Naylin Al joined MCM when his family moved to Johor Bahru and was welcomed with open arms. “While new environments can often be intimidating, I distinctly remember feeling immediately at home within the MCM community,” Naylin says. “I found comfort being surrounded by an incredibly diverse and international pupil body, which emphasised that everyone was truly valued and welcomed at MCM. This was reinforced by our founding beaks, who set the stage for what pastoral care at MCM was to become: supportive, inclusive and comprehensive.”

Finding his stride in economics, Naylin became the founding chair of MCM’s Economics and Political Science Society, participating in weekly debates on world issues between students. He also developed a passion for rugby, going on to be part of the undefeated MCM’s Rugby Union First XV team in Southeast Asia in 2016-17. 

The lack of a hierarchical structure within the student body allowed Naylin to forge life-long friendships with peers in the years above him. “Our alumni thus became important peer mentors as we refined our university preferences. This is a testament to the close-knit community that MCM fosters and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of it.”

Now as he approaches his graduation from the University of Melbourne, Naylin reflects on the benefits of the IB programme and what he’s gained from his MCM days. “Above all, I think MCM is truly successful in developing global citizens,” he says. “The IB programme cultivates open-mindedness by encouraging students to engage critically with issues of global significance and emphasises intercultural understanding through language acquisition. It equips students with an international outlook and cross-cultural competence — both pivotal in today’s dynamic, interconnected world. Employers need candidates who are able to adapt and communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.”