When local radio station MIX held an announcer search in early 2023, Qarlene Rishiqa Dharminder entered the competition with no expectations. After a series of public votes, on-air interviews, writing and content production challenges, she was chosen among hundreds to be the new host of the MIX NIGHTS show! Two days later, she was already on the air, having to learn on the go without much training. The transition was not without challenge, as the industry brought added pressure not to make mistakes when live on national radio. However, she found her footing through practice and now considers it her second nature. “Even though I never realised it [before], I think I was made for this job,” she reflects. Moving forward, Qarlene sees herself continuing to pursue her current line of work in the radio industry.

An alumna from the Foundation in Arts (class of 2019) and BA (Hons) in Communication (class of 2022) courses, Qarlene spent most of her varsity years online amid the pandemic. While she wishes she had more time on campus, she is grateful for her lecturers who put in the extra effort to be creative to help her and her coursemates navigate through the challenging and unsure times. The Department of Communication were patient when explaining concepts that she found difficult to grasp and would always take the time to clear up any confusion. She especially credits Mr Lyon Laxman and Ms Vijaya Sooria, who helped her overcome the mental blocks she faced in the advertising & design aspects of the Communications degree. 

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When local radio station MIX held an announcer search in early 2023, Qarlene Rishiqa Dharminder entered the competition with no expectations. After a series of public votes, on-air interviews, writing and content production challenges, she was chosen among hundreds to be the new host of the MIX NIGHTS show! Two days later, she was already on the air, having to learn on the go without much training. The transition was not without challenge, as the industry brought added pressure not to make mistakes when live on national radio. However, she found her footing through practice and now considers it her second nature. “Even though I never realised it [before], I think I was made for this job,” she reflects. Moving forward, Qarlene sees herself continuing to pursue her current line of work in the radio industry.

An alumna from the Foundation in Arts (class of 2019) and BA (Hons) in Communication (class of 2022) courses, Qarlene spent most of her varsity years online amid the pandemic. While she wishes she had more time on campus, she is grateful for her lecturers who put in the extra effort to be creative to help her and her coursemates navigate through the challenging and unsure times. The Department of Communication were patient when explaining concepts that she found difficult to grasp and would always take the time to clear up any confusion. She especially credits Mr Lyon Laxman and Ms Vijaya Sooria, who helped her overcome the mental blocks she faced in the advertising & design aspects of the Communications degree.

Meanwhile, Qarlene is incredibly grateful to Mr Srikumar Ramayan, who taught her the Event Management module. “Mr Kumar made me fall in love with event managing as a whole - I learnt so much from him, and I’m so proud to have worked alongside him,” she comments. She identifies the Event Management module as the highlight of her Sunway journey, as she was the project manager for Sunway University’s first-ever national record in the Malaysian Book of Records! With roughly 30 crew members and 150 participants, the UNITY Flashmob saw 15 simultaneous flashmobs performed across Sunway City on July 1st, 2022, claiming the record for The Most Flashmob Dances in Multiple Locations Simultaneously. Qarlene recalls the moment fondly. “Even though it was THE MOST stressful time of my life, it was also the most fun I’ve had as a student because I was doing what I love and [could] see myself grow during the entire process.”

The BA (Hons) in Communication degree taught Qarlene various skills through its varied modules. Subjects on corporate, legal, ethical and political communication taught her to be curious and conduct self-research to learn more. Although admittedly not her strong suit, design and advertising subjects showed her the different fields within advertising beyond graphic design. This revelation led her to intern as a copywriter at an advertising agency, through which she experienced growth in unexpected ways. Meanwhile, the public relations and research modules taught her the importance of preparedness in her career and personal life. Ultimately, Qarlene learned to be a better communicator as she learned the importance of timing and how to tailor a message to the target audience.

From organising a record-breaking event to becoming the first Gen-Z announcer at MIX, Qarlene’s colourful varsity days have impacted her life significantly. She developed the character and confidence to succeed, using constructive criticism from peers and lecturers as a catalyst to push, fuel, and teach her. “My life wouldn’t be the same without Sunway,” she muses, “it shaped me to expect the best from myself and not to settle for anything less.” Qarlene credits her varsity life for helping her become a better person, leader, and friend, along with the confidence to achieve all she has set out to accomplish. “Being a Sunwayian tests you in ways you never expect, but it also gives you strength you never knew you had!”