Heart And Soul: Three brothers rise to success thanks to parents' support

The Star

12 hours ago

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When I was born, I was the only son in the family. For the first five years of my life, I received all the love and attention from my parents – my mother, Radhiah Muhammad, and my father, Rafie Ismail.
That changed when my mother gave birth to my younger brother – suddenly, I had a playmate and companion to share my days with.
A few years later, our third brother arrived. Just like that, there were three of us boys – no sisters in sight.
As we grew up, our parents constantly emphasised the importance of education. At the time, I didn't fully understand why it mattered so much – and, to be honest, I wasn't very interested.
Everything changed when I entered primary school. Once a year, after the mid-year exams, we had Report Card Day, when parents met with teachers to discuss our progress. I still remember the look of disappointment on my father's face when he saw my poor results. It hit me hard.
That moment became a turning point. I began to see the bigger picture – and realised that, as the eldest, I needed to set a good example for my brothers. I knew I had to make a change, though I wasn't sure how.
I explored various paths. I enrolled in a secondary school programme focused on mechanical engineering, but it didn't go well – numbers weren't my strength.
After my SPM, my mother suggested I try law. It felt like a total reset – but one I needed.
Studying law required strong English, critical thinking, and discipline. It wasn't easy, but I told myself there was no turning back.
Eventually, I earned my Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and was admitted as an advocate and solicitor. From then on, I made it my mission to guide my younger brothers – just as others had guided me.
Second brother Ahmad Hazman Rafie, wearing a pink ceremonial sash after receiving the Vice Chancellor's Award, together with our parents, Rafie (1st from left) and Radhiah, on his graduation day.
My second brother, Ahmad Hazman Rafie, pursued a degree in surveying – and excelled. He did so well, in fact, that he was awarded the Vice Chancellor's Award.
I was involved when he was choosing his course, helping him weigh the options. At one point, I worried – what if he wasn't genuinely interested? What if my influence became a burden? Thankfully, everything worked out. I'm incredibly proud of him. He has a bright future ahead in his field.
My youngest brother, Luth Mikhail Rafie, recently received his SPM results – a perfect score: 9As, including 6A+. That's something I could never have imagined achieving myself.
When he was applying to boarding schools, I helped him prepare by providing reading materials and exercises. But the real credit belongs to him. He worked tirelessly, constantly pushing himself to succeed.
Youngest brother Luth Mikhail Rafie celebrating joyfully after achieving straight As in his SPM results.
I deeply admire his determination and spirit. I pray he continues to thrive in whichever path he chooses – and he knows I'll always support him.
Looking at the three of us, one thing is clear – the true heroes of our story are our parents. They instilled in us the value of education. While all parents want the best for their children, each has a different approach. Ours worked beautifully.
Some of their lessons remain etched in my mind:
'Even if parents leave their children with a mountain of gold, it can vanish in the blink of an eye without the knowledge to use it.'
'We have cleared the forest for you to reach the mountain of success – now it is up to you to climb it.'
'We are only sending you to school to read books – not to fight a war.'
I am deeply grateful for the love of my family – a love that continues to grow and ripple outward to my son, my relatives, my in-laws, and my friends. I hope our story spreads some of that love and positivity to others.