tech demanded consistency, with exams twice a week during the semesters being fairly common. That made having a social life difficult as assignments and studying took more time. 

However, Irdina says she was able to maintain a proper level of self care by getting enough sleep, exercising and eating homecooked meals.

Since graduation, she has returned to Malaysia and is currently awaiting a placement to start her career at Tenaga Nasional Berhad. – The Vibes, April 9, 2022