Bachelor of Architecture, University of Auckland
Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Nisah learned early what it meant to adapt, shifting between homes, routines, and environments. With Malaysian heritage and New Zealand citizenship, her identity has always been shaped by movement, resilience, and creativity. “I come from a small family of three – my mum, my brother, and me,” she shares, describing a household where love, sacrifice, and determination have carried them forward. From childhood, drawing became her anchor – a quiet passion that grew into a dream. “Architecture is more than a goal for me – it’s a promise to myself and to my family,” she says.
Receiving the Milford Foundation Scholarship marked a turning point. “I felt a happiness that words can barely describe,” she explains, especially after hearing growing up that earning a scholarship was unlikely. Instead, she proved to herself — and her community – that perseverance matters. The scholarship lifted not just financial pressure, but doubt. “It has helped me feel truly seen, valued, and capable,” she reflects, strengthening her determination to pursue architecture with full commitment.
For her, architecture is a way to create spaces that uplift others – beautiful, safe, meaningful places that improve the quality of people’s lives. She dreams of becoming an architect or interior designer, shaping environments that inspire while advocating for materials and choices that are safer for the planet. Her deepest motivation, though, remains her mother: “All my thanks would go towards her because I’ve become the person I am right now because of her.”
A determined dreamer, she steps into university ready to work hard, adapt, grow, and build a future she once only hoped for.