Just got home after a long day. That horrific incident we read about, the school is right in front of my house. Sitting alone in my car, I keep asking myself how this could have happened. There are so many questions, and so few answers. It reminds me of the 2021 case in Singapore, when a 16-year-old student killed a 13-year-old schoolmate in a school bathroom. As we wait for more details from the authorities, I can’t imagine what the teachers and students here must be going through. The incident happened inside their school, and some students were directly affected as the attacker entered their classrooms before being apprehended. While we search for answers, we should also start talking about solutions. Are we prepared for such attacks in the future? What protocols are in place? Schools need lockdown drills, exit plans and clear security procedures. CCTV can help, but in a crisis, quick action matters more. Afterward, post-trauma protocols should be activated to support teachers and students, manage emotional distress, and help the community process what happened. Crisis communication is crucial too. Post-crisis messaging should focus on empathy and understanding, explaining adolescent mental health, stress, social pressures and the influence of social media, while setting the right example to curb disinformation and sensationalism. Tomorrow, we can all be a little kinder. Offer support to teachers, students and families. Help as a community. The school needs time and space to heal.

[Reflections] Not getting into Universiti Malaya is not the end of the world. It has always been competitive, even back in 2006 when I completed my STPM. This is a long post, please be patient with me. I did not manage a perfect CGPA of 4.00, but I was satisfied with 3.42. •General Paper (Pengajian Am): A •Biology: B+ •Chemistry: B+ •Pure Mathematics: B In SPM 2004, I scored 10As (7A1, 3A2). I applied for every major scholarship available at the time, yet received no reply. Why? Because I made mistakes in my applications and did not optimise my chances. Information was limited then, and I simply did not know better. I was offered places at UNITEN and MMU for engineering, but I declined. My parents could not afford to support another child studying in West Malaysia while my brother was already in UPM. Form 6 and STPM became my only path, since I was not offered matriculation or foundation programmes. At that time, I felt deeply disappointed. But looking back now, it was a valuable lesson. After STPM, I applied more carefully, determined not to repeat the mistakes I made after SPM. With my CGPA, I had more choices and kept an open mind. Out of eight programme options, I was offered my preferred choice: Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). Coincidentally, it was in my hometown, at the same university and programme where my mother worked as a clinical instructor. Sometimes, God arranges things in ways we cannot immediately understand. I began my studies with a PTPTN loan, but later managed to secure a JPA scholarship after working hard to make the Dean’s List. That support carried me through all four years at UNIMAS, and it was truly a blessing. I knew then that entering prestigious universities such as Universiti Sains Malaysia or Universiti Malaya as an undergraduate was unlikely. These institutions were highly competitive, as they still are today. Yet the journey I took brought me to where I am now. Since graduating from UNIMAS in 2011, I have no regrets. The experiences, challenges, and people I met shaped me into who I am today. In Malay, we call this rezeki, or blessings from above. When one door closes, another will open, provided we are willing to create new paths and step forward ourselves. There is a Malay proverb that stays with me: “Ukur baju pada badan sendiri, hendak seribu daya, tak hendak seribu dalih.” Knowing your own limits, being humble, and persevering with effort are all important. Life is not always fair and there will be discrimination and setbacks, but that should not stop us from seeking other options or creating our own opportunities. In October 2021, I finally entered Universiti Malaya to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy, the university I had dreamed of since my undergraduate days. I graduated in 2022 while still working at the EU, 11 years after my bachelor’s in 2011. Now, as I prepare for my next chapter, I remind myself of a phrase I learned from my Muslim friends: “Wallahu A’lam” — God knows best. But faith alone is not enough. We must put in effort, remain open to opportunities, and keep moving forward. Looking back, every rejection, every closed door, and every disappointment turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Life is not about where you begin, but about the resilience and choices that carry you forward.