This is a story of a 3-years-old young village girl who had never imagined herself as a scientist or even as part of an international platform. She comes from a low-income family and had a limited perspective on daily life. Education, on the other hand, has broken the vicious spiral for her and her family.
My name is Chan Siok Yee, and I grew up in a large, happy family where I was granted a lot of freedom to explore. Though the typical concept of gender inequality existed, it was not fully implemented in a family that was more concerned with having enough food on the table than with power, status, or fame. I was active in secondary school, despite having a poor academic record. However, outside of classroom hours, I obtained extensive experience through volunteer work and hobbies (due to the freedom given).
When I realized that I could control my own destiny, I worked hard on my STPM (equivalent to an A-level). Ever since, I have excelled in academics, and encountered numerous helping hands along the way, thanks to my academic achievement and activities-based experiences, which have created possibilities and platforms for doing more for societal benefit.
Empowerment is what I felt within myself, and it was this feeling that transformed me from a tiny village girl to someone who can nurture the next generation with my expertise, i.e passing on the “empowerment” that I have received. The joy of being a part of the world and contributing to humanity is the driving force behind my efforts’ sustainability. I am truly grateful for my family’s freedom, which has allowed me to become who I am today: a mother of 3 kiddos, a registered pharmacist, a tracked-record researcher leading international and national collaboration projects, an education activist, a green ambassador in recycling activities, and a humble volunteer in vital non-governmental organizations in my beloved country, Malaysia
