“I am a very proactive person who allows myself to be guided by opportunities while at the same time being tethered to specific pursuits.”

That is how I often describe myself, because my path has never been about rigid blueprints. Instead, I embrace opportunities as they arrive, trusting that each one will teach me something and pull me closer to where I am meant to be.

The Scholarship That Changed Everything

Receiving the Yayasan Khazanah Global Scholarship, under the Early Harvest intake, was the turning point of my life. Unlike the typical post-SPM application process, where students apply for several scholarships after results are released, this was one of the few opportunities available beforehand. I was fortunate to secure it based on my Trial examination results, extracurricular achievements, and after successfully going through multiple rounds of interviews—right in the middle of my SPM examinations.

It wasn’t so much a gamble as it was a unique path I was able to take, and when the results came, I knew I had been given a rare and extraordinary opportunity. The scholarship is among the most prestigious awards in Malaysia, offering full sponsorship for my A-Level studies at Kolej Yayasan UEM before sending me abroad for my undergraduate degree.

Why Law Meets Anthropology: The Choice of LSE

When it came time to choose a degree, I didn’t want to confine myself to a single path. Law alone was appealing, but I wanted something more value-added: something that would let me navigate structures while also understanding people. That’s why I chose the dual degree in Law and Anthropology at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE).

It is a rigorous three-year program that combines legal reasoning with cultural insight. Unlike other universities where combined degrees can stretch up to four years, LSE offered me the efficiency I craved. The program spoke to my interests in narratives, justice, and global culture: how stories of people intersect with structures of law.

Building Cemerlang: From Nothing to 57,500 Readers

Long before university, one of the defining experiences of my leadership journey was serving as the founding Editor-In-Chief for the Cemerlang E-magazine for three years. We started from scratch, with no readers, no presence, just a team with an idea. By 2021, the magazine reached over 57,500 readers nationwide.

The growth was surreal, but it wasn’t accidental. I always emphasised the importance of having a clear direction and a unique selling point. For us, it was creating content that spoke directly to students, not at them. I learned to lead a team, to edit with consistency, and to create something sustainable. That period taught me resilience and vision, lessons I continue to carry into every project I pursue.

Elle’s Wood: Planting Legal Knowledge Where It’s Needed

One of my most meaningful undertakings is The Elle Woods Project. This initiative, which is currently in the process of being registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS), aims to bridge the gap between legal knowledge and everyday communities. The Elle Woods Project is more than a project; it is a philosophy. It is about demystifying the law, making it approachable, and giving people the confidence to understand their rights.

Not everyone lacks access in the sense of being marginalised; sometimes people are simply underserved, without opportunities to learn the basics of law. With the mentorship of the President of the Association of Women Lawyers Malaysia, I co-created a curriculum designed to empower communities through legal literacy. I see it as my way of translating my academic pursuit into tangible impact.

Japan: An Internship in Adaptation

One of the highlights of my journey so far was my internship with Come On Out Japan, a nonprofit focusing on adaptation and education. Out of many applicants, only 11 students were selected. For four weeks, I rotated across cities in Japan, such as Tokyo, Miura, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, curating curriculum with the team, handling logistics from scratch, collaborating with co-organisers across participating schools and institutions for Japanese students learning English.

My responsibilities were demanding yet fulfilling: designing academic modules, teaching legal concepts, and creating interactive soft-skills workshops. What I treasure most from Japan wasn’t the professional experience alone, but the human one: sharing meals, laughing with students, and learning as much from them as they did from me.

Looking Ahead: Anchored, Yet Open

When people ask me what’s next, I tell them that my plans are anchored but flexible. I prefer to let my current experiences guide me, to allow life’s momentum to shape my strategies rather than the other way around. That is the balance I seek: flowing with opportunities, yet always tethered to purpose.

Looking back, my experiences are each tied not by coincidence, but by a willingness to embrace opportunity and trust in growth. My story is still unfolding, but if there is one thing I know for certain, it is this: I will continue to walk this path with both openness and intent, guided by experiences, yet always anchored by purpose.