Learning passion: Tong is earnest about learning and being enlightened.
The saying that one is never too old to learn holds true
for three ‘golden gals’ who recently earned their Master’s degree in
different fields.
WHEN other students were asked about the stages of human development in
the classroom, they religiously pored over their textbooks looking for
answers rather than staking their opinion based on personal experiences.
This, however,wasn’t the case with retiree Tong Nyuk Kee.
At 60, the mother of two knows all too well about the parameters of human growth. She has experienced them first hand.
Tong
was one of the three senior citizens who received their Master’s degree
at the recent Universiti Malaya’s (UM) convocation ceremony.
A passion for learning was why Tong decided to enrol in the university’s postgraduate Education programme in the first place.
“I
know this has been said so many times, but learning is indeed a
lifelong process. You are never too old to face new challenges,” says
the former senior assistant (Student’s Affairs) at SMK Sri Rahmat in
Johor Baru.
Just like Tong, Datin Saidatul Badru Mohd Sais, who
obtained her Master’s degree in Syariah at the age of 61, believes that
age is no barrier to learning.
“To me,
warga emas (senior
citizen) is just a term. It does not dictate what you can or cannot do.
As long as you have the will power, you should not stop yourself in the
pursuit of knowledge,” she shares adding that she enjoys the learning
process.
The grandmother of three, who is also actively involved
in various charity organisations, cites her exuberance for life as a
driving force that made her return to the ivory tower.
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| Doting grandma: Saidatul with her three grandchildren after the ceremony. |
Lifelong learning
“I
have as much vitality as the other younger people and I believe that I
still have much to offer to society,” says Saidatul who hails from
Sabah.
The eldest of the trio, Azimah Awang Teh, 62, shares Saidatul’s sentiments.
“I don’t dwell on my age because I feel young!” exclaims the mother of
five while adding that she decided to further her studies because “there
is still so much to learn”.
Azimah who was conferred a Master of
Usuluddin degree, hopes to use the additional knowledge she gained to
preach the teachings of Islam to her family.
While all three
ladies are in their “swinging sixties”, never once did they feel that
age was a barrier in the presence of their younger classmates. As a
matter of fact, they were easily accepted by their fellow students.
Tong attributes this to her youthful looks.
“I might be 60 but I don’t look old. That’s probably why my classmates and I get along just fine,” she jokes.
Azimah who has also shared a good relationship with her classmates recounts how the other students would call her “mummy”.
“I’ve
been the mother figure in class. My younger classmates usually come to
me for advice and I have always obliged them,” she shares.
While
the trio had willingly gone back to their books at a time when many of
their peers were slowing down, their advice to fellow seniors is to
follow their dreams.
Young at heart: Azimah doesn’t dwell on her age as there is so much to learn.
Azimah says that if they are keen to study, they should “just enrol and do it”.
They will probably have to start anew by learning the basics, but that shouldn’t deter them,” she adds.
“A lot of older people fear that they won’t be able to cope with the study workload, but they shouldn’t stress over it.
“They should just perform and try to remember what they’ve learnt,” Tong offers.
Saidatul
adds that senior citizens must constantly strive to seek knowledge and
hopes the government will actively advocate education not just for young
people but also for older adults and the elderly too.
“I hope
the relevant authorities will consider awarding education grants to
senior citizens. That would definitely motivate them to further their
studies,” she offers.
In fact all three women have not discounted the idea of pursuing their doctorates in the near future.
A total of 6,636 graduates from 20 faculties received their degrees and diplomas from UM this year.
Among them were Lee Heng Wai who is hearing impaired and Mohd Kalam Mazad Abdul Rahman who is blind.
