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A Malaysian woman has shared the inspiring journey of her brother, who, despite being born with learning difficulties, never gave up on his dream of becoming a school teacher
In a post on X, Dr Ainun Nasihah shared that her brother, Farid, fondly known as Ed, was born breech, which delayed his delivery and led to developmental challenges.
"They said he was a slow learner. He stuttered badly and was always in his own world. He was bullied physically and mentally in school, even though our father was a teacher there," she recounted of their childhood in Kelantan.
Despite this, Dr Ainun, who is two years younger, said she grew up watching her brother's remarkable perseverance
She said despite holding an OKU card, Ed has continuously pushed himself, refusing to let his limitations hold him back.
Dr Ainun said he sat for SPM 10 times and STPM twice before before successfully gaining admission into university.
Then, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, he recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPLI) — the final step towards becoming a teacher.
Now 37, Ed has officially reported for duty as a teacher in Johor
Dr Ainun told Hot FM that when Ed first sat for SPM in 2005, he failed three subjects.
But with every repeat, he studied on his own and improved bit by bit — eventually turning his BM and Mathematics from failing grades into a B and C.
She added that his determination extends beyond academics: While pursuing his DPLI, Ed took on various odd jobs, including working as a security guard at hospitals, schools, and an old folks' home, and even helped their father in the paddy fields.
"He also still stutters, but we always remind him to take a deep breath before speaking. He's doing much better now," she said.
She added that, at times, her brother reminds her of the main character in Forrest Gump
"He's very much his own person, but he built his own story through perseverance and grit. Yes, he had the support of our family, but you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.
"In his case, he always helped himself first, and that's why help always came his way. All the best in this new chapter, Ed!" she wrote.
Ed's story has since gone viral on X, gaining over a million views and sparking an outpouring of support of praise for the siblings
"Thank you for this inspiring story. You both are really amazing!" said an X user.
"Congrats to your brother. He's truly blessed to grow up in a family that never gave up on him," said another.
"MashaAllah, such an inspiring story! I'm rooting for him. May his journey be smooth sailing, inshaAllah," wished a netizen.
"All the best, teacher! Your story will definitely inspire other kids. Keep going, we really need a good support system in Malaysia for our future generations," said another.
