HIGH ACHIEVERS
INGENIEUR
HIGH ACHIEVERS
INGENIEUR
Janushaa Bala Krishnan - Making Malaysia Proud
At a young age , Janushaa Bala Krishnan has already made history in many ways . She takes the spotlight as the first Malaysian woman to graduate from the prestigious United States Naval Academy ( USNA ). Subsequently , she became the first woman Naval Officer in the Royal Malaysian Navy ( Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia ). The 24-year old also excels with two degrees in engineering – Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering .
In an interview with The Ingenieur , Janushaa reveals a tough — mentally , physically and emotionally — but rewarding journey to reach her outstanding achievements . She attributes success to her sense of independence , strong will and resilience .
Janushaa comes from a supportive family . Her mother was a hospital matron and her father a Medical Assistant . Growing up , her two older sisters , both medical doctors , were a source of inspiration .
She became independent at an early age when she studied at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah , a boarding school in Kuantan , from Form 1 to Form 5 . “ I had to be independent at 12 , wash my own clothes , get my own food etc .,” she recalls . In school , she was active in sports and took part in basketball competitions . She enjoys reading and public speaking .
Instead of following her sisters ’ footsteps into the medical field , she had dreams of becoming an engineer . “ I like computer and coding stuff , and often helped my Mum fix her computer problems ,” she explains . With good grades in school , she was offered the Yayasan Tenaga Nasional scholarship and the National Defence University of Malaysia scholarship ( Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia ) as a Cadet .
Her one-year Cadet experience taught her discipline and stress management . “ Going from someone who wasn ’ t physically fit to exercising constantly was hard for me . Finding the balance between physical activities , studying and some
Janushaa holds the rank of Lieutenant Muda
spare time was tough . But I learnt self-discipline , stuck to my schedule even when I was exhausted , and trained myself to finish tasks on time under stressful conditions ,” she discloses .
Janushaa did Foundation in Engineering at the National Defence University of Malaysia . After this , she wanted to go overseas to further her studies without relying on her parents ’ finances . She scouted for scholarships and applied for USNA . During the interview at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur , her good academic results in Mathematics and Science , plus her fluency in English stood her in good stead .
The USNA , located in Annapolis , Maryland , was established in 1845 . It offers academic and professional training to men and women to become Naval officers . The Academy has a long list of notable alumni including a US President , Nobel Prize winners , Rhode scholars and astronauts . In 2018 , Janushaa joined USNA in a class of 200 where only 14 are international students . Her course mates were 70 % male and 30 % female . Janushaa was thrilled to be accepted into this prestigious school and felt very welcomed in her first trip to the US . She was introduced to American culture with activities like visits to the White House and baseball games .
10 VOL 96 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023