Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Going to college is undoubtedly a dream for everyone. This was the same for Johar Ma'mun (22), a farmer's child from a small hamlet in Penggalang village, Adipala District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java. He never expected to be accepted to Gadjah Mada University (UGM), where he majored in Accounting at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM). Now he has successfully graduated with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 with cum laude honors.

First College Graduate in the Family

Johar is the youngest of four children born to Muhlasin (64) and Saminah (64). His father is a farmer who never finished primary school. Who would have thought their family would have its first college graduate, making the extended family proud.

Johar shared that his desire to continue his education was important. However, due to the family's financial limitations, he did not openly express his intentions. In addition, there was no history of higher education in his extended family. His parents had dropped out of school after the third grade due to financial constraints. His first and second siblings completed only junior high school (SMP), while his third sibling graduated from vocational school (SMK), which is equivalent to senior high school (SMA).

"After Junior High School (SMP), my father wanted me to continue my education in a pesantren because everyone in the family goes there. However, my mother supported me in continuing my studies at SMA because she saw my good grades in SMP and that I was always the best in my class. The teachers at school also encouraged me to continue to study at SMA," he explained.

At this moment, Johar's resolve to pursue higher education was strengthened. He continued his education at SMA N 1 Cilacap and achieved remarkable results. In addition to being a top student, he frequently participated in competitions, including the Economics Olympiad.

God's Plan is the Best

After graduating from SMA, Johar openly expressed his desire to attend college to his parents. Understanding the family's situation, Johar assured his parents he would apply for a scholarship.

"At first, my parents were skeptical, but I told them about the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIP-K) scholarship, which the government provides for students from low-income families. I assured them I would take advantage of this opportunity," he said.

Johar then applied for college through the 2020 Joint Selection for State Universities (SBMPTN) and was accepted to Diponegoro University. Although he strongly desired to attend UGM, he did not choose it due to the intense competition. Even after being admitted to a university through SBMPTN, Johar still hoped to study at UGM. Later, he grabbed the last opportunity to enter UGM through the UGM Independent Examination (UM) and chose Accounting at FEB UGM.

"When I found out that I was accepted, I was thrilled. My fear of not being able to enter UGM was proven wrong. My parents were also moved to tears and prayed in gratitude when they learned that I was accepted to UGM," he revealed.

Despite the joy of getting into his dream university, Johar and his family remained concerned about the cost of education. There was a fear that Johar might not receive the KIP-K scholarship. However, this worry was allayed when Johar was confirmed as a KIP-K Scholar.

The scholarship supported Johar's life while he studied at FEB UGM. Financial constraints were no longer an obstacle for him in continuing his education.

Student of the Corona Generation

The year 2020 was a happy one for Johar. However, it was also the worst year for most of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being admitted during the pandemic meant that Johar had to study online. In the early days of college, he needed to be more confident because his laptop was unsuitable for online classes.

"The classes were online initially, but my laptop couldn't support it. I had to download many applications for online classes, and the laptop often lagged due to poor signal because I live in a village," Johar recalls.

Johar didn't give up in the face of these challenges. The difficulties only strengthened his resolve to work harder. When classes went offline, he took full advantage of the opportunity. Not only was he active in his studies, but he also participated in various competitions. He won several awards, including 1st Runner-up of Auditphoria 4.0 at State Finance Polytechnic STAN (2023), 1st Winner of Accounting Excellence Olympiad at State Finance Polytechnic STAN (2023), 1st Runner-up of Accounting Science Week at Jenderal Soedirman University (2023), 1st Runner-up of Indonesia Sharia Financial Olympiad at Financial Services Authority (2023), and 1st Winner of LCC SEMARCOOPFEST at Sebelas Maret University (2021). Johar also interned at various companies and institutions in the country to hone his skills before entering the real job market.

Proof that Limitations are not Obstacles

Johar's hard work paid off. Not only did he graduate cum laude, but he also secured a job at Ernst and Young, one of the Big 4 accounting firms.

Johar's story proves that limitations are not a barrier to achieving the highest levels of education. Through perseverance, hard work, and prayer, Johar, a farmer's son from a small village, has shown that nothing is impossible.

"We cannot choose the family into which we are born. Never give up; if ability is combined with hard work, many opportunities and possibilities can be achieved. Enjoy every journey because each one can make us a better and stronger person," he concluded.

Reportage: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 

Sustainable Development Goals