“IT does not matter where you start, it is where you end that is more important.”
Shuhaila Shahalim, 33, lived by these words in her strive for success. Born and bred in Kangar, Perlis, she comes from a family of seven siblings. Her father Shahalim Hassan is a plumber while her mother Noraidah Ahmad has a small business selling food.
Shuhaila spent her early years at SK Bintong and later attended secondary school at SMK Derma.
“I was sidelined at school most of the time because I was very quiet but quite active in sports and clubs. I did pretty well in UPSR and PMR but did not fare so well in SPM. I was devastated and thought that was the end of my studies.”
She, however, continued her studies at a private college and managed to get good results. But she stopped her studies to look after her sick mother while doing odd jobs such as washing dishes at her uncle’s shop and worked as a sales assistant at a mobile phone shop.
With an interest in skills training, she enrolled in a Certificate in Fashion and Clothing Design course at a community college in Arau.
“I was 24 years old at that time and married. I didn’t expect that pursuing Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) will be the best decision I make in my life. It boosted my confidence.
“After gaining the qualification two years later, I tried my hand at starting a small business. I took orders to sew from friends and villagers.
“My former lecturers and friends from the community college have always encouraged me to improve my abilities,” she said.
Generating her income from a home business with only two sewing machines, it took her four years to acquire eight more machines.
“At the age of 30, I expanded my business to include my headscarf brand Aarella and opened a boutique.
“TVET is a quality education pathway, with opportunity in the field of entrepreneurship.”
Shuhaila now earns RM80,000 per month and her achievements include Best Entrepreneurial Awards 2015 @ MOHE Entrepreneurial Awards 2015. She also sponsors Astro Awani news readers’ shawls.
She advises youth to “stay humble”. “There is no limit to gaining the knowledge and love what you do”.
Shuhaila Shahalim’s experience is one of the success stories of TVET graduates. Learning Curve writer ZULITA MUSTAFA also finds out more on TVET landscape in the country and why is important for the government to address the need for skilled workers in the TVET sector and work towards a high income nation. Read more exclusively in the print edition of the New Sunday Times on Feb 14.