One Year, Many Lessons.
When I first stepped into Universiti Teknologi Malaysia as a new lecturer in June 2024, I felt both excitement and responsibility. The title “lecturer” is more than a position; it carries the weight of shaping young minds and guiding future researchers. Now, one year and three months into this journey, I find myself reflecting on what self-leadership means to me and how it has shaped my growth so far.
For me, self-leadership is about training myself to be the kind of leader my students deserve. It is not just about instructing them in lectures, but also guiding undergraduates in their learning process and helping postgraduate students navigate their research. In academia, there is no strict manual to follow; it is a constant process of learning, adapting, and improving. To lead others effectively, I must first lead myself. That is why self-leadership matters so much in my career.
I have always believed that teaching begins with empathy. I try to put myself in my students’ shoes, to imagine the struggles they face in understanding complex topics. By doing this, I can adapt my explanations and ensure that my teaching reaches them in meaningful ways. This ability has become one of my greatest strengths as a lecturer. At the same time, my love for research continues to drive me. I have always enjoyed designing and conducting experiments, and I was fortunate to be trained thoroughly during my PhD by my supervisor, Professor Ramesh from Universiti Malaya. Under his mentorship, I not only developed technical skills but also learned the value of patience and persistence. Guiding undergraduates in their final year projects during my doctoral years gave me a head start in understanding how to balance my own work while helping students achieve theirs.
Time management is another strength that I rely on. Academia requires juggling multiple roles at once: teaching, supervising, conducting research, and handling administrative responsibilities. While this balancing act is never easy, I have learned to plan carefully and manage my schedule so that no part of my role is neglected.
Of course, the journey is not without challenges. One of the areas I continue to struggle with is finding the right balance between all my responsibilities. At times, the demands of teaching consume the hours I wish to spend writing papers or developing new experiments. I also recognize that I am still in the process of building my scholarly voice. Publishing impactful work and positioning myself as an independent researcher in the international community is a long journey, one that requires persistence and confidence. Another challenge is expanding my academic network. While I have begun collaborating with colleagues and guiding students, I know that to make a greater impact, I need to extend my collaborations regionally and internationally.
Despite these challenges, I look forward with optimism. In the next ten years, I envision myself growing into a stronger scholar and academic leader. I aspire to be recognized at UTM for my contributions as both a lecturer and researcher. I also see myself leading a research team dedicated to polymer electrolytes, specializing in dye-sensitized solar cells, batteries, and supercapacitor applications. These areas of study excite me not only for their scientific potential but also for their role in advancing sustainable energy solutions. Alongside these goals, I hope to achieve the title of Associate Professor, a milestone that reflects years of effort, teamwork, and scholarly dedication.
To reach these aspirations, I know I must continue practicing self-leadership. Goal setting will be vital: I will need to define clear and realistic targets for teaching, research, and publications. Self-reflection will allow me to pause and evaluate what went well and what I could do better after every semester and every project. Self-regulation will help me manage my time wisely and focus on what truly matters, even if that means saying no to unnecessary tasks. Most importantly, self-motivation will keep me moving forward when faced with setbacks like rejected manuscripts or failed experiments. I have learned that in academia, small victories matter — whether it is a student finally understanding a concept or a successful experiment after many trials. Celebrating these moments sustains my motivation.
Looking back at my journey so far, I see how self-leadership has guided me through my first steps in academia. It has taught me to recognize my strengths, acknowledge my weaknesses, and set my eyes on the future. Teaching and research are not separate paths but intertwined roles that shape who I am becoming as a scholar. With self-leadership as my foundation, I believe I can continue to grow with purpose, resilience, and vision. I want to inspire my students not only through knowledge but through example — showing them that with discipline, reflection, and motivation, they too can achieve their goals.
My journey has just begun, but I carry with me the belief that the next decade will be filled with opportunities to grow, to lead, and to contribute meaningfully. Academia is a lifelong pursuit, and with self-leadership as my compass, I am ready to navigate its challenges and embrace its rewards.
