Zannatul Ferdous Tulona

“There are certain moments in our lives where we have to make decisions that have the potential to set our lives on a completely different trajectory from what we had planned. Such a moment was when I decided to come to Curtin Malaysia.

“I had wanted to pursue chemical engineering since my A-Levels but ended up studying civil engineering instead at a local university in Bangladesh simply because they didn’t offer a chemical engineering. Two years into the degree, I was still struggling. I couldn’t find purpose and motivation in what I was doing. That was when I opted for a credit transfer.

“A ton of uncertainty, doubts and two flights later, I found myself in Miri and enrolled as a second-year chemical engineering student. Initially, it was quite a daunting experience. Suddenly finding myself in an enormous campus, it was easy to get lost every now and then. However, during Orientation Week, I got to know a few newcomers like me and things started looking up.

“One night, one of them, a fellow freshie from Nepal fell sick suddenly and I accompanied her to the nearest hospital. Thankfully it was nothing serious and we came back for the only meal I was any good at putting together – Maggi instant noodles and eggs. This story is important because it marked the beginning of the most beautiful friendship I’ve ever had!

“Throughout my experience at Curtin Malaysia, the greatest takeaway has been the strength of empathy and unity in its community. In group projects, students work hard in teams to meet deadlines and we can always rely on the support of our teachers. I have now come to the realisation that wherever we end up in life, we will eventually find a home, and until we find it, the journey is an adventure in itself!” –Zannatul Ferdous Tulona, Chemical Engineering student

5 June 2022