Straight-A student thanks Maharani programme for guidance

S. Hema Preyaa always had difficulty with saying ‘no’ and often found herself in situations where she was forced to do things simply to please others. “I have always struggled with this because I was afraid that by saying no to something, especially to my friends, will lead to conflict or affect my relationship with others. So, I ended up doing what they wanted even though I may have wated to do something else or had other plans,” she said. She was 15 years old when she first joined the Maharani camp held at Cameron Highlands in the state of Pahang, Malaysia.

“I joined the camp simply to make new friends. But I ended up learning so much, especially topics like self-management, gender equality, female empowerment and how to be mentally strong,” she said.

“Apart from struggling with saying no, I have also had trouble with time management. At the Maharani camp, I learnt how to evaluate things and understand what needs to be prioritised and what needs to be sacrificed especially when I have to say no to someone,” Hema Preyaa said. Hema Preyaa now 21, is doing her degree in Human Resources Management at Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok Kedah. She is thankful for the Maharani programme for helping her to get her priorities right. She is glad that she was able to make her parents proud by getting straight As in her high school examination.  

“I want to tell all the girls out there who have been in the same boat as me, to grab this opportunity to enroll in the Maharani programme. You can learn so much about a world that is different from your own and learn how to step out of your comfort zone,” she said.

Hema Preyaa said Maharani helped her break out of her shell, expand her knowledge beyond classes and grades at school. She hopes with her achievement can inspire the girls out there especially from rural areas.