KUCHING: Leaving a job to return to the classroom was a leap of faith for 27-year-old Tiara Ashfilia Chrismer Dang Tuah, but the decision eventually earned her the Sarawak Skills Chairman’s Award at the institution’s 28th Convocation Ceremony.
Driven by her passion for industrial automation and encouraged by her late father, Tiara chose to start afresh rather than remain in a career that no longer fulfilled her.
The Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) graduate in Industrial Automation Engineering Systems Support said the decision to change career paths was not easy, particularly as she felt she was starting her academic journey later than her peers.
“The decision was not an easy one because, at my age, I felt I should already have higher academic qualifications and be building my own career.
“However, the support of my family, particularly my late father, gave me the strength to further my studies and pursue my passion, even though I had to start at a later age compared to my peers,” she said.
She was speaking to reporters after the Sarawak Skills 28th Convocation Ceremony officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Pullman Hotel, here yesterday.
Before enrolling at Sarawak Skills, Tiara had worked at a resort before deciding to leave her job and return to education to pursue her interest in industrial automation.
She said her late father had expressed his support for her decision to quit her job and further her studies before he passed away in 2023.
“Although I was already in my 20s and only beginning my diploma studies, my late father continued to support my decision to pursue the field I was passionate about,” she said.
Tiara said she was open to pursuing a degree in the future if given the opportunity, while continuing to gain experience in her chosen field.
She also encouraged young people not to be afraid of taking risks or regard age as a barrier to starting something new.
“Do not be afraid to take risks because we never know what the future holds. Put God first in life, because God would not have brought us this far only to let us fail,” she said.
Meanwhile, recipient of the 2026 Yayasan Sarawak Outstanding Graduate Award, Thien Jian Hui, described the recognition as an unexpected but proud achievement after completing his DKM in Printing Operations Management.
Thien, 22, expressed his gratitude to Sarawak Skills and Yayasan Sarawak for the recognition, as well as to his instructors, family and friends for their support throughout his studies.
“Despite the various challenges I faced, my family and friends were always there to encourage me, which helped me successfully complete my studies and receive this award,” he said.
Elaborating on the challenges in digital graphic design and printing, he said the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in graphic production had become one of the industry’s key challenges.
“Customers also use AI to produce posters or sublimation designs. We have to convert and trace the designs again, as well as correct their positioning before proceeding with the printing or production process,” he said.
Sharing his future plans, Thien said he was currently pursuing a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) course to equip himself with the necessary qualifications to become an instructor.
Upon completing the course, he hopes to serve at Sarawak Skills Kuching, particularly in helping to develop more talent in graphic design.
“My aim is to become a graphic design instructor at the institution so that I can share my knowledge and skills with the next generation of trainees,” he said.
