KOTA SAMARAHAN: Losing his sight has never stopped Steven Lias Sidi, 22, from chasing his dream of helping others through social work.
Steven, who is from Julau, is now officially a Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) undergraduate student after taking part in the Student Pledge Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session today.
Determined to prove that disability is no excuse, Steven, who previously studied at SMK Sungai Merah in Sibu, said his hope was to become a successful social work graduate and to use his knowledge to benefit individuals, groups and communities, which prompted him to take the bachelor’s degree in social work at the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities.
“For me, social work is a broad field because it allows us to help others in many different ways.
“My hope is to achieve excellent results so that I can become a successful social work graduate in the future,” he said when met after the ceremony.
Steven, who now stays at Cempaka College, expressed his joy at the warm welcome he received at UNIMAS.
“I am happy, proud and very excited. I never expected to be treated so well here. Everyone is friendly, kind and always ready to help one another,” he added.
The second of three siblings, Steven has been under the care of his grandmother following the passing of his father in June 2024 and his mother in January 2021.
Despite his cheerful outlook, he admitted that financial constraints remain his biggest challenge as he embarks on his higher education journey.
He encouraged members of the public who wish to lend support to reach out to him directly at Cempaka College or through UNIMAS.
