KUALA LUMPUR: The challenges of university life vary for every student, and Muhammad Afig Iskandar Adrel, 24, is no exception.
Speaking to Bernama at Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) 48th convocation ceremony, Muhammad Afig, a Bachelor of Business Administration student with Honours from UPM's School of Business and Economics, shared that he had worked more than five part-time jobs, including selling burgers, food delivery, running a chicken rice stall, and working as a banquet server at a hotel during his time as a student.
"My family has a moderate income; my father works as a lorry driver and my mother is a stall assistant," he said.
The eldest of two siblings, Muhammad Afig acknowledged that he had grown accustomed to hardship and independence in earning money, which led him to start his business venture.
Supported by UPM's Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Graduate Employability (CEM), he opened a burger stall that provided him with an income but also allowed him to help other students facing similar struggles to earn money.
"I never asked for money from my family because I didn't want to burden them. I took the initiative to find ways to earn money to cover my expenses while studying at UPM," he said.
Muhammad Afig added that this experience made him realise that it's not easy to become successful, and it's not difficult to fall into hardship. He knew he had to rise above his circumstances to change the future for himself and his family.
"Sometimes, I felt like giving up, but I strengthened my resolve by picturing the faces of my mother and father. By remembering them, all the fatigue and struggles disappeared," he added.-- BERNAMA