The path to achieving one’s dreams is rarely linear. Mine certainly wasn’t. It was a road filled with detours, challenges, and lessons that shaped who I am today. As I write this, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and pride, having finally graduated on 7th December 2024, after a nine-year journey from Diploma to Degree. This milestone is not just a testament to my perseverance but also to the unwavering support of the people who believed in me every step of the way.

My higher education journey began at LimKokWing University, where I pursued a Diploma in Multimedia, Advertising, and Broadcasting. It was an exciting chapter filled with creativity and discovery. During my time there, I was honored with the Royal International Goodwill Ambassador Award and the Command Excellence Performance Award—recognitions that fueled my passion and affirmed my potential.

But life had other plans for me. After completing my diploma, I decided to step into the professional world to gain real-life experience. For nearly two years, I worked in Customer Service at a mobile app startup company, learning skills that textbooks couldn’t teach. This time away from academia was a turning point, giving me a taste of the real world and igniting my determination to further my education.

In 2018, I resumed my studies, enrolling in Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, for a Bachelor of Multimedia (Hons) in Advertising Design. The decision to go back to school wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. I poured my heart into my studies and graduated with a CGPA of 3.60—a personal achievement that reaffirmed my dedication and passion.

However, life’s journey rarely goes as planned. In 2020, just as I was navigating my final years in university, I took a bold leap into entrepreneurship, founding ZafZaf Ventures Sdn Bhd and SmileStudio Dental Clinic with Dr. Syed Zafri. Balancing the demands of running a business and completing my studies was no small feat. The responsibilities were immense, and my focus shifted toward building my company during one of the most uncertain times—the COVID-19 pandemic.

This pivotal decision required me to take a Leave of Absence for one year, which delayed my academic calendar, internship, and eventual graduation. There were moments of doubt and exhaustion, where I questioned whether I could truly juggle it all. But every challenge taught me resilience, and every setback became a stepping stone.

Today, as I hold my degree in my hands, I am filled with nothing but gratitude. Alhamdulillah, I thank God for giving me the strength to persevere. I am deeply indebted to my parents, whose unwavering faith in me never wavered, even when mine did. To my family, classmates, friends, and lecturers, your support, encouragement, and patience carried me through.

To anyone reading this who might feel like their goals are slipping away or that the journey is taking longer than expected, I want to tell you this: Your timeline is your own. There is no "right" time to achieve your dreams—only the determination to keep moving forward.

This nine-year journey wasn’t just about earning a degree. It was about growth, resilience, and the realization that dreams don’t come with expiration dates. As I close this chapter, I look forward to the future with excitement and hope, knowing that the lessons I’ve learned along the way will guide me in whatever comes next.

To everyone who believed in me—thank you from the bottom of my heart. This achievement is as much yours as it is mine.

Here’s to never giving up on our dreams, no matter how long it takes to achieve them.