KOTA KINABALU: Veveonah Mosibin was set to receive her scroll during the recent Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) convocation ceremony. However, her plans changed as she had already begun her medical degree at Management and Science University (MSU) in Shah Alam by Dec 9.
"I am sponsored to fly back to Sabah for Christmas, but buying another flight ticket for the graduation is super expensive, especially in December," she said, adding that she would receive her scroll by the end of the month.
The 23-year-old, hailing from Kampung Sapatalang in Pitas, about three hours from here, rose to internet fame with her 11-minute video "24 Hours on Tree", where she camped on a tree to secure an internet connection for an online examination.
Although Veveonah completed her marine science degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.46, her true passion has been set on studying medicine since 2021.
"It's a long story, but an unstable mental state and depression can lead to poor choices that don't align with one's true abilities and passions. My initial excitement and passion for marine science were temporary. I began to lose interest during the Covid-19 pandemic, as we had to learn everything online. Marine science requires more hands-on, physical learning," she said.
Realising her true calling, Veveonah decided to switch to medicine in 2021, but chose to complete her first degree due to her scholarship contract. She began her five-year medical course on Oct 1 and is still in the process of applying for a scholarship.
"Here, I have friends from different backgrounds. They are really nice and kind. They help me a lot in adapting to life at MSU. Being surrounded by intelligent and hardworking people motivates me even more," she said.