KOTA KINABALU: Veveonah Mosibin would not trade her past for anything, even if she had the chance to rewrite it – as she prefers to embrace her present reality.
The 23-year-old cat lover gained fame in 2020 with her viral 11-minute video, "24 Hours on a Tree", where she camped atop a tree to access the internet for an online exam.
Despite the unexpected fame, she said she would not change a thing.
"I would not change anything, even if I had a magic wand. Everything happens for a reason. I choose to live in the present and do my best," said Veveonah, the youngest of five siblings.
Born to farmer Mosibin Makrun and housewife Rofinah Ungo, she credits her education to her parents' encouragement and her elder siblings' achievements.
"My eldest brother is self-employed, managing land and farming. My second brother works as a senior chef at a restaurant in Genting Highlands. My sister, the third in the family, is a nurse at a private oncology hospital in Petaling Jaya, and my brother just before me is a manager at the Dorsett Hotel in Labuan," she said.
After earning a marine science degree with a CGPA of 3.46, Veveonah decided to follow her true passion - medicine.
She has been pursuing a five-year medical programme at the Management and Science University (MSU) in Shah Alam since October 1 last year, with plans to complete a two-year housemanship.
"I aim to work as a medical officer for a few years before specialising. I hope to become a surgeon.
For now, I’m focusing on preparing myself mentally and physically for the challenges ahead," she said, adding that the supportive environment and friendships she has built with hardworking peers keep her motivated.
Veveonah’s viral story prompted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to upgrade internet infrastructure in her village, Kampung Sapatalang, Pitas.
On Wednesday (Nov 1), the villagers enjoy better connectivity—an unexpected positive outcome of her efforts.
However, she admitted that sudden fame, coupled with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, took a toll on her mental health at the time.
She said an unstable mental state and depression once led her to make choices that did not reflect her true passions.
Although initially excited about marine science, she lost interest during the pandemic due to online learning, which lacked the hands-on experience crucial to the field.
In 2021, she realised her true calling was in medicine but decided to complete her marine science degree to fulfil her scholarship contract.
"Thankfully, I have recovered now. I didn’t expect the video to go viral. There was a lot of cyberbullying, with some calling me an attention seeker.
While it brought both pros and cons, I chose to focus on the positives. People would recognise me, and I would respond with kindness, but I never felt special or different. I was just happy to have contributed to my community in some way," she said.
Her greatest fear during that period was losing her motivation to study, which made her feel lazy at times.
"I pray that it never happens again. My parents’ words kept me going, they always remind me to stay true to myself, no matter where I am. They tell me to believe in myself, as only I can take steps forward for my own future," she said.
Veveonah recalled her fondest memories at MARA Junior Science College in Sandakan, where she first discovered her passion for learning, and her final year in the Marine Science programme at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), especially during her thesis project and internship at the UMS Aquarium and Marine Museum.
Last month, she returned to UMS to collect her degree scroll, accompanied by her parents.
Her advice to juniors: "Have perseverance and always strive to do your best. Manners and attitude matter, no matter the field you pursue. We may have different backgrounds, mindsets, and goals, but everything starts from within yourself. Where there’s a will, there’s a way."
Despite her achievements, Veveonah remains grounded.
"I am always grateful for what God has given me. But I know this is just the beginning of my medical school journey. I pray for strength and blessings to get through it, as I always have," she said.
Looking ahead, Veveonah hopes to return to Pitas to serve her community.
"That's the plan - to serve my community in Pitas. It is nearby, so I can just drive to work from home. It will be a short trip back to my village," she said with a smile.
She also hopes to bring positive changes to the healthcare system in Pitas by improving medical facilities and management, ensuring better services for patients in the area.
