Dr Elexson believes that education is the key to success and a better life.
KUCHING: Dr Elexson Nillian grew up in a place deprived of adequate facilities and life was no bed of roses for most of the families in Kampung Long Selapun, Ulu Tinjar in Baram who had to make do with what little they had to get by.
Nevertheless, Dr Elexson knew that if there is a will, there is a way and hard work always pays off.
Armed with this knowledge and a steely determination not to let deprivation stand in his way to a higher education, he persevered in his studies, working doubly hard to go on to further his studies, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Bio-Technology at Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) in 2011 and subsequently, a Master of Science at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
“Success is attainable if one has extraordinary perseverance to fight an uphill battle, regardless of one’s family background,” said the 30-year-old who also graduated with a PhD in Food Safety from UPM and has the distinction of being the first PhD graduate from the Sebob (Kenyah) community.
The hardships he faced during his school days had motivated him to strive for higher education because he believed that it was the only way to change lives for the better, especially for someone from a poor background like him.
“Education is the key to success and a better life.
“All the hardships in my life did not weaken my resolve to scale the academic ladder but on the contrary, they made me work even harder,” said the only Sebob lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) who also believes that hardship builds strong character and education is vital in shaping a better future.
Dr Elexson had represented Malaysia in several programmes while still in university, including those organised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
He has also presented a number of talks, especially on academics pertaining to the Borneo community.
“I realised that my PhD was not meant just for me to have a better life but also to enlighten people, from rural areas in particular, that education changes lives for the better.
“I was determined to serve my people in Sarawak and become a role model for them.”
As the grandson of a village chief and born into a family who has a vested interest in preserving their cultural legacy, Dr Elexson has also been actively promoting Sebob culture and heritage such as through participating in cultural pageants.
He also formed an organisation called Dayak Pride that has
become a platform for organising academic motivational seminars, especially in the rural areas, together with some close Dayak friends.
“I am looking forward to seeing more fellow Sebobs becoming successful.
“Nevertheless, I do not want them to set the benchmark that success means having to get a PhD.
“I just want them to realise that although some may not be highly educated, if they do things with a strong passion and perseverance, they can also become successful.
“A PhD is not the benchmark of success,” he added.
Dr Elexson will also participate as a speaker at the Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) at Vivacity Megamall here from March 11 to 12.
At BPIEF, he hopes to inspire and motivate the younger generation as well as students to scale greater heights and make their dreams come true through diligence, commitment and perseverance in his talk titled ‘Dare to Change: Adaptation and Transformation from Rural to Urban Scenario’.
“The topic is more about the importance of education, especially for rural society, adaptation to struggles and overcoming the obstacles in students and transformation of their lives.
“I hope to give a new ray of hope to the younger generation to continue struggling, never giving up or stopping to dream to become successful and realise the promise of a better future,” he added.