Sign language upbringing no barrier for award-winning graduate

Raised in a household where sign language was the daily mode of communication, Arifah Azhari never let her circumstances hinder her pursuit of excellence. The civil engineering diploma graduate from Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah (PTSB) achieved a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.76, earning her the Director's Award at the Northern Zone Polytechnic and Community College Convocation Ceremony 2026.

Arifah, 22, the fifth of nine siblings, also received the Academic and Co-curricular Excellence Award from the Civil Engineering Department. Her parents, Azhari Zainol and Che Asma Hamzah, are both hearing and speech impaired individuals since birth. "Mom and Dad always told me to study hard to be successful in the future. Even though our way of communicating is different, their love and support have always been my strength," she shared.

During her childhood, Arifah's schooling was significantly aided by her older siblings and other family members. Communication at home primarily involved sign language, taught by her parents. Her father, who works as a cleaner at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), served as the family's primary source of strength in raising their nine children.

Arifah emphasized that her achievements are not solely her own but are also fueled by her family's prayers and sacrifices, along with the guidance of her teachers, lecturers, and the support of her friends throughout her studies. The spirit of mutual assistance within her family was a key catalyst for her success, with her brothers pooling their money to buy a laptop. This laptop was initially used by her elder sister before being passed on to Arifah.

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Mom and Dad always told me to study hard to be successful in the future. Even though our way of communicating is different, their love and support have always been my strength.