Life does not always pan out the way we planned it – at times, a new opportunity may present itself, or a roadblock stops you from going forward, or you simply change your mind about what you want to do. In a world where people try to complete their tertiary education fast, taking some time off between life stages takes a level of determination and resilience. For Emma Azwar, her experiences in school and college had instilled in her these traits, making her confident in the decision that a gap year was exactly what she needed for 2020.
INTI International College Subang Diploma in Mechanical Engineering alumnus Emma Azwar poses with her classmates from SMK Convent Bukit Nanas during their graduation ceremony.
Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, 21-year-old Emma had spent most of her secondary school years in SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN), an all-girls school located in the city that needs no introduction to Malaysians. Besides being one of the oldest schools in the country, SMK Convent Bukit Nanas has also always produced excellent results for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia public exams. Its alumni include the likes of former Minister of International Trade and Industry, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz. According to Emma, CBN provides its students with a vibrant and holistic environment for growth.
“I am actually a very shy and reserved person by nature, but being in CBN and being surrounded by driven yet free-spirited personalities helped me open up more and gave me the confidence and discipline to follow through with my studies while making friends and having fun in the process,” she said.
Emma, who shared that she was just an average student at the school, was a Dean’s List student when she pursued her Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at INTI International College Subang. While she admitted that college lecturers were more relaxed in their teaching approach, she will forever be grateful to her teachers at CBN for always emphasizing the importance of doing their best and to learn from failures or setbacks.
“The students there were such high achievers, and they did not quit when faced with challenges. They moved on quickly from blunders and this inspired me to do the same in college where I had to deal with difficult assignments, making new friends, and managing my time,” she said.
It was only after Emma completed her internship and her diploma that she came to a crossroads, unsure of whether she wanted to continue studying for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She felt that the field did not hold the same interest as it did in the beginning.
“In the end I just felt like Mechanical Engineering was not for me, but I didn’t know what else I wanted to study. I did not want to make a hasty decision that I may regret later, so after discussing matters with my parents, they were fine with me taking time to decide and even offered me a position in their company. I’ve set a time frame of about one year to give studying a break and to focus on work and other areas of life,” she expressed.
Now Emma is an Assistant Project Manager at Global Marine Surveying Sdn Bhd where she oversees the planning and execution of survey projects. She said she now dedicates most of her time on work, saving up for future travels, and learning the ins and outs of running a business.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot since I graduated at the end of 2019. Being surrounded by people who are much old and wiser has made me realise the importance of knowing how to navigate and handle life’s situations. Getting the opportunity to experience working full time and earning my own money, as well as being able to spend time forming my own opinions about my education and future has given me a different outlook on my priorities in life,” said Emma.
When asked what was most memorable about her gap year so far, she said the whole year has been a memorable experience.
“I used to think that I had to go to extremities, like travel around the world or move to a completely different city or country to grow as a person and discover my likes and dislikes. But I have come to realize that change and discoveries happens in the little decisions you make from day to day and making use of the opportunity and experiences that are right in front of you can also contribute to your personal development,” she said with a smile, adding that there is a possibility that she may pursue a degree in business so that she can contribute her knowledge and ideas to the company.
INTI International College Subang Diploma in Mechanical Engineering alumnus Emma Azwar said taking a gap year has allowed her to form her own opinions about her education and future and has also given her a different outlook on priorities in life.
When asked about her thought on gap years for other people her age, Emma stresses that it is important to have an idea of what a person plans to do during the gap year.
“Without proper planning you may end up wasting the year away and not getting anything out of it. Or you could end up learning more about yourself and your interests which can enable you to plan for a future better than the one you would have settled for prior to it. A gap year can give you a better mindset and higher coping skills to pull you through your next endeavour,” she said.
Meanwhile, CBN’s school counsellor, Puan Tan Siew Im, who has been with the institution for 17 years, expressed pride in Emma’s achievement in tertiary education.
“The school has always encouraged students to be an all-rounder. We offer them an environment where curiosity and speaking up is welcome. Our students are exposed to competitions and speaking engagements, even during our assembly, which helps foster a love for knowledge,” she said.
When asked her view on students taking a gap year from education, Puan Tan feels that there is sometimes a need for students to spend time to explore who they are and their interests.
“A student would have thought over the decision carefully with their parents first I’m sure. I congratulate Emma for her academic success at INTI and wish her the best for whatever she chooses to study next. We at CBN are always happy to hear how our alumni are doing well after they graduate from our institution,” Puan Tan concluded.