Kuala Lampur, June 16 -- On June 9, fifteen Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students were killed and 33 others injured when a chartered bus plunged off a hillside near KM53 of the East-West Highway. They were on their way back to campus after the Aidiladha holidays.

The crash shook the nation. For me, it struck even closer. By happenstance, Gerik is my mother's hometown.

When I saw the images of the twisted bus, the bent guardrails, and the familiar hills in the background, I felt a chill of recognition. This wasn't just a tragic headline. It was personal.

Notwithstanding my personal connection, the experience behind the tragedy is all too relatable for university and boarding school students across Malaysia.

We've all taken...