Having a second chance turned out to be the best thing for Kelly Jauding.

Jauding, who graduated with first-class honours in Geography at the 19th Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) convocation yesterday, said when he first applied to enrol into UMS with just above the passing STPM rate three years ago, he was rejected.

But later, he was among the B40 (low-income group) students selected to enrol in the university.

Jauding said when his application was first rejected, he was disappointed as he had really wanted to help change his family’s living conditions, especially since their father died in 2009.

They had little to eat and most of the time could not afford to buy books or stationery.

However, not long after he received the rejection letter from the university, Jaunding received a call from UMS saying they wanted to visit him at home and to present him with an offer letter to study in the varsity.

“I was elated. I got a second chance and from then on, I vowed to do my best in my studies because of this rare opportunity,” he said.

The fifth of eight siblings said what made him strive hard was not only the fact that he got a second chance, he also wanted to finish what his eldest brother could not.

“My brother also had the chance to enter university but he stopped after the first semester due to some difficulties,” he said.

Jauding said it was a blow to their family, especially for his brother, because he had wanted to help the family too.

“So I told myself I must finish what my brother started and constantly reminded myself why and how I was here whenever my focus started wavering,” he said.

After three years of studies and becoming a five-time dean recipient, Jauding graduated with first-class honours and will pursue his masters.

Another notable high achiever was cancer survivor Rohani Gabi, 25, who spent nine years going through various treatments, including chemotherapy.

Rohani, who graduated with honours in history, also made history for the university by producing a thesis that was the first of its kind – a study on the Royal Australian Engineers during the 1964-1966 Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.

“I was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer when I was 12 and had spent most of my years growing up in hospitals,” she said.

She had to skip school a lot, even missing out on the UPSR and the PMR exams due to her condition which deteriorated when her cancer spread to other parts of her organs.

Rohani said the cancer became so bad that she even attempted suicide when she was 14.

However, after receiving counselling following her attempt to end her life, she underwent a mindset change.

“I realised that I am loved, and started to think positive so that I could do the best I could in life,” she said.

Jauding and Rohani were among 5,313 who graduated from various courses during the three-day convocation.

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Source: The Star