Young Rizal Shahputra is a survivor, with an incredible determination to live.

Clinging on to nothing but a log for nine days in the open sea is a nightmare for anyone, but the 20-year-old Rizal, who survived the tsunami when it hit Banda Aceh on December 26 last year, his nightmare could someday be turned into a novel.

That was a chapter of his life that Rizal said he hopes to leave behind before starting a new life now that he has chosen to accept the offer from UCSI (University College Sedaya International) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur to continue his education.

Refraining from shedding tears, the eloquent young Rizal said: "I believe everyone in my family is dead. Even my house and my whole village have been totally wiped out by the killer waves. But life has to go on."

Rizal, who completed his highest level of education in Acheh at the Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) level, majoring in Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial (Social Studies), said that he is living his second life now. "I cannot believe that I am still alive," he said. "And now, I am being offered to study English at UCSI. I hope to do well in my studies."

According to UCSI’s Vice President of Research and Corporate Affairs, Professor Dr. Norfadzillah Hitam, the offer is for Rizal to improve his English, with the hope of opening new opportunities for him and giving him a better chance at life.

She said that the scholarship will include free accommodation at UCSI’s Residential Hall, a free English Language course of between three months to a year, depending on the results of his English Placement Test.

Subsequently, she said if Rizal performs well in his English Language studies, UCSI will consider offering him the opportunity to continue at the diploma or degree level in the field of his choice.

"This will depend on whether he meets the academic requirements for our programmes. We will also offer him an on-campus job to enable him to earn an allowance for his personal expenses," she said.

"This is part of our social responsibility. Whatever we can do, we will do to help. We cannot help everyone in Acheh, but even if we can help one person like Rizal to have a fresh start in life after the tsunami, we are more than happy."

Professor Norfadzillah added that Rizal will begin classes when the new semester starts on April 27. "We chose to give him this free educational opportunity at UCSI because we admire his courage and fortitude in surviving the 9-day ordeal at sea."

"Without prejudice to the rights of UCSI the information herein is correct at the time of printing and UCSI reserves the right to make amendments without prior notice."