As Brunei Darussalam enters the new year of 2025, students and youth at the closing ceremony of Future Leader Academy (FLY) programme expressed their hopes for the Sultanate as well as for themselves.
Mohamad Hishamdi bin Mohamad Masuni from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) shared, “My hope for Brunei in 2025 is for more opportunities for youth to gain employment as well as to expand their skills in any areas.”
He said, “For myself, I hope to grow and seize opportunities while going out of my comfort zone especially getting exposure. I want to enhance both my academic knowledge and my leadership abilities as a youth in Brunei.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Alwi Syauqi bin Mohamad Ismail from Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Sultan Saiful Rijal who is undertaking a course on Higher National Technical Education Certificate (HNTec) in Hospitality Operations highlighted, “My hope for 2025 is that Brunei will improve its infrastructures in the tourism and hospitality industries.”
The 24-year-old who will be graduating this year added, “For myself, I would like to further improve my time management skills.”
For Nurul Khairina binti Kamal from Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), she hopes more youth can get involved in activities that can build on personal goals.
The 21-year-old believes that by joining many activities, youth can learn something from it. She added, “As a youth in Brunei, I really hope that we can come together and collaborate – if not now, when?”
The undergraduate also hopes that she can do more to grow to be a better person.
Nor Azra Athilah Zahraa binti Haji Norshamli from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) hopes for youth to establish more connections. She added, the youth who are driven by passion to persist can achieve their true desires.
The 22-year-old who is in her final year also advised, “For those unsure of where to go or what to do, the FLY programme provides youth with a chance to learn and develop connections.”
She added, “Upon completing my university studies, my ambition for the new year is to gain employment and establish my own business. I am also focusing on entrepreneurship at present.”
She hopes the public will gain a better understanding of the issue of stray cats and dogs in order to help save them.
In light of the growing trend of artificial intelligence, she emphasised the importance of studying technological progress from other nations and learning from their experiences. – James Kon