KUCHING: For 15 years, Daryl Raphael has faced numerous challenges in life due to his hearing impairment.
However, the Iban lad from SMK Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Gapor believes in working hard to beat the odds despite his impediment which he saw as no reason for failure.
Refusing to let his disability obstruct him, Daryl put in extra effort and dedicated himself to his studies, he reaped the rewards of his tenacity and hard work when the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) results were announced yesterday.
He scored 2As in Mathematics and Integrated Living Skills, 4Bs for Bahasa Melayu, Science, History and Geography and a C for English.
As a beaming Daryl stepped on stage to receive his PMR results from Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and State Education director Datu Abdillah Adam, the auditorium erupted into cheers and applause.
Though he could not hear the accolades, he returned the gesture by waving both his hands depicting clapping in sign language.
“I am extremely thankful to my parents, teachers and friends who were my pillars of strength and constantly gave me the encouragement to never give up,” he mouthed and gestured to reporters when met.
“It is because of them, I am motivated to study hard and show that as a person with disabilities (OKU), nothing is impossible as long as you put your mind to it.
“We must be confident in what we do and tell ourselves that we can do it. By thinking positively, we will one day accomplish our dreams,” he said.
The cheerful lad, who is the eldest of three siblings added that he aspired to become a scientist or teacher in the future.
Meanwhile, also joining Daryl in obtaining excellent PMR results in the students with special needs category was Watson Manda Edwin.
At the age of 9, he suffered from glacoma and was afflicted by visual impairment ever since.
Nevertheless, the Iban lad from SMK Batu Lintang who obtained an A for History, 2Bs for Bahasa Melayu and Science and 4Cs for English, Mathematics, Geography and Integrated Living Skills took the bull by its horns and learnt to be independent in his studies.
“Mostly, I do my own studies because I am the only one in the family with visual impairment.
“But even though my family does not read Braille, my parents and siblings are always there to support me and offer me encouragement as do my teachers and friends in school,” he said.
“They often advise me that even though I have a disability to just try my best in whatever I do,” added Watson, who hails from Balai Ringin.