Education has always been essential, shaping our lives and fostering growth. From a young age, we learn that knowledge is the key to success, and the pursuit of learning continues throughout our lifetime. Even as we grow older, education remains within reach—with enough motivation and determination, anyone regardless of age can still achieve their academic goals.
A perfect example of this can be seen in a viral TikTok video featuring an elderly man proudly receiving his graduation scroll at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)’s recent graduation ceremony. The 77-year-old graduate has impressed local netizens, praised for his dedication and perseverance to complete his studies at such an age.
The elderly graduate, Zulkifly Abdullah, earned his Bachelor of Law Studies degree from the Faculty of Law at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). However, that’s not all that’s remarkable about him. According to a local media outlet, Zulkifly previously served as the General Director of the Malaysian Trade Union Affairs Department under the Ministry of Human Resources for two years, from 2001 to 2003.
His passion for reading, particularly historical materials, led him to pursue a career that’s related to law. “During my nearly 34-year career with the Ministry of Human Resources, I dealt with many labour laws, which fuelled my passion to pursue a law degree,” Zulkifly shared. He also mentioned that his child, a graduate of the same course, supported him throughout his academic journey, especially when he encountered difficulties during his studies.
Naturally, netizens were in awe after watching the viral video of the elderly fresh graduate. Given the challenging nature of studying law, which requires extensive memorisation and hard work, many praised and showed immense respect for Zulkifly’s ability to complete the course at his age. Others expressed how deeply moved they were, noting that his achievement serves as a powerful reminder that age is never a barrier when it comes to pursuing education.
Watch the viral video of Zulkifly’s graduation here:
@uitm_channel Warga emas berusia 77 tahun dari jurusan Sarjana Muda Pengajian Undang-Undang, Fakulti Undang-Undang naik pentas menerima skrol di #istiadatkonvokesyenuitm99 #Konvoksyen99 #konvo99 #usahatakwamulia #uitmdihatiku
Sources: TikTok, MalaysiaGazette
Alia contributed to this article.
