The late bloomer: A Jill of all trades, master of none

Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, a Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, has described herself as a Jill of all trades and master of none throughout her life. She has tried her hand at various pursuits, including cooking, sewing, embroidery, design, gardening, collecting, writing, making, taking things apart, and putting them together again. Her hands have never been very steady, and her mind has always been wandering, but one thing she never thought of herself as was a scholar.

At the age of 64, Tunku Azizah decided to return to academic life and embarked on a journey of learning. She was surprised to find that she fell in love with the process of learning itself, rather than the end results such as examinations and grades. She began to explore old manuscripts, wondering about their history and significance, and ultimately decided to write a Master's thesis on the Hukum Kanun Pahang, a sovereign Malay-Islamic constitution.

After months of work, Tunku Azizah received her examination results, with an average mark of 91%. Both her internal and external examiners were impressed with her work and recommended that it be published in academic journals and presented at conferences. This unexpected recognition brought tears and laughter to Tunku Azizah, as she realized that her curiosity had no retirement age.

She had spent her life learning and preparing for this moment, and it was now time for her to share her discoveries with the wider academic world. The story is not just about her Master's degree or the 91% mark, but rather about the importance of following one's curiosity and the value of a lifetime of learning.