Social media is indeed a strong tool for normal folks to share their unique stories, shedding light on the challenges they face in their daily lives.
As social media uncovered the story of a university student in Sabah who climbed trees just to get better internet connection to attend her online classes, here is another story of a university student, having to brave the jungle and mosquitoes to do the same thing.
Published on her Facebook profile, Rose ED in Pakan, Sarawak shared her story of attending online classes in the middle of a rubber plantation.
“On the 24th of June 2020, I attended an online presentation held via the MyGuru app. The class took place after it was rescheduled following an unstable internet connection in my area.”
“I had to prepare early for my presentation and that the best internet connection I could find was in the middle of a rubber plantation. It was better than the one they had at our longhouse.”
“It is common for us to get better internet connection in peculiar areas such as the surrounding hills, in palm oil plantations, but the areas I mentioned are not meant to be visited on a daily basis as I have a full schedule except for Tuesdays and Sundays.”
That is indeed tough.
In her write up, Rose added, “The location that I am currently in is fairly close to the plantation that my father works in and after my classes are done for the day, I will help him rebuild an old shack that I can use for my online classes.”
She explained that though her village is not that far from the town of Pakan, the cost of the day trip alone will be a huge dent to her family’s finances. Furthermore, as a final year student, internet connection is the plight that she needs most right now because without it all systems for her to use to study will not function properly.
Sharing her hope that help will be provided here is what Rose has to say, “I hope that my plea will not fall on deaf ears, as there are many like me who are in need of stable internet connectivity for our studies.”
Let’s hope that her plight is heard and that many like her will not have to go through all that hardship just for the sake of internet connectivity.
Also read: MCMC Visits Sabah Student Who Went Viral & Promises to Build New Internet Tower