Hard work takes Nur Zahirah from motel rooms to NZ courtroom
KUALA LUMPUR: By day, she worked towards becoming a lawyer; on weekends, she helped her family sell kuih and cleaned motel rooms to make ends meet.
Malaysian Nur Zahirah Khairudin, 25, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming a qualified lawyer in New Zealand after a journey filled with hard work and determination. Born into a family of seven siblings, Zahirah is the second child and holds a double degree in Law and Arts from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, specializing in Japanese Language and Culture, and Linguistics.
Her interest in law emerged during her secondary school years in Malaysia when she joined an English debate club. This early exposure to law and her enjoyment of reading and investigating solidified her decision to pursue a legal career. Zahirah officially moved to New Zealand with her parents, Khairudin Mohamed, and Zarita Abdul Razak, eight years ago. While she had the opportunity to study on a scholarship, she chose to fund her education through a student loan and eventually gained permanent resident status.
Balancing her academic responsibilities with her family's income and living expenses, Zahirah had to work part-time, often helping her family make and sell kuih and cleaning motel rooms on weekends. Despite the demanding schedules and exhausting days, she remained committed to her studies and the path to becoming a lawyer. Zahirah credits her hard work, disciplined lifestyle, family values, and faith as the main sources of her strength throughout her journey.
Her success has garnered praise on social media, where many admire her resilience and dedication to her ambitions despite the challenges she faced. Zahirah is now set to begin her legal career at a law firm in Auckland, where she plans to specialize in family, coronial, and immigration law.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
