A 17-year-old Johor high school student has shown incredible resilience and perseverance, sitting for the national Grade 12 exit exam only two weeks after surgery that left him completely blind.
Khairulimran Adam completed his first paper, the Bahasa Melayu Paper 1, on Monday with the help of an invigilator from the Malaysian Examination Syndicate. He did so from the hospital, where he still wore his school uniform to sit the exam. Respect, kid.
Speaking to Berita Harian, he told the paper that as recently as two years ago, he had no trouble at all with his eyes. However, when he sat for his PT3 exams in Grade 10, his eyes began to give him “problems.” He went for an operation at Selayang Hospital, and his sight returned to normal.
Last month, on Oct. 23, he began to see black patches, and his vision became blurry after finishing religious studies at school.
His parents took him to the doctor the following day, where again he was referred to Selayang Hospital. It was there that the doctor informed Khairulimran that he was more than likely to lose his vision entirely.
Three days later, he underwent a four-hour surgery to repair his cornea.
Khairulimran’s dedication to learning is clear: He scored 7 A’s and 2 B’s in his trial exams earlier this year. He’s had to drop one subject — Visual Arts — for obvious reasons this most recent exam, while doctors await to evaluate the results of the operation.
Johor’s Health, Environment, Education, and Information chairman was able to arrange for the exams to be held at the hospital so as to give Khairilimran less stress while his corneas heal.
The young boy added that he loves to read, especially religious subjects, and that they have helped him cope with his current situation. He added that it “will lead me to something greater. That’s what motivates me to carry on, and sit for my exams.”
We are speechless.
Just remember this next time you want to call in sick for work because of a cold. Out in Johor is a 17-year-old kid who went blind two weeks ago, still put on a suit, and is sitting his exams like a badass.
