Rosita is from the Temiar tribe of Kampung Pos Ber in Gua Musang, Kelantan. The 21-year-old is a shy person but likes to help people. In her free time, she likes reading novels. Her ambition is to be of service to her family and community.

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Rosita’s Story | No Motivation to Study Due to Teasing

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I started schooling in 2005, at Sekolah Kebangsaan Hendrop (Hendrop National School). After that, I continued my studies at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Asap (Sungai Asap National Secondary School). I lived in a dormitory while attending school from Form One to Form Five because the school was far from my home — about a five-hour journey. From here, I learned to be independent and manage my daily life.

When I was in secondary school, I was active in sports. I was a sprinter and represented my school in the 4 x 100m, 200m, and 100m events. I won many medals and prizes as a result of my success in sports. My achievements gave me great joy and made me feel proud. This experience made me very happy in school. 

However, in school, I was always bullied by other students. The worst incident of bullying happened when I was in Form 4. Usually, the bullies would use harsh language like “hey Orang Asli, you’re ugly”, etc. I felt angry, frustrated, and sad. At that time, I asked a teacher, Cikgu Kartini, for help. She scolded those students who liked to bully. 

As a result of being bullied, I could not concentrate on my studies, because I was constantly teased and insulted by other students. I felt sad and was not motivated to study. I failed the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Malaysian Certificate of Education) examination. I regret not studying properly, but the regret is pointless as it is too late.

After I left school I went back to the village to help my parents at the farm, tapping rubber and growing vegetables. My advice to my siblings who are still in school: don’t be discouraged when other students insult us. Brothers and sisters who are always humiliated and teased by other students, let’s continue to pursue our ambitions and not care about what people say about us. What matters is that we study diligently for our own future and our family’s future.