KUALA LUMPUR: The cynical views of some quarters towards parents who fund their children’s university education did not dampen Raezal Isaiah Romacho’s spirit to prove that his family’s sacrifices were worthwhile.
The Bachelor of Education (TESL) graduate from City University Malaysia was named the best graduate at the university’s convocation ceremony at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on 31 October.
Raezal, 23, the eldest of six siblings born to a mechanical contractor and a clerk from Tawau, Sabah, said the recognition proved that his parents’ financial sacrifice and support were not in vain.
“Some people say parents waste money wanting to support their children to enter university and study out of the area, and some even regard us as children who burden our parents.
“But that is their sacrifice. They paid no heed to what people said as long as we succeeded in proving that what they invested in us was not in vain,” he said when contacted.
The most meaningful moment in Raezal’s speech on the convocation stage was his tribute to his parents in Tagalog.
“Mummy, Daddy, tingnan ninyo kung nasaan ako ngayon,” he said, which means “Mother, Father, look at where I am now.”
His mother was present in the hall to witness the ceremony, while his father followed the event via live stream.
Raezal said that without the encouragement of both his parents, he would not have been able to stand on that stage to deliver his speech as the best graduate.
The graduate, who was active in the Student Representative Council (SRC), the choir team, the Tradern Arts cultural club and taekwondo, admitted that his parents were surprised and happy after being informed of the achievement.
He himself had not expected to receive the university’s highest honour.
As the eldest child, Raezal viewed the success not merely as a personal achievement but as a responsibility to set the best example for his younger siblings to continue striving and set their ambitions higher.
“As the eldest child, it has helped me a lot to look towards higher goals so that my younger siblings can adopt the right practices and aim even higher,” he said.
On future plans, Raezal intends to pursue studies at a higher level but did not rule out the possibility of working temporarily to help ease his family’s financial burden in Sabah.
He said that seeking knowledge is a continuous process not limited to university life but is part of life to build a better future.
In his convocation speech, Raezal also shared his experience of facing examinations, the challenge of using artificial intelligence (AI) technology and ChatGPT, and balancing academic responsibilities, work and family.
Quoting physicist Albert Einstein’s words on striving to become a person of value rather than merely chasing success, he called on fellow graduates to make a difference, however small, for the benefit of others.
He also included a dialogue from the film Dead Poets Society, “Carpe Diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary,” and Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, which extols the courage to choose one’s own path in life even if it is less popular.
Raezal also expressed his appreciation to the lecturers, supervisors, university staff, friends, family members and loved ones who had always been his backbone throughout his studies.
He invited those present to shake hands with one another as a sign of appreciation for the people around them.
Before closing his speech, he expressed gratitude to God and recited the Latin phrase “In manus tuas, Domine, in hoc signo vinces,” which means “Into Your hands, Lord; by this sign You will conquer,” as a sign of surrender and confidence in His help.
