Good job!: (From left) Ho, sydny and pua, who were among 14.5% of international students from across 102 countries selected to attend Harvard College, are currently studying for their a-levels.
PETALING JAYA: Three bright young ones have made the country proud by being accepted into the prestigious Harvard College in Massachusetts.
And two of them have vowed to return home to serve after their return from the United States.
Ho Shu Xin, 20, said she was grateful for the country’s free education system but wants to help make it better.
“While I have greatly benefited, I feel that I can use the knowledge gained from Harvard to improve our education system,” said the Yayasan Khazanah scholar who aspires to be a social worker upon her return.
Being accepted to Harvard College to major in Educational Psychology, was not something she dared to even dream about –until she read about her SMJK Ave Maria Convent senior, who was selected in 2020, in The Star.
Seeing that someone from her hometown could also make it to Harvard motivated her to excel in her SPM, and to do research about studying abroad.
“It felt like a miracle, I was so happy,” she said, adding that it was a soul-searching process for her to write personal essays required for the application process. A Unicef young leader, Ho said she resonates with Harvard’s mission of developing future world-changing leaders.
Describing Ho as inspiring, Khazanah Nasional Berhad research head and alumni interviewer Nick Khaw said she is an example of how Malaysian students from all backgrounds can have a great impact on their communities, while demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, Shu Xin founded Project 30,000 Hours, an organisation that aims to help develop students’ self-leadership skills and restore access to online learning.
“She is also involved in Thrive Well, an organisation that offers community mental health programmes to students in PPR flats with sessions on how to manage stress, build psychological resilience and self-esteem.”
Joining Ho in the United States are Pua E Rick who will be majoring in Biological Sciences, and Sydny Lum Shen Li.
Sydny, who plans to major in Economics, applied to Harvard because she wanted to challenge herself and show the world that Malaysians can be competitive and successful on a global stage.
“I am looking forward to finding the answers to academic mysteries, collaborating with others, and tapping into the collective intelligence of the Harvard community.
“I look forward to bringing back the skills and knowledge gained to help build a better Malaysia.
“This is after all my home,” the 17-year-old said.
Perseverance and diligence, she said, are key because the application process is rigorous.
The trio, who were among 14.5% of international students from across 102 countries selected to attend Harvard College, are currently studying for their A-Levels.
Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the toughest to get into.
In Malaysia, there are currently less than 10 alumni of Harvard College. The acceptance rate this year was 3.41%.
Harvard alumni interviewer Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob, who is also the President of the Harvard Club of Malaysia, said admissions are “need-blind” and financial aid is 100% “need-based”.
This year marks the second consecutive year that Harvard College has expanded its financial aid policy for low- and middle-income families.
For families with annual incomes falling below US$85,000 (RM374,382), attendance is free.
First-year students from these families will also receive a US$2,000 (RM8,809) start-up grant to help with move-in costs and other expenses.
Harvard has also waived standardised testing requirements for the third year running, and this policy will extend to all applicants up till the Class of 2030.
