Getting to know you more featuring ... Assoc. Prof. Rr. Rushita Ismail / Rasaya Marimuthu

Could you kindly provide some details of yourself? Maybe a bit of your biodata, your involvement before working at UiTM, and also your work philosophy.
Thank you Mr. Rasaya. I was born in Jelutong, Penang, to a beautiful couple of seven children and a year later came my brother. I went to Convent Butterworth primary and secondary schools in Butterworth. When I was offered to do TESOL in the USA after SPM, then I thought this is it. Teaching is my line then. Upon returning home I was posted to a school in my hometown, Balik Pulau. My first of three children was two years old at that time and he had the experience of growing up in a kampong environment before we moved to Selangor. It was a delightful teaching expe-
rience for me at those schools in both states as I could see the differences between the urban and rural schools in issues regarding class management and parents’ involvement. Students, whoever and wherever they are, need the attention that could be given to them. I believe that when we have the chance to get connected with them, we should embrace the moments and make the most of them.

And now a bit of your workplace at UiTM. How long have you worked here? How was working life at this campus?
I learned about the existence of UiTM Penang in Permatang Pasir in 1999 and two years later, I reported duty there. Working life tends to be more pleasurable as I found students were more mature and disciplined. Classes were held in old school buildings down the hill and my office was a common shared room with seven other lecturers on the third floor. I could still recall the fifty-six steps stairs that we had to drag ourselves to ascend more than once every day. I did not feel much difference in the teaching environment as in the school that I was in before. In 2003 after the current campus was officiated, we moved here and with degree students registered, only then did I feel like teaching in tertiary education. I enjoyed every minute of teaching life more than before. Twenty-one graceful years in UiTM have improved me a lot and I am thankful for that. I had been the better version of myself with different roles as an educator, researcher, counselor, consultant, role model, and community member.
During my tenure as the Head of the APB from the year 2004 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2014, I had the opportunity to meet other proactive lecturers from the different branch campuses. Most of them have already retired and are still engaged in productive activities such as voluntary teaching and social work which I am considering to engage in too.