After loss and responsibility, Adam begins a new chapter at university

Muhammad Adam Iskandar Azharunaim, a 20-year-old Malaysian student, has embarked on a new chapter in his life after years of balancing his education with the responsibilities of caring for his family. In 2021, Adam lost his father to Covid-19, after which his mother developed stage-4 brain cancer. To manage the situation, Adam devoted himself to taking care of his mother and three younger siblings, including his sisters Nur Alya Syafiah and Nur Aneesya Syafiyah, and his brother Ashraf Iskandar, who has a physical disability.

Despite scoring nine As in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Adam deferred his university plans to ensure his mother received the necessary treatment at Penang Hospital.

Adam's commitment to his family's welfare paid off when he achieved a perfect 4.00 CGPA in his STPM examination. This remarkable accomplishment enabled him to receive an offer from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to pursue a Bachelor of Education (History) with Honours. However, his mother had already passed away by the time the offer was extended, just two weeks before her death on August 24, 2021.

Adam was informed about the support he would receive through the university's Siswa Sulung programme, which covers tuition fees and hostel costs for four years.

Adam's story caught the attention of USM's vice-chancellor, Abdul Rahman Mohamed, who personally visited the family and pledged his support under the Siswa Sulung programme. This initiative benefits over 200 students annually, with more than 1,200 individuals having received assistance since its inception. Despite his family's challenges, Adam remains resolute in his pursuit of education as the most viable path to improve their future.