It’s truly exciting and inspiring whenever we hear stories of Malaysians achieving international success in whatever career they pursue. These stories can help motivate ourselves to be better in our field, to keep working hard and to do whatever it takes to make our dreams come true.
To achieve success in the US is not an easy feat. Previously, we’ve had former Malaysian actress Sarah Hildebrand who is now a member of the army in the US Air Force. Now, we have another Malaysian who just completed her studies in a US service academy. Let’s get to know Janushaa Bala Krishnan Muthiah and her story:
Janushaa Bala Krishnan Muthiah is the first ever Malaysian woman to complete her Military Studies and Training Degree program at the United States Naval Academy (USNA). Prior to this achievement, she was already a member of the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) as a Senior Cadet Officer.
The 23-year-old from Kuala Lipis, Pahang apparently began her training at USNA in 2018 with 1,085 trainees from the US and 14 trainees from abroad and she was also the first Malaysian woman to attend the academy according to local news reports. Sharing her experiences, Janushaa revealed that the first year of training was the most difficult as she needed to balance between different aspects such as leadership, academic and physical.
“Only trainees with high determination and team spirit will help you pass the tough tests and challenges,” she said. According to the Senior Cadet, one of the most unforgettable experiences was the Summer Plebe Program where newly-entered trainees had to undergo 7 weeks of physical and mental training. She also shared that her family has kept her motivated to complete her studies over the years, especially her father who passed away while she was still training.
Janushaa’s graduation ceremony was attended the current US President, Joe Biden and she had also received a congratulatory message from the Malaysian King and Queen, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
What’s next for the US Navy graduate? She hopes to study aerospace engineering at USNA in her pursuit of her dreams of becoming a fighter pilot. The TLDM member was also featured in an interview for CLEO Malaysia back in 2018 where she talked about chasing her dreams:
Sources: SinarHarian, Gempak, USEmbassy, CLEOMalaysia
