KUALA LUMPUR: The year 2014 will forever be remembered in Malaysia for the twin aviation disasters of Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17. The latter tragedy on July 17 saw a 'Boeing 777-200ER' passenger aircraft, which was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine. The 283 passengers and 15 members of the cabin crew were killed instantly. Six years has passed, but for the next of kin and friends of the victims, the memories remain as clear as ever.
Over the past six years, the date July 17 has carried an added significance for Diyana Yazeera Yazli.
That day, she became an orphan when she lost her mother, Malaysia Airlines chief stewardess Dora Shahila Kassim.
Dora, a single mother, was one of 15 crewmembers who perished when their aircraft, MH17, was shot down over Ukrainian airspace.
Life for Diyana has not been easy since then as she found herself struggling to cope with a deep sense of loss and sadness.
Diyana was 15 when the tragedy struck, and was about to take her Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga examination at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
She said she only learnt about what happened to her mother the morning after the incident, when a family member let slip that the plane had gone down.
"She wasn't just my mum. She was also my best friend. I confided in her in just about everything... I loved her so much.
"It took a long time for me to accept that she was gone. I was in denial for a while and retreated from everyone and everything."
Diyana described the emotional trauma as the most painful period in her life that left her struggling with mental health until she was 18. She was diagnosed with depression, insomnia and anxiety and received help from psychiatrists referred by Malaysia Airlines.
"It got so bad that at one point, I even contemplated taking my own life," she said.
Her close friends, however, helped pull her out of despair. It was during this time that she learnt to cherish the memory of her mother by remembering the good times they had shared.
"My mother was a very beautiful person, inside and out. Those who had worked with her could tell you that she was also very firm and a stickler for good behaviour.
"I was raised with strict discipline, with a deep respect for education.
"She instilled in me the importance of having a good education. She really wanted me to succeed in life and do better than her."
Diyana said she remembered her mother's advice almost every night before she went to bed.
"She told me not to be controlled by money. She taught me about the more important things in life, away from the lure of fame and riches.
"I learnt from her that success and happiness can be attained and appreciated when you are humble and kind to others. This is how she led her life."
Diyana, now 21, lives with her late mother's younger sister. She is pursuing a law degree at a college in Petaling Jaya.
The first-year student said she is preparing for her examination next month, before her second year began in September.
On her education, she said it had been anything but smooth sailing as she had to seek financial assistance to complete her studies.
"I have no access to the compensation for the death of my beloved mother.
"Thankfully, my granduncle and grandaunt from my father's side have helped me a lot.
"They tirelessly helped raise funds from family and friends to pay for my education expenses."
Diyana said she took a break from studies last year to work as a way of earning money to cover her tuition fees.
"I took up odd jobs and interned at several firms to save up some money. I have also been applying for scholarships to help me with my studies as the final year for the course is in the United Kingdom at the end of next year."
Diyana said she drew much of her strength, patience and perseverance from her mother, who started working as a flight attendant after completing secondary school.
"My mother was an extraordinary person who went through a lot to make sure we had a good life. She spent long days away from home flying all over the world so that she could put food on the table.
"I am very sad that she is no longer around, but at the same time, I am relieved to know that she no longer has to put up with life's many challenges and issues."
Diyana said her tumultuous emotional past had made her a stronger person today, with a renewed commitment to make her dream a reality.
"I have two more years before I receive my degree, but I am more focused now. I know the challenges and obstacles in the past will only make me a stronger person, with my mother's blessing.
"Now, I am really committed to making her proud of me," said Diyana.