It’s always exciting to see new faces walking through the gates of their colleges. The mix of excitement and nervousness is something we all experience on our 1st day. But nothing beats those first-day jitters like having some help from a new friend.
In a recent post by Zaidil Adha, he shares a heartwarming story of a new student who travelled all the way from Johor to Penang to register for college that was scheduled for July 28 (Sunday).
The bus tickets were sold out
In the post, Zaidil, who is a lecturer and also serves as the Student Affairs Officer, revealed that the dad of a student had called his office in a distressed tone, informing him that the bus tickets from Batu Pahat to Penang for July 27 (Saturday) were sold out.
In desperation, the dad bought a ticket for July 26 (Friday) for his son, Lim, who would arrive in Penang on the morning of July 27, 2024 (Saturday). The dad humbly requested that Lim be allowed to move into the dormitory early.
Lim had to take the bus and walk 20 minutes
Zaidil explained that parents usually go with their kids for new student registration. But Lim’s dad couldn’t afford to and had to send Lim on his own.
Lim’s dad then asked Zaidil which bus Lim should take from Sungai Nibong to Balik Pulau. Zaidil suggested an e-hailing service for convenience.
“The dad said he didn’t have enough money for the e-hailing ride, so Lim had to take the Rapid Penang bus and walk 20 minutes from the nearest bus stop to the college instead.”
Impressed by the fact that Lim had never been to Penang before and had never taken an express bus, Zaidil then asked for his phone number and identification and proceeded to ask a colleague to get the dorm key on Lim’s behalf.
He accidentally grabbed the wrong bag when he got off the bus
On Saturday morning, Zaidil took it upon himself to pick Lim up at the bus stop so that he wouldn’t have to walk. Upon arriving in Penang, Zaidil mentioned seeing Lim wearing a white shirt, black pants and a tie standing alone.
“The attire that Lim was wearing is actually meant for the new registration the next day, but he was wearing it that day. He was eating bread that he had brought from Johor. I invited him to have breakfast outside since the cafe was closed today. However, he politely declined, saying he was already full.”
Zaidil suggested that Lim change his clothes 1st which prompted Lim to change in the public toilet, however, he came out of the bathroom with a red face, teary eyes, and trembling hands mentioning that the bag he was carrying wasn’t his.
Even though Zaidil had his own work to do back in the office, he couldn’t leave Lim in a tough spot. So, he took Lim back to the bus terminal to get his bag.
“Today’s challenges would have a sweet outcome in the future”
Upon arriving at the terminal, Zaidil and Lim headed straight to the customer service counter to claim Lim’s bag. After providing the necessary information, the express bus representative informed them that the bag had already been taken back to Penang Central.
“On our way to Penang Central to retrieve the bag, I saw Lim secretly taking pictures while we were on the Penang Bridge to which I told him to take pictures properly and to not be shy about it. He thanked me and said he wanted to send the photos to his father.”
Upon arriving at Penang Sentral to claim his bag, Lim immediately got off, retrieved his bag, and hugged it. With the issue resolved, they headed back to the island.
“We made a pit stop at the supermarket because Lim wanted to buy some items. I invited him to eat first since I hadn’t eaten since morning. I treated Lim to Singapore-style fried rice noodles, which he said was delicious,” Zaidil explained.
“A strong spirit will lead to success”
Zaidil went on to explain that at the supermarket, Lim would use his phone to calculate every item he picked up to stay within his budget. At checkout, he covered the cost of all Lim’s items, and he showed his gratitude by repeatedly thanking him and bowing.
When they reached the college, he helped Lim get to his room. Soon after, senior members from the Chinese association came by to greet and assist him.
Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, Zaidil offered his advice to all Malaysians saying,
“Always help others in need, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Sometimes, even our small acts of kindness can make a big impact on someone’s life. To students, don’t be afraid to face challenges, as every difficulty provides valuable experience and strengthens us for the future.”
What do you think of this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!
Also read: Standard 1 Chinese Student Comforts Malay Student by Holding Hands on First Day at Kajang School
