Time is now

It was a day to remember for 229 graduating students during the afternoon session last Wednesday of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)’s 27th Convocation as they received their Masters Degree and diplomas yesterday from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Chancellor of UBD.

The recipients in the afternoon included master’s degree and diploma students, who were clearly happy to be receiving the reward for their studious efforts.

One such recipient was Hajah Azratul Azrina binti Haji Md Zain, who was the only student in the Diploma in Education course this year to attain a Pass with Distinction.

Hajah Azratul is a Business Art and Technology teacher from Sayyidina Husain Secondary School in Jerudong with five years of experience. Speaking to the Bulletin, she credited her success to hard work, giving her best and good support from the people around her.

On the course itself, she shared, “It taught me how to better handle students, how to approach students with different learning styles, and focusing more on SPN21 and how to communicate and collaborate well.”

She highlighted that she now feels better equipped after having undergone the course, and that she is looking forward to continuing her service as a teacher and also hopes to continue upgrading herself with higher qualifications.

Hajah Azratul also expressed her thanks to her lecturers, her family, friends and colleagues for their support.

Another recipient was Haji Mohammad Redzuan bin Haji Botty, who received a Masters of Education by Coursework, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education.

“Alhamdulillah, for the past two years of undergoing Masters of Education in Mathematics I have managed to obtain a lot of knowledge, skill and experience from discussions, academic readings as well as research that I carried out last year, and Insya Allah I will be able to fully use all that in my profession as a teacher and an education officer at the Ministry of Education.”

Haji Mohammad Redzuan teaches at Saiyyidina Umar Al-Khattab Secondary School, but also aids in teaching at primary schools and at the Brunei Darussalam Teachers’ Academy on some days.
Sharing some advice, he said, “To those still studying, always stay motivated and always make an effort to strive to get out of your comfort zone as well as to try things as long as you can try things.”
This, he said, includes carrying out research, having independent learning, and not relying solely on lecturers or other people.

“Importantly, always know how to divide your time,” he added.

Norhafiza Rabiatul Adawiyah Noorazmi was another to graduate yesterday, receiving a Masters of Teaching in Secondary Education.

She said that she was happy to know that her hard work has paid off and to have received her certificate.

Speaking with the Bulletin on her experience, she shared, “The course was year-long and we taught classes in the morning and attend lectures in the afternoon, so that was like every day of the whole year for two semesters, but I know now that with this it was all worth it.”

Sharing some words of wisdom, she highlighted, “People should just go out there and go for an adventure to look for opportunities, and not to let it slip away by waiting.”

“I’ve recently been accepted to the English apprenticeship under the Brunei-US English Enrichment Programme, so I’m very lucky that after this I will be heading to Hawaii next month and we’ve started our course last year, so Alhamdulillah. So just be independent, go out there and don’t be scared,” she added. Text courtesy of Danial Norjidi, Izah Azahari & Wani Roslan of Borneo Bulletin.