PETALING JAYA: For Athena Siow and Namira Lee Tzu, the journey to Harvard College in the US was never just about academic prestige.
It was about learning, growing and giving back to Malaysia.
Siow, 20, said she has always had a lifelong passion for service, which is a reason for her commitment to fighting climate change.
She added that studying at the prestigious institution can enrich her knowledge and experience.
“We’ve all definitely heard of Harvard’s reputation for academic excellence, but what draws me in is its commitment to service,” she said when contacted.
Siow took part in an advocacy training programme under the United Nations Environment Programme, which deepened her understanding of climate justice when she was just 15 years old.
She has also represented Malaysia at the 18th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY18) in Dubai, where she shared youth perspectives on global climate action.
Siow, a former student of SK Taman Bukit Maluri and a Yayasan UEM scholarship recipient, has also spent many hours volunteering at soup kitchens and animal shelters.
She said she is “definitely” returning to Malaysia upon completing her course.
“I have always believed in going far to experience as much as possible so that I can bring valuable insights back home.
“Whether it’s using data science to analyse climate patterns, adapting global policies to fit Asean contexts or finding better ways to uplift communities, I want to contribute in a way that’s meaningful,” said Siow, who is one of two Malaysians to gain admission into Harvard College’s Class of 2029.
“At the end of the day, it takes Malaysians to improve Malaysia,” she said, adding that she will be pursuing a degree in Government (Data Science track).
Namira, a Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) Global Scholar and alumna of SMK Chung Hwa Wei Sin, Kuala Terengganu, will major in Environmental Science and Engineering.
“What excites me most about Harvard is the opportunity to study environmental engineering while also exploring sociology.
“I’m particularly eager to examine the root causes of inequality, especially within Malaysia’s education system,” she said, adding that she has personally experienced the drastic contrast between rural and urban educational resources.
After graduation, Namira plans to apply what she has learned in her future role as an investment analyst at PNB, directing capital toward green bonds and sustainable projects that promote environmental stewardship.
But no matter where she goes, Malaysia remains home.
“I’m definitely returning no matter where I am, I’ll always miss Terengganu.
“I truly believe in giving back to my country, state and community. I want to contribute to Malaysia’s progress in both environmental sustainability and education,” said Namira, whose father is Chinese and mum is Malay.
In 2023, Namira was selected for the US-sponsored South-East Asia Youth Leadership Programme (SEAYLP), which brought together a cohort of students from Terengganu.
There, she and her peers leveraged their shared roots to launch a civic action plan focused on sea turtle conservation.
In a statement yesterday, Khazanah Nasional co-head of private markets Nick Khaw said, “Their achievements speak for themselves, but more importantly, we hope that they will go on to inspire future generations to pursue excellence and to make an impact on their communities.”
Harvard Club of Malaysia president Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob highlighted the growing number of students from beyond the Klang Valley.
“We are proud that Malaysian students come primarily from government schools and middle-income families.
“Through scholarships, they have been given the opportunity to study at Harvard, and as a nation, we will benefit from their future contributions,” she said.
Currently, there are fewer than 15 Malaysian Harvard College alumni.
