When most students end classes and head straight to dinner or their hostel rooms, one Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student was only just beginning her second shift for the day.
For 24-year-old Puteri Nurasmaliyana Asri, financial pressure at home pushed her into an unexpectedly meaningful side hustle.
She spent her university years selling burgers on campus so she could fund her studies without burdening her parents.
Why she started
Puteri grew up in a modest household in Rawang. Her father drives a lorry and her mother works as a school clerk. On top of that, several of her younger siblings are also pursuing higher education.
As the eldest of four, she felt a responsibility to lighten the load at home. So during her very first year at UPM, she decided to start a small burger business.
I did not want to trouble my parents. So I chose to earn my own income to cover my expenses throughout university,” she said.
Balancing classes and a business
Running a business while studying is not as simple as it sounds. But Puteri managed to carve out a routine that worked.
As reported by Harian Metro, she would attend lectures like any other student during the day, then set up her burger stall from 5.30pm to midnight.
Between preparing ingredients, grilling patties and serving customers, she still had to complete assignments, study for exams and attend meetings. At one point, she even held a leadership position which made time management even harder.
“Balancing classes, meetings, programmes and my business was quite a challenge,” she admitted.
Why she stayed committed
Despite the long hours, Puteri enjoyed what she was doing. She has always loved business and saw this as a chance to learn real-world skills while earning money.
Her monthly income was not huge, averaging around RM600 to RM700, but it was enough to keep her going. She used it for food, petrol, room supplies, reference books and emergency savings.
And through it all, her parents were fully supportive.
A small business with a big lesson
Puteri’s story is not just about making ends meet. It is a reminder that earning an honest income, no matter how small, can change the course of one’s life.
She even encourages other students facing similar struggles to consider part time work or small businesses instead of giving up.
Find any halal source of income that can support your life, especially with the rising cost of living,” she said.
Her advice to students is simple but solid. Manage your time well. Do not be ashamed of starting small. And remember that every small effort today can bring big changes tomorrow.
Today, Puteri has officially graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Wood Science and Technology.
She survived university not by luck but by grilling burgers until midnight and building her own path forward.
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