Despite limited electricity and internet access, the daughter of a farmer from Kampung Penangah in Tongod has achieved outstanding results in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations, proving that success knows no geographical boundaries.
By: Ray Bull
TONGOD: Amid the lush forests and hilly roads of the Tongod interior, the eldest of five siblings has made history after emerging as a top student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 at SMK Penangah.
Filadelfiana Endrus, 20, who hails from Kampung Alitang, admitted that the result exceeded her expectations, given that STPM is widely regarded as one of the most challenging pre-university examinations in the country.
“When I learned that I had achieved a CGPA of 4.00, I was truly overjoyed and grateful to God. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it myself because STPM is no easy exam. God gave me a far better outcome than I had hoped for,” she told TV Sabah.
Family sacrifices
Filadelfiana’s father is a farmer while her mother is a housewife. Despite their modest means, her parents never allowed financial constraints to stand in the way of their children’s education.
The first people she called after the results were announced were her mother and father.
“I wanted them to know that all my efforts all this while were to make them proud,” she said.
As the eldest child, Filadelfiana is aware of her responsibility towards her four younger siblings, who are still in school. She used her scholarship money to pay for some of her study expenses in order to ease her family’s burden.
Disciplined routine and hostel challenges
As her home is far from the school, Filadelfiana stayed in the hostel. After school sessions ended at around 2.30pm or 3pm, she would revise until 5.30pm before resting and having dinner.
At night, she would resume studying from 8pm until about 10.30pm or 11pm. Unlike many students who stay up late, Filadelfiana chose to rest early and wake up again at 3am to revise until dawn.
For her, discipline in managing time was more important than the sheer number of hours spent studying.
Lack of electricity and internet
One of the biggest challenges Filadelfiana faced was the lack of basic infrastructure in the interior. Her school relied solely on electricity from generators and solar systems.
Whenever there was a disruption in fuel supply or issues with the solar system, the lights in the school compound could only last until midnight.
“There was a time when I used my phone’s flashlight to study in the early morning, before I took the initiative to buy my own study lamp to protect my eyes,” she said.
Internet connectivity problems, which sometimes cut out for nearly a month, also did not dampen her spirit.
“I used all the books I had to revise. For me, the lack of internet is no excuse to stop learning,” she stressed.
Parental support as a source of strength
For Filadelfiana, her father is the person who has sacrificed the most.
“Whenever I needed money, my father would do his best to provide it without ever complaining. When I needed a study table, he made one himself using ordinary planks with the skills he had,” she said.
Her mother, meanwhile, was willing to take over household chores so that her eldest daughter could have more time to study.
“If they were standing in front of me now, I would simply want to thank them for never giving up on our education. I dedicate this success to both of them. I hope that one day I can change our family’s life,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
Resilience in the face of pressure
Filadelfiana admitted that she had faced moments of emotional stress, to the point of breaking down in tears in front of her principal, lecturers and friends.
“There were times when I truly wanted to give up. But my lecturers would always ask, ‘What is your purpose for entering Form Six?’ I always kept that question in mind whenever my spirit began to waver,” she said.
She also reminded herself: “If I don’t make the effort to change our situation, when will our family’s fate ever change?”
Sacrifices during festive holidays
Filadelfiana’s most unforgettable memory was during the Christmas holidays before the third semester. Even though the festive season was busy, she stuck to her revision schedule and allowed herself only two days of rest.
Similarly, during the Chinese New Year holidays, she and several friends chose to remain in the hostel to prepare for their examinations.
Future aspirations
After achieving a perfect STPM result, Filadelfiana aspires to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Beyond that, she wants to build a more comfortable home for her family as a token of appreciation for all their sacrifices.
For her, success is not about outperforming others.
“Success is when we become better than we were yesterday. I once scored a CGPA of 2.83. Today I have achieved 4.00. If I can change, I believe others can too,” she said.
Message to the younger generation
To fellow students, especially those from rural areas, Filadelfiana urged them to always believe in themselves, ignore negative remarks and never stop praying.
“Trust that God has the best plan for everyone. Do not give up easily. As long as you are given the opportunity, keep striving because every day is a chance to become a better person,” she said.
Behind the 4.00 printed on her STPM result slip lies the story of a girl from the interior who chose not to surrender to her circumstances, instead turning every shortcoming into a reason to work harder, proving that big dreams can indeed be born from a small village in the heart of Sabah.
