KUCHING: As the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) results were released today (June 24), several high achievers from Sarawak proudly shared their academic journeys, revealing personal challenges, study routines, and the people who supported them along the way.
Among them was Vivian Lai Wilson, 20, from SMK Bau, who expressed her joy after achieving a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00.
She said she was very happy and proud, adding that she didn’t expect it, especially after struggling a bit in her third semester.
Vivian pursued the Social Science stream, majoring in Geography, alongside Pengajian Am (PA), Bahasa Melayu (BM), and History. Her study method was structured and mindful.
After school, she would take a nap to recharge, then study from 8pm to 11pm, as sleep was important to her.
Despite receiving a B+ in PA in her final semester, she was especially proud of her improvement in History, which she had improved from a C to an A.
Another top scorer, Ivyone Nica Enjar, 20, also from SMK Bau, credited her academic focus to the quiet and disciplined environment of her school dormitory.
She said she was happy because all her efforts had paid off.
Ivyone maintained a daily study routine from 6pm to 9.30pm, balancing her studies with rest to maintain mental clarity. She recalled struggling in the beginning and almost losing confidence in herself.
Her early results did not meet her expectations, but she kept pushing through. Despite being advised against taking Economics due to her lower Math’s grade, she persevered and succeeded.
She thanked her parents, aunt, and teachers for their unwavering support.
Emily Ling Wei Shan, 20, from SMK Sacred Heart, Sibu, also achieved her target with a CGPA of 4.00.
She said she was very happy and proud, as this had been her target all along, and she had hit her goals every semester.
Her strategy was to pay full attention during lessons and reinforce her understanding through consistent practice. She also said her teachers were always ready to help whenever she had questions.
Emily cited her mother as her greatest source of motivation, adding that students should not be afraid and should study hard. If they have done their best, they will succeed.
From Betong, Hanajiaa Patrick, 20, of SMK Saribas also attained a perfect CGPA. She travelled to Kuching with her parents to collect her results and shared her disciplined study habits.
She said she maintained a CGPA of 3.50 and above each semester. She attended extra classes and did self-study late at night, usually between 2am and 4am.
She also took part in group study sessions, especially during the holidays, which helped her improve in History. Her sister, a former top scorer now studying at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), was her biggest inspiration.
Also from SMK Saribas, Nur Aswar Yusri, 20, from Debak, highlighted the importance of understanding one’s learning style.
She said she was not someone who could study early in the morning, so she focused during class from 7am to 12pm. After school, she would rest and continue studying in the evening.
Tutoring others during the day also helped reinforce her own knowledge. History had been her best subject since Form 1 and 2, although she struggled a bit in Form 3.
Although she found Geography challenging, her role as the eldest of four siblings motivated her to succeed.
These high achievers show that success in STPM is not solely about long hours of study — it also involves smart strategies, strong support systems, and a clear understanding of one’s own learning preferences.
