From childhood to university, a lifelong bond

IT is quite rare for childhood friends to remain so closely connected with one another throughout every phase of life, but that is exactly how one can describe Hannah Serini Tan Yihui, Cynthia Liew Min Hui, and Aisyah Tan Mutalib Tan.

Their friendship, which began in primary school, only deepened as they moved through secondary school.

Now, as if by fate, these 19-year-olds have found themselves sharing yet another chapter together – all three have all been accepted to the same institution, Universiti Malaya (UM).

Hannah has Iban-Chinese parentage, Cynthia is Chinese, while Aisyah’s father is Chinese and her mother is Malay.

They come from different backgrounds, but they have certainly created a bond that is as strong as a family.

‘Start of friendship’

The girls first met in 2012 upon entering Primary 1 at SJKC Chung Hua Sungai Jernang.

Cynthia and Hannah were placed in Class 1 Kuning, while Aisyah was in Class 1 Merah.

“When I met Hannah for the first time, I found her to be polite, respectful – and talkative.

“We clicked because we shared so many same interests like drawing, painting and reading. No matter if we were in school or after school, we always had something to talk about,” Cynthia tells thesundaypost.

“Aisyah’s friendly, humorous, and always optimistic. She’s the kind of friend who’d be there for you no matter what, always giving unwavering support.”

From her view, Hannah recalls: “Cynthia was shy and quiet at first, but you could tell she was incredibly intelligent and quick-witted. She’s the kind of person who’s always ready to help, even if she doesn’t know you well yet.

“Aisyah was bubbly and cheerful, and her energy was infectious. She’s known to keep the class in high spirits.”

Aisyah says the early memories are a bit fuzzy for her, but she remembers feeling a deep admiration for both her friends.

“Even at a young age, I could see how talented and intelligent they were, and I admired how generous they were in sharing their knowledge with me – this hasn’t changed even today.”

Their friendship blossomed during their primary school years, with sports, academics, and shared experiences strengthening their bond.

Cynthia fondly remembers their time as members of the school’s volleyball club.

“We had a lot of fun training together.

“I remember how we would pray for our coach to be absent during the co-curricular period on Wednesdays. It meant that we could be free from the tough, tiring training and play volleyball freely instead,” she laughs.

For Hannah, one of the highlights of their early school years was the healthy academic competition.

“We were in different classes, but we would always challenge ourselves for placing in the Top 3. I think that shared drive for academic excellence really brought us closer.”

Their shared commitment was complemented by their leadership roles as school prefects, which led to many more memories.

“We became prefects together and made lots of memories during prefect camp activities like treasure hunts and hiking up Mount Singai.”

For Aisyah, her favourite memories are during their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) – then, a primary education public examination – period.

“After the exam, I used to barge into their classroom, without a second thought, every day,” she recalls.

“Hannah and Cynthia were in the same class, which became my favourite place to hang out.

“I didn’t even need a reason – I’d just pop in, and they’d welcome me like it was the most natural thing.”

The trio shared friends from their batch, making their social circle even tighter.

Aisyah also remembers a particularly fun day when they cooked ‘samyang’ (a Korean noodle delicacy) together for a school event.

“The laughter never stopped. That simple moment of us goofing around in the kitchen will always have a special place in my heart.”

‘Secondary school years’

In 2017, the three girls completed their UPSR, all passing with flying colours.

True to their bond, they applied and were accepted to SMK Sungai Tapang near Kuching.

In 2018, they enrolled in Form 1, with Hannah and Cynthia placed in ‘Class 1 Balanced’, while Aisyah joined ‘Class 1 Communicators’.

Despite being in different classes again, they continued to support one another in all their academic and extracurricular activities.

Again, they became prefects.

“Being part of the prefects board meant that we spent a lot of time together, especially during stressful times like the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) exams. It was comforting to know that we could support each other, even during tough periods,” says Cynthia.

One of the most memorable moments for them during secondary school was the organisation of the school’s ‘Prefects Appreciation Day’, where Aisyah and Hannah were under the decoration bureau, while Cynthia, as head prefect, oversaw the planning.

“We poured our hearts into every detail,” Aisyah recalls.

“It was indeed exhausting, but working side by side with my best friends made it incredibly rewarding. We shared so many laughs, tears, and everything in between.”

Hannah believes that the whole process allowed them to grow as individuals, and also as friends.

“I joined the prefects committee later than Cynthia and Aisyah, but working on many projects with them taught me so much about leadership and teamwork. We all had each other’s backs, and that’s what made everything easier.”

‘Embracing different cultures’

Hannah, Cynthia and Aisyah celebrate festivals like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai Dayak, strengthening their bond through greetings, gifts and shared food.

“I remember enjoying a variety of traditional foods during those times, and it was more than just eating – it’s about understanding and appreciating the different backgrounds where we come from,” says Cynthia.

Aisyah adds: “What we have is special. It’s not just about us being friends because we went to the same school. It’s about how we’ve learned from each other, how we’ve been there for one another no matter what. Even though we come from different cultures, we’ve created our own little family.”

New chapter

After completing their SPM examinations last year, the three briefly parted ways to pursue different pre-university programmes.

Hannah went to the Centre for Foundation Studies at UM, Cynthia enrolled at Malacca Matriculation College, and Aisyah entered Johor Matriculation College.

Nevertheless, their friendship remained strong.

“We were all in different places, but we made it a point to always stay in touch.

“We would swap stories about our college experiences, and during semester breaks, we always made time to meet up,” says Cynthia.

Having finished the pre-university courses, the trio reunited at UM.

“It wasn’t a surprise at all when we all got accepted to the same university,” says Aisyah.

“But I was really happy. It felt like we were continuing this journey together, just in a new setting.”

Now that all three friends are set to undertake their degree programmes at the same university, they are looking forward to making new memories together.

Hannah has chosen to pursue a Degree in Pharmacy, drawn by her passion for the health sciences.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how medicine works with the human body. Pharmacy allows me to combine my love for chemistry and biology to solve real-world problems.”

Cynthia is all excited to undergo her Bachelor of Science with Education programme, inspired by her dream of becoming a lecturer in biology.

“My parents are both teachers, and they’ve always been my role models.

“I love helping others understand complex biology concepts, and I cannot wait to turn that passion into a career.”

For Aisyah, law is her calling.

“I’ve always been drawn to the idea of justice and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

“The law is more than just rules on paper; it’s about understanding people’s stories and making sure everyone gets a fair shot.”

For all three girls, they believe that their bond is something they will always treasure – for years to come.

“I think I’ll look back on our friendship with a lot of appreciation. It has helped me grow as a person, and it’s a big part of who I am,” says Cynthia.

Hannah chips in: “We’ve been through so many milestones together. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their support, and I hope we’d continue making memories together for decades to come.”

Aisyah, too, reflects on the warmth of their friendship.

“We’ve grown up together since we were just kids. What I’ll cherish the most is how effortless it has been to stay connected, even when life got complicated.

“I am forever grateful that we’ve grown individually without growing apart.”