New sense of hope

Sustainable goal: We have to be committed to empowering our society, especially our young people, to care about the planet, environment, and all living beings. – 123rf.com

As we reflect on the past year, it is also time to look ahead with positivity

BEFORE the year 2021 ended, my friends’ Instagram stories had been trending with “Show a picture of you in January 2020 before the pandemic”.

Some shared photos of their travels, others the start of school for their young children, and many of parties and gatherings with friends and family.

Had I joined in, it would have been of me and my students, without masks, arms around each other in celebration of the year before, as we welcomed the new academic year.

This trend had appeared as a reflection point of sorts. It was an opportunity to contemplate what life had been like pre-Covid-19, and what we had missed most and wished for in a post-pandemic world.

In the last two years, lives had been turned upside down – jobs had been lost, mental health challenges had emerged, and many had missed, if not lost, loved ones.

In addition, this social media trend was an opportunity to show we had made it so far and that we could weather this through.

Indeed, we have overcome many challenges and continued to do good. While we are not out of the woods just yet, there is a sense of hope.

Importance of gratitude

Thirteenth-century Persian poet Rumi wrote, “Be grateful for your life, every detail of it, and your face will come to shine like a sun, and everyone who sees it will be made glad and peaceful. Persist in gratitude, and you will slowly become one with the Sun of Love, and Love will shine through you its all-healing joy.”

Despite the hardships, I am truly grateful for many things in 2021.

On the home front, one of my daughters found a wonderful new vocation after walking away from an employer, while another got married after a whirlwind period of figuring out the various standard operating procedures during the enforcement of the movement control order. My husband started breeding fish – too small to eat, but it keeps him safe and sane. He also recently got a Thermomix, but I haven’t bought into the hype.

My nonagenarian parents, aged 96 and 93, are well and in good health and spirits, both having been vaccinated and boosted.

Professionally, I’m grateful that Sunway Education Group (SEG) continues to flourish. My colleagues have been the bedrock of professionalism, with many of them going beyond the call of duty for our students.

After a challenging start-stop period to the academic year, including navigating a full lockdown, amazing progress has been made to get our staff and students vaccinated.

This has enabled our campuses to reopen since October. I can’t believe just how much I had missed our students.

In early December, we held our first in-person Sunway University graduation since 2020, with graduates receiving their scrolls at our open-air amphitheatre.

Spread out over four days with strict SOPs in place, the graduation ceremony allowed every graduate to bring up to two parents and guests. I couldn’t help but feel emotional witnessing our graduates celebrate the joyous day with their loved ones – fully masked and all.

And of course, I am grateful for the opportunity to share these experiences with you, dear readers of The Star who have shared with me your thoughts on the various articles I have written throughout the past year. Your feedback motivates me to keep writing and sharing.

Ushering in 2022

The emergence of the Omicron variant and the waning vaccination efficacy – necessitating booster shots – act as a reminder of the “known unknowns”.

We must trust our scientists and frontliners who continue to do their best for us, and act according to science and facts (and not fake news).

These challenges are fundamentally associated with planetary health issues and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

As such, looking ahead, we have to be committed to empowering our society, especially our young people, to care about the planet, environment, and all living beings.

The recent flooding in Malaysia is a reminder of the force of nature. It was really bad in several parts of Selangor. A number of my colleagues and students were badly affected.

Both SEG and the Sunway Group responded in various ways; some of you may have seen our Sunway Lagoon boats assisting with relief efforts.

This unprecedented situation adds urgency to sustainability and climate change education.

Educationally, this year, I foresee more emphasis on empowering lifelong learners through initiatives that recognise experiential learning (such as the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning or APEL initiative, which is being promoted by the government), as well as micro-credentialing and online certification of skills.

In this regard, Nelson Mandela’s famous quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, remains timeless.

We must also focus on assisting our students and young people to secure good jobs, as the job market is expected to accelerate this year, while balancing this pursuit with quality of life expectations in terms of mental health, financial security, etc.

All things said and done, let us remain mentally positive, and build on the gratitude that we have in our lives.So, what photos do you envision to be taking in 2022?

I wish you all a Happy New Year and a wealth of blessings, love and health.

Prof Dr Elizabeth Lee is the chief executive officer of Sunway Education Group. A veteran in the field of private higher education, Prof Lee is also an advocate for women in leadership. She has been recognised both locally and internationally for her contributions to the field of education. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.