Studying abroad is always a leap into the unknown. Beyond new places and different languages lies a deeper challenge, learning to belong in a culture that is not your own.
For Malaysian scholars Nor Aishah Mohd Tahir and Nor Fatima Beggom Mohd Rashid, that leap came with an unexpected blessing, they not only became schoolmates in La Salle but also roommates, quickly forming a bond that made their journey feel a little more like home.
This Passion Wednesday, we shine the spotlight on these two Lasallians who, though enrolled in different programs, share the same culture and the same heart for service.
Aishah once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, her love for animals shaping her earliest ambitions. But life led her down a different path when she volunteered as a teacher in a school back in Malaysia. There, she discovered the joy of teaching and realized it might be her true calling.
Encouraged by a mentor, she pursued Early Childhood Education at Uni Razak before taking the leap to study abroad. She chose the University, not only for the opportunity but also as a way to reconnect with her mother’s Filipino roots. Now in her third year at USLS, she is majoring in Special Needs Education.
For Aishah, service is now second nature. Even in a foreign country, she has continued to volunteer; teaching children in rural Bacolod communities and even caring for stray animals near campus. She has also found comfort in the hospitality of the Lasallian community and in the surprising similarities between Malaysian and Filipino culture.
“In the Philippines, you have Mano po. In Malaysia, we have Salam.” she shared.
The action and message are the same, respect.
Looking ahead to her 2027 graduation, Aishah hopes to bring back the “positive Lasallian vibe” she has experienced at USLS and carry it into her future work as an educator.
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For Fatima, the road to Bacolod was just as unexpected. She initially set her sights on Political Science abroad, drawn by her passion for the humanities and social sciences. But upon arriving at USLS, she was placed in Interdisciplinary Studies under the College of Arts and Sciences; a change she welcomed with curiosity and determination. Her decision to study in the Philippines stemmed from its reputation for hospitality, and her experiences in La Salle quickly affirmed that.
“My classmates were open, and my teachers were very accommodating,” she shared.
Volunteering also remains close to her heart as well.
“I want to volunteer and help people. Simple things like giving food and spending time with others.” Fatima added.
Beyond academics, Fatima has embraced Bacolod’s cultural openness. She joined the Foreign Students’ Club, attended her first opera (La Bohème), and found joy in small but meaningful gestures.
“Here, even strangers say ‘Good morning.’ It’s part of their kindness, and it makes me feel comfortable.” she shared.
When asked to describe her Lasallian experience, Fatima chose one word,
“Tahanan or home. For me, La Salle is like my second home.”
What makes their story truly special is not only their individual journeys but the fact that two Malaysian students from different backgrounds found each other as roommates in Bacolod.
In each other, Aishah and Fatima have found strength, someone who speaks their language, understands their culture, and shares their values. For both, this unexpected friendship has been a reminder that while studying abroad is about discovery, it is also about connection.
A connection found in the most surprising and meaningful of ways.
Together, they embody the Lasallian spirit of openness, respect, and service, carrying their shared culture into a new one, and creating a home away from home.