By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 30: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak) valedictorian Gavin Ng Qi Long plans to gain industry experience before returning to contribute to Sarawak.
The 22-year-old Bachelor of Computer Science graduate, who received his scroll at Swinburne Sarawak’s graduation ceremony held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today, said he hopes to start his career locally before exploring opportunities outside the State.
“For the first few years, I plan to stay and work in Sarawak After that, I might explore opportunities in West Malaysia or overseas because there’s so much to learn out there.
“Once I’ve accumulated enough experience and skills, I want to bring them back and contribute to Sarawak. That’s my ultimate goal—to retire here and contribute back to my own State,” he said when met after the graduation ceremony.
A former SMK Sungai Maong student, Ng was accompanied by his mother and younger brother as well as their relatives during the convocation ceremony.
The eldest of two siblings, Ng said his family’s support kept him focused throughout his studies.
He also shared that consistency and time management were key to achieving academic success.
“It’s really about hard work and having a good schedule.
“It was really a challenge back in my foundation years but I found a system that worked for me and I just kept my time on track,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ng said he remains open to opportunities with major tech firms, including FAANG companies—Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google—but prioritises learning and growth over chasing big names.
“I’m quite open to new opportunities. I’m an eager learner, so I don’t shy away from new challenges,” he said.
Ng also shared some advice for his juniors, drawing from his own university experience balancing studies and part-time work.
“To my juniors, I’d say find a system that works for you. Don’t overexert yourself. I used to work part-time and take on too many things while studying, and it really burned me out.
“You have to be ready to make sacrifices, whether it’s your time or relationships. It’s an important phase of life that teaches you not everything will be easy, and you need to figure things out for yourself because no one knows you better than you do.
“So my advice is to do your best, be proud of yourself, always reflect and keep moving on to greater things,” he asserted. — DayakDaily
