Hi! My name is Norita Ahmad. I'm a graduate student at Syracuse University, NY. My major is Telecommunications & Network Management. I was born in Malaysia, a very beautiful peninsular in South East of Asia. If you're interested to know me, please read the story below.

This is my story…..

I have no difficulty remembering the exact time and day I was born. It was 2:15 am, January 11^th, 5 hours after my mother had her worst experience in child delivery.  

My mother wanted to name me Morita, the name of a famous TV character at that time. My father disagreed since the name has no meaning. At last they compromised and named me Norita. ‘Nur’ means ‘light’ in Arabic and Ita has no meaning but my mother loved it so much. As I grow up, I learn to love my name. It is short and easy to remember.

I was raised in a wonderful family. I was taught that I was capable, special and great in every thing in life. I think those really helped in shaping me up to who I am today. I am the youngest of five children and I could feel that my parent is proud of me the most.

I am not really talented or anything like that. There are some things that I do well but I am not a genius or anything. However, I never doubted myself. I have confidence in myself. I have never questioned whether I was capable of anything. I do anything I like and I always try my best to be the best. That is perhaps god’s greatest gift to me. That no matter what happened to me, I could still go on!

I got married a year after I got my degree in Computer Science from Syracuse University. My husband is the most wonderful person in the world. I am blessed to have a husband who constantly affirmed his belief in me. I know that he is confident that I would do the right thing and that I would make something of my life.

My life in the previous four years has been caught somewhere between work and family. I don’t have time for my very own family. I got caught up in my commitments to work and family activities. My life got so busy. I know it was out of control and I got to do something.

I have made up my mind! I am going back to college. I spoke to my husband and I was prepared for any answer that he would give. To my surprised, he is willing to give up his job and follow me to United States.

Some of my friends wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. They doubted that we could do it. The situation however energized us. We saw an enormous opportunity for us to make a difference. I honestly couldn’t live any other way. And I am starting all over again and looking forward to the journey. So, here we are today in Syracuse. Of course we do miss our family in Malaysia!