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July 12, 2009
A 'whole new world'
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/smu.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/smu.jpg"></a>
Miss Zeenath (left) said: 'I think my four years in SMU and my 10 years in madrasah made me a well-rounded person. I'm glad I took this route. It opened up a whole new world for me.' -- PHOTO: MISS ZEENATH JALEEL
SHE was a madrasah student who rejected a place at a junior college because of the no-headscarf policy. So Miss Zeenath Jaleel's first day at the Singapore Management University (SMU) four years ago was a culture shock.
She saw fellow students relaxing over beer or playing card games like poker.
While staying true to her religious beliefs, she learnt to accept that others had different norms. She also learnt to speak up. She said: 'I'm naturally a very shy and quiet person. Suddenly, I'm required to speak up in class.'
But she adapted quickly and made many friends. On Saturday, the 26-year-old graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Systems Management, together with 1,373 other SMU students from various courses.
For Miss Zeenath, who celebrated her convocation in Dubai, where she is now working with a management consultancy firm, her success could not have been sweeter.
Her father died from chicken pox when she was just 10, leaving her mother as the family's sole breadwinner. Miss Zeenath has two younger siblings, then aged eight and six.
Madam Zharabee Moidin, 49, her mother, toiled seven days a week as a shop assistant, earning $1,200 a month.
She was accepted into a junior college here but chose to give up her place because she was not allowed to wear the headscarf in school.
She has not looked back since being accepted by SMU. On campus, she even joined the women's soccer team and later also played for the now defunct Paya Lebar Punggol football club.
She said: 'I think my four years in SMU and my 10 years in madrasah made me a well-rounded person. I'm glad I took this route. It opened up a whole new world for me.'
July 12, 2009
A 'whole new world'
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/smu.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/smu.jpg"></a>
Miss Zeenath (left) said: 'I think my four years in SMU and my 10 years in madrasah made me a well-rounded person. I'm glad I took this route. It opened up a whole new world for me.' -- PHOTO: MISS ZEENATH JALEEL
SHE was a madrasah student who rejected a place at a junior college because of the no-headscarf policy. So Miss Zeenath Jaleel's first day at the Singapore Management University (SMU) four years ago was a culture shock.
She saw fellow students relaxing over beer or playing card games like poker.
While staying true to her religious beliefs, she learnt to accept that others had different norms. She also learnt to speak up. She said: 'I'm naturally a very shy and quiet person. Suddenly, I'm required to speak up in class.'
But she adapted quickly and made many friends. On Saturday, the 26-year-old graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Systems Management, together with 1,373 other SMU students from various courses.
For Miss Zeenath, who celebrated her convocation in Dubai, where she is now working with a management consultancy firm, her success could not have been sweeter.
Her father died from chicken pox when she was just 10, leaving her mother as the family's sole breadwinner. Miss Zeenath has two younger siblings, then aged eight and six.
Madam Zharabee Moidin, 49, her mother, toiled seven days a week as a shop assistant, earning $1,200 a month.
She was accepted into a junior college here but chose to give up her place because she was not allowed to wear the headscarf in school.
She has not looked back since being accepted by SMU. On campus, she even joined the women's soccer team and later also played for the now defunct Paya Lebar Punggol football club.
She said: 'I think my four years in SMU and my 10 years in madrasah made me a well-rounded person. I'm glad I took this route. It opened up a whole new world for me.'
