PETALING JAYA: Squash the negatives and bask in the positives.
That was one of the messages that Malaysian squash legend Datuk Nicol David highlighted during an inspiring speech after receiving an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
The university awarded the doctorate to the Penangite for her contribution to sport and her support for empowering lives through education.
The 38-year-old Nicol received the award from Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, pro-chancellor of the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, and professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, chief executive officer (CEO) of the university.
Nicol shared that playing squash professionally for over 20 years had taught her great lessons, and revealed three big lessons she learned from the game. One of them was to ignore negativity.
“I wish we would encourage more people to dream big instead of always finding an argument on why they can’t make it,” said Nicol, who posted her speech on social media.
“Please don’t be that person, and please stay away from people that bring you down.
“Having a positive environment around you will make the biggest difference in your path to reach your dreams. Make it a priority.”
Nicol did say that life would never be a straight path, and one must be prepared to face bumps along the way in order to succeed.
“We will always encounter obstacles in every step we take, some may be small, some may be big. Sometimes, we will have to reroute to find our path.
“The beauty is finding the strength in you to push through when things get tough. Hard work will always pay off, and be resilient to achieve your dreams.’’
She summed it up by asking everyone to be good all the time.
“Always remember no matter how successful you are, always be compassionate to others. If you’re a good person in your life and in the career path you take, that really is the most important thing.
“So, strive for your dreams and make this life count.”
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
