December 2020: Graduated, But What’s Next?
In December 2020, I graduated from HM Aerospace and returned home, expecting to begin the next chapter of my aviation career. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the aviation industry, and my friends and I found ourselves in a waiting period with no clear indication of when opportunities would return. Our group chats, which once revolved around flying and training, slowly became conversations about waiting lists, recruitment updates and uncertainty. Having just graduated, I found myself wondering what to do next. Nobody knew whether we would be waiting a few months or a few years. During one of those days, I had a conversation with my family, who suggested that rather than simply waiting for aviation to recover, I should pursue another diploma or degree in an industry less directly affected by the aviation downturn. That conversation introduced me to the Bachelor of Occupational Safety and Health Management with Honours (BOSHM) programme at Open University Malaysia (OUM). I would love to say I spent weeks researching the programme and carefully planning my future, but that would be far from the truth. I barely knew what Occupational Safety and Health involved. I simply thought, why not give it a try?
January 2021: Becoming a University Student Again
During the first week of January 2021, just weeks after graduating from HM Aerospace, I walked into OUM Shah Alam and registered myself as a student. Having previously completed my matriculation studies in Kedah, together with my still-valid MUET certificate, I was able to enrol directly into the bachelor’s degree programme. Just like that, I was officially a university student again, although I had almost no idea what I had signed myself up for. My first semester was confusing. I had gone from studying aircraft systems and aviation procedures to occupational legislation, hazard identification, risk assessments and industrial hygiene. I remember wondering whether I had made the right decision and whether I would actually complete the programme. But as the semesters progressed, something unexpected happened. I started understanding the subjects, and more importantly, I started enjoying them. What began as a backup plan during the pandemic was slowly becoming a genuine interest.
Starting From the Bottom: My First Experience in Industry
Around the same period, my father gave me an opportunity to join his company as an apprentice. Instead of stepping directly into an administrative or management position, I started from the ground up as an Assistant Boilerman. 
My early days involved observing industrial operations, understanding steam boiler systems, learning about equipment and becoming familiar with workplace safety procedures. There was no shortcut into the industry. I had to listen, observe, ask questions and gradually develop my technical understanding. Looking back, starting at the operational level was one of the most valuable experiences I could have had. At university, I was learning about hazards, risks and control measures. At work, I was standing beside industrial equipment, observing operational procedures and seeing why those control measures mattered. I began to understand that workplace safety was not simply about wearing personal protective equipment or complying with regulations. It involved understanding processes, anticipating hazards, managing risks and making decisions that could directly affect the safety of others. The combination of theoretical knowledge from OUM and practical exposure at work helped me develop a stronger understanding of the industry.
March 2021: My First Safety Certification
In March 2021, I decided to take my first step towards developing additional professional knowledge by pursuing the Occupational Safety and Health Coordinator (OSH-C) course. This was my first formal safety-related training outside my university programme. As I continued learning, I gradually became more involved in workplace safety activities, attending site visits, observing inspections and participating in meetings involving operational matters and safety concerns. Initially, I was mostly there to listen. There were discussions, technical terms and procedures that I did not fully understand, but every meeting and site visit provided another opportunity to learn. Over time, the concepts I encountered in university began making more sense because I could see how they were applied in real working environments. What initially seemed like unfamiliar academic material was becoming part of my everyday professional experience, and the more I learned, the more interested I became.
One Course Led to Another
As my interest in Occupational Safety and Health grew, I started exploring specialised training programmes. One that caught my attention was the Authorised Gas Tester and Entry Supervisor (AGTES) course. I was interested in learning about confined-space hazards, atmospheric testing and the procedures involved in managing confined-space entry. However, I learned that I first needed to complete the Authorised Entrant and Standby Person (AESP) course, so I enrolled at NIOSH Melaka. Approximately six months later, I proceeded with AGTES training. Meanwhile, I continued gaining practical experience in steam boiler operations and eventually became interested in pursuing the Steam Boiler Operator Grade 2 qualification. 
This pathway required me to satisfy minimum working experience requirements before progressing, so I continued accumulating practical experience for approximately another year. Along the way, I also attended the Site Safety Supervisor (SSS) course, although I have not registered as a competent Site Safety Supervisor. Each course introduced me to another area of the industry, and one learning opportunity seemed to lead naturally to the next. Without realising it, I had gone from someone who knew almost nothing about Occupational Safety and Health to someone actively looking for opportunities to learn more.
Opportunities I Never Expected: From Industrial Plants to Aerospace Manufacturing
Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of this journey was the opportunity to gain exposure to different industrial facilities and organisations. As my involvement in occupational safety and industrial operations increased, I had opportunities to experience workplace environments I would never have imagined being part of when I first enrolled at OUM. One particularly memorable opportunity was working with Safran’s facility in Sendayan, associated with carbon brake discs for Airbus aircraft. Coming from an aviation background, this was especially fascinating. Previously, I had studied aircraft from the perspective of a pilot, learning about their systems, operations and procedures. Now, through occupational safety and industrial exposure, I was experiencing another side of the aviation ecosystem, including manufacturing processes, industrial operations and the safety practices behind important aerospace components. I also gained exposure to rubber manufacturing facilities and various other industrial environments, each with different processes, machinery, operational hazards and safety requirements. There were also opportunities involving other companies that I cannot specifically identify here due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and professional confidentiality obligations. Nevertheless, those experiences were equally valuable. What fascinated me most was how different these environments could be, yet how similar the fundamental principles of safety remained. Whether it was aviation, aerospace manufacturing, rubber processing, steam boiler operations or industrial maintenance, the importance of risk management, operational discipline, communication and accountability was always present. I began to realise that my aviation background and my Occupational Safety and Health studies were not two unrelated fields. In many ways, they complemented each other.
2023: When Aviation Came Calling Again
By 2023, I had started finding a rhythm between my university studies, professional training and industrial work. Then another important chapter of my aviation journey began. I had to dedicate my time and attention to aviation line training, which demanded significant preparation, concentration, discipline and commitment. As anyone familiar with aviation would understand, line training is not something that can be taken lightly. Between aviation training requirements, professional responsibilities and university assignments, I suddenly found myself struggling to balance everything. Eventually, I had to make a difficult but necessary decision: I temporarily put my OUM studies on hold for a few semesters. It was not because I had lost interest in Occupational Safety and Health. By then, I had developed a genuine appreciation for the field, but aviation had always been an important part of my life, and when the opportunity to progress with line training came, I needed to give it my full attention. Of course, pausing my studies raised a different set of concerns. Would I still have the motivation to continue? Would returning to university after several semesters be difficult? Would the delay eventually lead to me abandoning the degree altogether? These questions stayed with me, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to finish what I had started.
Returning to OUM: Finishing What I Started
After taking time away from my studies to focus on aviation commitments, I eventually returned to OUM to continue the programme. Returning after several semesters was an interesting experience because I was no longer the same student who had enrolled in January 2021 with virtually no understanding of Occupational Safety and Health. By then, I had gained practical industrial exposure, attended various professional training programmes and developed a much stronger understanding of workplace safety. Subjects that initially seemed confusing were now easier to relate to actual experiences. When studying risk assessments, I could think about hazards I had encountered during site visits. When discussing occupational safety legislation, I could relate it to compliance requirements I had learned about in industry. When learning about safety management systems, I had a better appreciation of how policies and procedures were implemented in real organisations. In an unexpected way, my professional experiences had made me a more engaged student. That did not mean completing the remaining semesters was effortless. There were still assignments, examinations, deadlines and responsibilities to manage. But I continued, semester after semester, working towards a goal that had begun almost by accident during the pandemic. The interruption in 2023 may have delayed my graduation, but it had not ended my journey.
19 October 2026: The Question I Finally Answered
When I first registered at Open University Malaysia during the first week of January 2021, I remember asking myself one question: “Will I actually complete this degree, or will it be too difficult?” At the time, it was a genuine concern. I had just graduated from HM Aerospace, I was entering an unfamiliar field, and I had no idea what the years ahead would bring. I certainly did not anticipate starting as an Assistant Boilerman, pursuing professional safety training, gaining exposure to major industrial facilities, reconnecting with aerospace manufacturing from a different perspective or temporarily pausing my university studies because of aviation line training. What was initially supposed to be something productive to do while waiting for the aviation industry to recover had become a journey lasting several years. Despite the changes, challenges and interruptions, I made it to the finish line. On 19 October 2026, I proudly graduated from Open University Malaysia with a Bachelor of Occupational Safety and Health Management with Honours (BOSHM), achieving a CGPA of 3.80. This achievement meant far more than receiving another academic qualification. It represented the decision I made in January 2021, the uncertainty of the pandemic, the knowledge I gained from industrial experience and the determination to return to university after putting my studies on hold. Looking back, I realise that the biggest challenge was not necessarily the difficulty of the degree. It was making the decision to begin and choosing to continue whenever life interrupted the original plan. When I first considered enrolling, I wondered whether spending another five years studying would be worth it. Five years sounded like a long time. Would it be too difficult? Would I be able to finish? Was I making the right decision? But somewhere along the journey, I came to understand something very simple. Whether I started this degree or not, I was still going to turn 27 one day. The only difference was whether I would reach that age with a degree or without one. Time was going to pass regardless. Five years would come and go whether I decided to study or not. My career would continue to evolve, circumstances would continue to change, and life would carry on. The only thing I could control was what I chose to do with that time. At 27, holding a degree I never originally planned to pursue, I am grateful that my younger self decided to take that chance. I am especially thankful to my family, particularly my father, who encouraged me to pursue further education and gave me the opportunity to learn from the ground up. I am equally grateful to my lecturers, coursemates, colleagues and industry professionals who shared their knowledge and supported me throughout the journey. To anyone considering further education but hesitating because of age, time commitments, career responsibilities or the fear of not being able to complete it, my advice is simple: Start anyway. You do not need to have everything figured out before beginning. Your plans may change, your career may take unexpected turns, and sometimes you might need to pause before moving forward again. Taking longer to reach your goal does not make the achievement any less meaningful. Progress does not always happen in a straight line. Sometimes it means moving forward, and sometimes it means finding your way back after a break. Five years from now, you will be five years older regardless of the decision you make today. The question is what you want to have achieved by then. In January 2021, I asked myself whether I would ever finish this degree. On 19 October 2026, I finally had my answer. Yes. I did. And I would do it all over again. What began as a waiting period in aviation became one of the most valuable learning journeys of my life. The pandemic may have changed my original flight plan, but it certainly did not stop me from moving forward.
