03-07-2025
Aisyah lost her mum, fought cancer but never gave up her teaching dream
BANGI: The road to achieving her dream of becoming a teacher was anything but easy for 23-year-old Aisyah Humaira' Mohd Aqbal.
She lost her mother during the first year of her studies, and her situation was compounded when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in her fourth year.
Despite the odds including enduring nine rounds of chemotherapy, the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) graduate who specialised in Malay language education persevered and completed her degree.
"I wasn't too disheartened when I was first diagnosed with cancer. All I wanted was to complete my studies as soon as possible.
"My doctors were very encouraging and urged me to begin treatment immediately.
"Some of my friends were shocked and saddened when they found out," she said when met at the 15th Convocation Ceremony of the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM) in Bangi today.
Aisyah said she had to miss several classes during her recovery, as each chemotherapy session left her too weak to attend lectures.
"There were many challenges. I had to skip classes while undergoing treatment because I couldn't return right after chemo.
"That was one of the sacrifices I had to make to finish my studies. For me, I had to keep fighting to complete these five years," she said.
Aisyah said her mother died due to Covid-19 and a stroke during her first year at IPG, a tragedy that became a source of strength and motivation to carry on.
"My late mother was a Malay language teacher, and I inherited my passion for teaching from her.
"When she fell ill, I was able to return home to take care of her before she passed away."
Due to her medical condition, Aisyah was transferred from the Sarawak campus to IPG Darulaman so she could continue her studies while receiving treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.
Meanwhile, the ceremony turned sombre when the parents of the late Nurul Alya Fatnin Mohd Mawardzi took to the stage to receive their daughter's scroll on her behalf.
Nurul Alya, an Islamic Education student from IPG Sultan Mizan Campus in Besut, Terengganu, died in a road accident shortly before completing her studies.
Her scroll was presented by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
