Yna Aisyabella Usman showing the certificate with her parents, Usman Hanafiah and Roslinah Alik.
KOTA KINABALU: Yna Aisyabella Usman’s academic journey has been a testament to her battle against time and mental endurance.
The 18-year-old found a personal study method that works wonders for her, helping her to score straight As and place among the top in school.
"My method is simple," she explained.
"I wake up at 6am, perform my morning prayers and start studying before going to school. I do my homework in the evening and study (again) at night."
She said maintaining a good relationship with her friends and teachers enabled her to seek help whenever needed.
"Most importantly, I don’t push myself that hard, I take a break when I'm tired," said the only daughter to businessman Usman Hanafiah and teacher Roslinah Alik.
The former student of Sabah Science Secondary School, who scored 9As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, was among the 88 recipients of the Sabah Government Excellence Scholarship Award.
It was the second time she received the scholarship with the first being awarded after she scored 6As in the Primary School Evaluation Test (UPSR).
"Now, I’m one step closer to my dream of becoming a paediatric doctor," said Yna Aisyabella, who is pursuing the Foundation in Life Sciences course at Universiti Malaya.
She advised her juniors to find their own study methods, recognising that what works for one may not be suitable for another.
Her coursemate Enoch Kelvin Jausin, also a recipient, thanked his parents for their sacrifices and understanding to allow him to study without pressure.
"My parents are farmers, growing vegetables and fruits. I helped them out when I was free. I promise to make them proud and take care of them in the future," said the 18-year-old, who wanted to become a cardiologist.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Yayasan Sabah Group, entrusted with providing the award, has provided scholarships to 755 students since 1990.
"In total, RM704.5mil has been spent in the form of scholarships, bursaries and higher education loans, benefiting 44,075 students from Sabah between 1967 and 2023," he said.
Last year, the state government doubled the allocation for the Sabah State Government Scholarship to RM101mil, enabling 7,304 students to pursue their studies both locally and abroad this year, he added.
