Giving & Growing: What Students Give and Gain at NUMed
University is about more than what you gain, it’s also about what you give. At NUMed, students contribute to the community while gaining experiences that shape their journey. Year 5 MBBS student Cedric Woon Sek Law shares what he has given and gained at NUMed.
17 September 2026
University is often a time when students gain a degree, new knowledge, career opportunities, and experiences that prepare them for what comes next. But there is also another side to the student experience: what they give.
Students at NUMed bring their time, ideas, talents, and energy to the community around them. They take part in student activities, support their peers, get involved in events, and find ways to contribute beyond the classroom. In doing so, they become part of a community that grows with them, and what they give becomes what they gain.
Cedric Woon Sek Law, a Year 5 MBBS student from Mauritius, shares what he has given and gained here.
Giving your time
For many students, university is the first time they are surrounded by people from different backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Getting involved in societies, events, volunteering, sports, or other activities can be a way to find a sense of belonging.
According to Cedric, “Students have a very important role in shaping their own university experiences. By joining and leading various student-led activities I hoped to bring forward a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive community.”
These experiences may not appear on the academic timetable, but they can shape skills that students carry with them long after graduation.
Giving back to the community
As students become more confident, many find opportunities to give back to the people and community around them.
This might happen through volunteering, peer support, community initiatives, or even student-led projects.
“One of the things I am most proud of was serving as President of the NUMed Student Association. In this role, I had the opportunity to represent the student body, work closely with students and staff, and organise activities that brought the NUMed community together.
“A particular contribution that stands out to me was planning and hosting a large-scale sports event involving more than 20 universities from across Malaysia. What made the experience particularly rewarding was seeing everybody come together, get involved in the activities they were passionate about, and create memories that they could carry with them long after the event had ended,” shared Cedric.
And what do students gain?
Ask students what they expect to gain when they first arrive at NUMed, and the answer might be straightforward: a degree and the knowledge needed for their future career.
Ask them again towards the end of their journey, and the answer may be different.
They may talk about unexpected friendships, experiences that pushed them outside their comfort zone, mentors who influenced their thinking, or the confidence to pursue opportunities they once found intimidating.
For Cedric, one of the things he gained was something else completely. “I did not expect that I would learn Malay. But I have recognised that speaking the language that the locals use makes a significant impact on patients’ road to recovery. Therefore gaining the ability to speak this language has been the most unexpected skill that I have obtained from NUMed.”
Growing into what comes next
The university experience is not just about preparing students for their first job after graduation. It is about giving them opportunities to discover what they care about, develop the confidence to pursue it, and understand the contribution they want to make.
At NUMed, students give a little of themselves to the community, be it their time, energy, ideas, or support. In return, much more than a qualification, they leave with experiences, relationships, resilience, and a growing sense of who they are. Because sometimes, what you give is also what helps you grow.