Cover image via MARA USA (Facebook)A Malaysian student has gone viral for beating the odds to graduate with two engineering degrees from a top US university, after being rejected by all local public universities due to his poor SPM results
Zul Hakim Zulhaimi, who was an arts stream student and scored just 2As in his SPM, is now a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he completed a double major in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation & Systems Integration Engineering Technology.
As per his LinkedIn profile, he graduated with an impressive 3.90 GPA.
According to MARA USA, Zul Hakim not only completed his studies but managed to graduate a semester early, finishing in Spring 2025, instead of the scheduled Fall 2025 under his MARA scholarship.
The post, shared on Facebook yesterday, 15 June, has since gone viral, with over 8,000 likes, almost 4,000 shares, and more than 500 comments, with many praising the young man's perseverance.
Image via MARA USA (Facebook)
Zul Hakim's academic story began with disappointment
Despite his best efforts, his applications to local public universities were all rejected.
Undeterred, he took a different route and enrolled in the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI) in 2018, where he pursued a Diploma in Mechatronics Engineering Technology, according to MARA USA.
It was a bold move, especially coming from an arts background, but he pushed through the steep learning curve and graduated with excellent results in 2021.
His success earned him a scholarship from MARA to continue his studies abroad.
Image via MARA USA (Facebook)
At Purdue, one of the most respected engineering universities in the US, Zul Hakim thrived. He contributed to several high-impact projects.
Some of these projects include the development of a smart exoskeleton prototype equipped with force and angle sensors, aimed at both educational and industrial applications.
According to the MARA USA post on Facebook, he also took on the role of teaching assistant for a Lean Six Sigma course, and represented his team at Tech Expo Purdue, where students present their innovations to both industry leaders and academic experts.
Zul Hakim capped off his Purdue journey with the Golden Honour Cord, an academic distinction awarded to students with outstanding academic performance.
Despite the odds stacked against him, from low SPM scores to switching fields entirely, he not only caught up but excelled, finishing ahead of schedule with two engineering degrees in hand.
The MARA scholar's journey is proof that a modest beginning doesn't have to mean a modest future.
Image via MARA USA (Facebook)
