Amirul Daniel Hakim

Amirul Daniel Hakim has been recognised for his integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts and as well as campus involvement. This Chancellor’s Award receiver chose Islamic Financial Planning as his major after realising that not many people have gone into the discipline, hoping to penetrate and become one of the best experts in the field. Driven and committed, Amirul Daniel Hakim graduated with a 3.86 CGPA from the Bank Rakyat School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

UR: How does it feel to receive the Chancellor’s Award? 

AD: I’ve always aimed for the Chancellor’s Award since the first day I stepped into UNIRAZAK. Now that I actually got it, it feels surreal and I am completely honoured.

It gives me a sense of  accomplishment that all my hard work and efforts throughout my undergraduate years have paid off. This is a reminder for me that dreams do come true and can be achieved with determination and perseverance.

UR: It has been a year since the pandemic hit us, can you share some of the challenges you went through in the new normal. 

AD: I was blessed to be able to complete my studies before the pandemic, so I didn’t get to experience the whole online distance learning.

But entering the working environment during the lockdown definitely wasn’t easy. In a blink of an eye where the whole world was changing, I had to adapt quickly to the new normal but at the same time, staying on top of my game.

I am thankful that UNIRAZAK has equipped me with the necessary skills during my studies through their practically-built course layout and trained me to identify my strengths and weaknesses that have proven to be useful especially in these trying times.

UR: What was your favourite part about studying at UNIRAZAK? 

AD: My favourite part of UNIRAZAK would be its location which is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and that obviously comes with many perks.

Besides the location, UNIRAZAK’s core brand as a boutique university with curated courses that partnered with globally renowned professional bodies which will equip the students not only with a degree but also an accreditation or professional certifications from their partners.

The best thing is that since UNIRAZAK is not as big as other universities, I feel connected with everyone.

The management is student-centred as all the lecturers know you personally and will share with you any relevant opportunities available. I don’t think you can get this type of close-knit relationships at other universities.

UR: Which instructor(s) influenced you most?  

AD: To be honest, all the lecturers that have taught me are amazing and have contributed to shaping me into becoming the person I am today.

But if I were to pick a few, first, it would be my academic advisor; Madam Latifah who has always pushed me to become the best version of myself and always equipped me with an abundance of knowledge with a wider spectrum.

She would always remind me that there is more to this out there and the importance of learning all for my future. It was eye-opening.

Another person who played a vital role in my journey was Mr Zawawi. He believed in the potential that I have and directed me in the right direction and made me realise what my strengths are.

UR: What is one piece of advice you would give to new students? 

AD: An advice that I would like to give the new students is to always give our all in every endeavour. Do everything whole-heartedly as the outcome will always be the reflection

of our efforts. So study hard but don’t forget to have fun at the same time; balance is the key. Work on figuring yourself out to know what’s best for you and do things your own way and pace.

Don’t do it because others are doing it, and feel pressured by it. It’s okay to fail at times as no one is perfect and the beauty about failing is that you will come back stronger and ultimately become the best version of yourself.