By: Ray Bull
TELUPID: The atmosphere at a modest home in Kampung Gambaron, Telupid, seemed like any other ordinary day. There was no grand celebration, no cheering, and certainly no preparations for anything out of the ordinary.
But when the STPM results were announced, an unforgettable moment unfolded in the living room, creating a small piece of history.
Sitting beside his mother, Sen pressed the button to check his results. A few seconds later, the display on his phone screen changed everything.
A 4.00 CGPA! He froze, as if time had stood still for a moment.
“I was truly shocked. I never expected to achieve a 4.00 CGPA. I’m just grateful that all my hard work finally paid off,” he said, recalling that historic moment.
The first person he shared the news with was not a friend or a teacher, but his mother, who had been by his side throughout, witnessing all her son’s sacrifices.
Yet, behind the smile accompanying this success lies a story of struggle far greater than the number 4.00.
Disappointed after SPM but rising with new resolve
Many see Sen today as a top student. But the truth is, Sen once went through a period that nearly shattered his confidence. His SPM results were only 5As, 1B, 1C, 1C+ and 1E – far from the targets he had set for himself.
“I was very disappointed at that time. I felt I had failed to achieve what I aimed for. But I didn’t want that failure to determine my future.”
Although he received offers to pursue a Diploma in Science at UiTM Kota Kinabalu and the Labuan Matriculation Programe, Sen made a surprising decision, he turned down both offers.
Instead, he chose to return to his old school, SMK Telupid, to continue his studies in Form Six.
The decision was not made because of a lack of options, but because he understood his family’s financial situation.
His father is self-employed, managing an oil palm smallholding, while his mother is a housewife. Although his parents never discouraged him from furthering his studies anywhere, Sen could not bear to see them shoulder a greater financial burden.
“I knew they were willing to sacrifice for me, but I also wanted to lighten their load. Form Six was close to home, the costs were much lower, and it offered the same opportunity to pursue higher education at university.”
That choice ultimately became the biggest turning point in his life.
Studying in the dark, enduring through trials
The journey through Form Six was not easy. He suffered a severe gastritis attack during the Semester Three trial examination, making it difficult to concentrate on his studies. A month before the Semester Two examination, his family was tested with issues that affected his emotions, causing his grades for that semester to drop.
Even more testing was the night when the electricity supply at home went out. While most people would have chosen to rest, Sen lit a candle and continued revising. That small light illuminated his study notes.
“I knew I couldn’t give up. If I had stopped then, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
Every day, Sen followed a very simple routine. Waking up early in the morning, taking the school bus at 6am, returning home around midday, resting briefly before revising at night. In the afternoons, Sen made sure he stayed fit by jogging and playing volleyball.
Sen believes that success comes not through intelligence alone, but through consistent discipline.
Studying, while protecting wild elephants
What sets Sen apart from many other students is that his life does not revolve solely around the classroom. Since the age of 17, and more actively after SPM while waiting for his results, he joined the Community Elephant Ranger Team (CERT) as a volunteer.
While most teenagers spent their free time with friends, Sen chose to join a team that patrols late into the night to ensure human-elephant conflict could be avoided. For him, protecting wildlife was not just a volunteer activity. It was a responsibility towards his home village.
“I want to ensure the relationship between Kampung Gambaron residents and elephants remains harmonious. I don’t want elephants to be harmed, and I also want to reduce property damage caused by their presence.”
The year 2025 was among the most challenging periods. From June to August, he spent almost every night with the CERT team conducting operations to control elephants that were actively entering village areas. When the elephant season returned in November, Sen once again joined the same operations.
Additionally, he also helped organise educational exhibitions on elephant conservation as a committee member.
A trusted youth
Sen’s commitment did not go unnoticed by Telupid CERT Coordinator, Alvein Dee. According to him, since joining CERT, Sen has consistently shown extraordinary dedication in every task assigned.
Sen was not only involved in the “3P” operations, which include Monitoring, Control and Escorting, but also actively participated in tree-planting programmes to provide food sources for elephants in their natural habitat.
It was this commitment that eventually opened the door for Sen to join the Community Honorary Wildlife Warden (CHWW) programme. After going through interviews, training and practical sessions, Sen is now among the 15 youths serving as Honorary Wildlife Wardens.
“Whenever elephants are reported in the village area, Sen is willing to patrol with the team until late at night and early morning. He shows excellent commitment and can always be relied upon,” said Alvein.
Alvein added that although team members come from different villages and have significant age gaps, the bond among them is strong because they all share the same goal, protecting wildlife and ensuring human-elephant conflict can be reduced.
Repaying his parents’ sacrifices
For Sen, achieving a 4.00 CGPA is not the pinnacle of his life’s journey. Instead, it is merely the first step.
With a dream of becoming an educator, Sen holds the sincere intention of helping shape the next generation, particularly to improve his family’s standard of living.
“I want to pursue higher education, secure a good job, and see my parents live more comfortably. Everything I do today is for them.”
Sen has never forgotten his parents’ sacrifices – always striving to provide school bus fare, buy textbooks and meet his school needs, despite living modestly.
More than just examination results
Sen’s story is not merely about a student who achieved a 4.00 CGPA. It is the story of a son who chose the harder path for his family.
It is the story of a student who was once disappointed with his SPM results, but refused to let failure determine his future.
More than that, it is the story of a young man willing to stay awake until dawn protecting wild elephants, before returning to school to pursue his dreams.
In a world that often measures success through numbers and certificates, Sen proves that true excellence comes from the values built along the journey: resilience, a sense of responsibility, sincerity in serving the community, and the willingness to rise every time he is tested.
A 4.00 CGPA may make the headlines, but in Kampung Gambaron, true success is measured by two things that Sen has always held dear from the very beginning, honouring his family’s sacrifices and serving his community.
