KUCHING: Standing proudly among his peers at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak’s graduation ceremony, valedictorian Gavin Ng reflected on a four-year journey shaped by discipline, balance and a deep desire to give back to his home state.
The 22-year-old, who completed his foundation and degree studies in Computer Science, said that his time at Swinburne taught him more than just academics; it was a lesson in time management and personal growth.
“Time management was definitely a challenge, especially during my foundation years,” he said.
“Eventually, I found a system that worked for me, something that kept me on track and ensured everything was done on time.”
Gavin, a former SMK Sungai Maong student, said he also made it a point to enjoy university life outside the classroom by participating in activities and engaging with his peers.
“I made sure university life wasn’t too serious all the time. I joined activities and tried to enjoy the experience,” he added.
“Good time management is the most important lesson I learned.”
Celebrating the milestone with his family and relatives at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Thursday, Gavin said that the day marked not just the end of his studies, but the beginning of his career journey.
He plans to gain working experience first, particularly abroad, before eventually returning home to contribute to Sarawak’s growth.
“For the first few years, I plan to work in Singapore to gain exposure and experience,” he said.
“Once I’ve developed new skills, I want to bring them back and contribute to Sarawak. My ultimate goal is to return home, give back and help my state grow stronger.”
Gavin said that he is open to opportunities and challenges, adding that he hopes to one day work with leading global technology firms before pursuing his own path.
“I don’t shy away from challenges; I actually get excited about them,” he added.
“Of course, I’d love to experience working with some of the major tech companies like Amazon and others, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Offering words of encouragement to Swinburne undergraduates, he advised them to find balance and learn to prioritise.
“Find a system that works for you. Don’t over-exert yourself, that’s a mistake I made before,” he said.
“You’ll have to make sacrifices, such as your time, maybe even relationships, but it’s part of growing up. Do your best, be proud of yourself and always take time to reflect.”
For Gavin, his proudest moment as a Swinburne student was creating projects that impressed industry professionals and gave him a sense of achievement beyond grades.
“Some of the projects I worked on impressed industry professionals who reviewed my résumé,” he shared.
“They didn’t expect that kind of work from a fresh graduate, which was a proud moment for me.”
He expressed gratitude to his lecturers for their guidance and support throughout his studies, crediting Swinburne’s hands-on approach for preparing him for real-world challenges.
Gavin also looks forward to the next chapter of his journey, one he hopes will eventually lead him back to the place he calls home.
