Bullied for Being Short, M’sian Who Once Ranked Bottom of Class Now a PhD Student With Prestigious YDPA Scholarship

A first-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering at Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Faculty of Engineering has earned widespread recognition after being awarded the prestigious Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship (BYDPA).

According to UM, Lee Yu Shi’s journey to success was far from easy. From primary school through secondary school, she was often bullied because of her height.

“You’re so short”

The post noted that Yu Shi was often looked down on because it took her longer than her classmates to understand certain subjects, which led to her academic performance often ranking near the bottom of her class.

“There were even times when no one wanted to work with her on group assignments. The constant teasing gradually chipped away at her self-confidence. At one point, she even refused to go to school because she felt she simply wasn’t good enough,” the post read.

However, while others doubted her abilities, her teachers continued to support her. Yu Shi eventually decided to push herself and work harder, including waking up at 4 AM to study until 6 AM, as she felt it was the best time to focus.

“Lee Yu Shi decided she would no longer let other people’s insults determine her future. Instead, she chose to work harder than everyone else. If her classmates only needed to revise a topic once, she would go over it repeatedly until she truly understood it,” the post added.

Lee yu shi (left) with the teacher

Her consistent hard work eventually paid off

Besides her studies, Yu Shi was actively involved in student organisations, serving as a school debater and peer counsellor. Over time, her consistent hard work began to pay off.

In photos shared in the post, Yu Shi can be seen receiving the prestigious BYDPA from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.

Her research focuses on catalytic liquefaction, an innovative technology that converts plastic waste into oil using catalysts. Compared to conventional methods, which require high temperatures and high energy consumption, her work offers a more energy-efficient and sustainable alternative.

Looking back on her journey, Yu Shi hopes her story will inspire others who have been looked down on or who have ever felt they were not good enough.

Also read: 28yo Becomes Only M’sian Among 25 Int’l Students to be Awarded EER Fellowship by University of Texas