Cancer does not stop Amira from achieving success, receives University Gold Award

PAYA BESAR, 6 August 2022 – When it was confirmed that she had muscle tissue cancer or rhabdomyosarcoma in the early semester of her study, Amira Abdul Talib, 29, felt that it had increased the burden on the family.

“My family is not from a simple circle and we live from hand to mouth.

“My main goal in pursuing my study is to learn and work to help my family.

“When I was tested like this, for God's sake, I was really not strong,” she said.

However, now, the daughter of Abdul Talib Mohd Nor and Lijah Ibrahim could smile proudly when she was selected as the recipient of the University Gold Award at the UMP 16th Convocation Ceremony at the first session of the Sports Complex Hall, UMP Gambang Campus.

Despite being forced to defer her study for three semesters to undergo surgery and chemotherapy, Amira bounced back for her beloved family.

She added that since her return to UMP, she joined the Secretariat of the Generation of Healthy Students (GENESIS) which focuses on health from various aspects.

“One of the programmes that I organised that is so close to me was the World Cancer Day Programme which was also participated by the National Cancer Council (MAKNA).

“I chose GENESIS to be active in the co-curriculum because I can feel GENESIS is the best field for me to bring myself as a cancer survivor,” she said.

Her only desire is to inspire people to be aware and concerned about cancer.

In addition, she wanted to prove that cancer is not the end of life and every test that Allah SWT gives is a gift for us.

She said UMP helped her a lot, especially financially and in terms of facilities.

She was very fortunate to meet good friends throughout her study at UMP.

In fact, she was also grateful when she graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.70.

This MAKNA scholarship recipient also loved to share knowledge with her friends.

“I can feel the satisfaction if I share or teach my friends.

“I get happier if they understand what I’m teaching.

“I've been doing this since my diploma study,” she said.

When asked about her hopes and desires for the future, Amira expected to be granted good health to continue to serve her family.

This Bachelor of Project Management with Honours graduate currently serves Emerson Process Management as a Master of Production Scheduler.

By: Siti Nurfarmy Ibrahim, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology