BALANCING a career as a lecturer, singer and doctoral student is no small feat, but Najwa Latif has managed it with grace.
The 28-year-old artiste is currently pursuing her PhD in Teaching English as a Second Language at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and lecturing at Universiti Teknologi Mara Dengkil, Selangor, all while continuing with her music career.
Najwa first rose to fame in 2011 with her viral hit single 'Cinta Muka Buku'.
Over the years, she has seamlessly transitioned between academia and the music industry.
Despite taking a brief hiatus from lecturing to focus on her studies, her passion for teaching led her back to the classroom.
"Last month, I returned to lecturing and now teach Basic English to students," Najwa shared.
"I took a break to finish my research paper, which is now in the correction stage. Once that was done, I felt ready to work again. Alhamdulillah, I was offered a position and accepted it."
Najwa revealed that she maintains a structured routine, dedicating weekdays to teaching and reserving weekends for her singing engagements.
"All of this can be managed well as long as I allocate my time wisely.
"From Monday to Friday, I focus on teaching, and on weekends, I perform. It's the same schedule I followed before."
Najwa, who married Akwa Arifin on Nov 11, 2022, credited her husband for his unwavering support.
"He encourages me in everything I do, and that makes a big difference."
MUSIC STILL A PRIORITY
Despite her busy schedule, Najwa remains committed to her music career.
She recently released a single titled 'Kau Buat Aku' and aims to produce at least one song each year.
"I have no plans to stop singing. It's challenging to stay relevant in the music industry with so much emerging talent, but I'm grateful for the ongoing invitations to perform," she said.
Najwa added that she balances her dual passions of teaching and music without compromising on either.
"Relevance is important, but I focus on what I can do. If opportunities come, I'll seize them.
"If not, I'll dedicate my time to teaching and learning."
POETRY NIGHT
Najwa recently made a special appearance at Malam Puisi Riong BH-Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) 2024, held at Wisma DBP's Balai Budaya Tun Syed Nasir in Kuala Lumpur recently.
She recited 'Hidup Bersama' by national laureate Datuk Seri A. Samad Said and sang 'Ada Mu', a song closely related to the poem's theme of togetherness.
"I love the poem's message about unity and appreciating one another. It aligns perfectly with my values.".
The event, attended by more than 400 guests, highlighted the enduring appeal of literature among Malaysian youth.
"For me, this is an excellent platform to introduce Generation Z to Malaysia's rich literary heritage.
"With digital platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it's easier than ever for young people to discover and share poetry, rhymes, and other literary works."
LITERARY APPRECIATION
Since its inception in the 1980s, Malam Puisi Riong has been a tradition of literary appreciation, named after Jalan Riong, the location of the New Straits Times Press newsroom.
The event aims to instill a love for literature, the Malay language, and national culture.
Najwa expressed her hope that such initiatives would continue to inspire younger generations.
"These events are important in preserving our cultural identity.
"Seeing the enthusiasm from the audience gives me hope that our literary arts will thrive in the digital age."