GEORGE TOWN: A woman's dream to share the stage with her husband to receive their degree scrolls remained unfulfilled when he tragically died last month.
Ezuria Edora Dzafrul Akhtar, 30, and her late husband, Isma Farid Idris, also 30, a Social Security Organisation (Socso) employee, had eagerly anticipated receiving their Bachelor of Management (Organisational Management) degrees at the convocation. However, fate intervened.
"My husband died on Oct 13 while playing futsal at a tournament in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, due to a heart attack.
"He was an active individual, participating in football and other sports. His sudden passing was a great shock as he had no history of health issues," she shared after receiving her degree at the 62nd convocation ceremony of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) at Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra.
The Selangor Immigration officer added that her husband's unexpected death was particularly difficult as they had known each other since primary school.
Ezuria Edora revealed that they were classmates from primary school to Form Three before they pursued different paths in Form Four. She took accountancy while he pursued art.
Their journey to earning their degrees spanned five years, studying through the Distance Learning Programme (RPJJ), with frequent travels between Shah Alam in Selangor and Penang for intensive courses.
Married in 2016, Ezuria Edora and her late husband were blessed with two children, Ezriq Aisy Faiqal, 7, and Elise Arish Elliya, 5.
They now serve as her beacon of strength in life without him.
Ezuria Edora added that the couple had dreamed of pursuing their master's degrees together. However, she has chosen to pause those plans to focus on raising their children.
Earlier, she accepted her late husband's posthumous degree from USM Pro Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali.
Isma Farid's parents, Nor Hayati Abdul Wahab, 61, and Idris Ahmad, 64, were also present.
Nor Hayati expressed both sorrow and pride that her late son had earned his degree, even though he couldn't be there to celebrate his achievement.
"My late son asked me to wear white to the convocation, but he didn’t tell his wife. He also gave me perfume and asked me to use it today. We honoured his wish today, with all family members attending the convocation in white,” she said, holding back tears. – Bernama
