BUKIT MERTAJAM: Nurul Syuhada Rohaizad,18, who scored 7As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, said her result was the best gift for her parents.
The daughter of a fishmonger and housewife said both her parents had sacrificed a lot to provide for her and her siblings.
She said her father, Rohaizad Othman, 43, worked hard to provide for the family while her mother, Norliza Ali, 44, took care of their needs at home.
“I always tell myself that education is the only way to turn around my family’s fortune.
“This 7As is the best gift to both my parents as well as my teachers who have been of great help.
“I hope that I can serve as an inspiration for my siblings, aged 13 and 14, to excel in their studies,” said Nurul Syuhada, who was announced as one of the best students for last year’s SPM examination.
The SM Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabuddin student adviced those who did not perform well, to not give up.
“Poor results should not be a hindrance for us to excel in future,” she added.
She also said that staying in the school’s hostel served as an added advantage to her and her friends because they got up at 5am daily to study.
She hopes to further her studies at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) to fulfil her dreams of becoming an architect.
Earlier, Nurul Syuhada and other top students were feted in a celebration held at the school, attended by state Education Department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad.
Earlier, Abdul Rashid said some 644 students obtained all As in Penang for last year’s SPM examination.
Overall, some 15,451 students out of 20,877 students or 84.51 per cent were eligible for certificates after passing Malay and History subjects.
The State Average Grade (GPN) for 2019 was 4.86.