On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Indonesia once again celebrated National Education Day. This day is not just a celebration but also a moment for reflection on the importance of education in shaping the future of the nation. Education is the solid foundation that builds a generation of intelligent, critical, and innovative individuals, who act as agents of change leading Indonesia towards a better future.
This year, on National Education Day, we spoke with Yesika M. M. Tarigan, a student of Communication Science Study Programme from the 2021 class, originally from Sampit, Central Kalimantan. Our conversation covered the significance of her educational journey and the challenges Yesika faces as a student living far from home.
For Yesika, education is a ‘treasure’, a valuable asset that is beneficial now and in the future. However, her educational journey has not been without its hardships, especially as a student living away from family. “The journey is definitely not easy, as it involves both personal development and maturation,” Yesika explains.
Yesika’s courage to pursue education far from her hometown stems from her desire to receive quality education. She is driven by a passion to continuously acquire knowledge and gain as much new experience as possible. She chose to attend Universitas Padjadjaran because of the opportunities she believed it would offer that might not be available closer to home.
One of her biggest challenges is dealing with homesickness, which can impact her emotionally. Additionally, she faced cultural differences between her native Central Kalimantan and West Java. To overcome these adaptation challenges, Yesika strives to fully understand her new environment.
Yesika shared her experience of culture shock when she first arrived at Universitas Padjadjaran. Initially, she felt confident in her abilities, but soon realized there was much more to learn and face. Nevertheless, she views these challenges as motivation to continue progressing.
“I thought I was enough, but it turns out there are many people cooler than me. So, there’s a lot of adjusting in terms of learning processes and knowledge. That’s why I’m motivated to be one step ahead of the people I consider role models in education.”
Yesika encourages fellow students living away from their families to stay positive and keep their families in mind. She is confident that with unwavering determination, continuous hard work, and trust in God, success will surely follow in the future.
“This is a long journey for us but it’s going to be worth it. So, to all my fellow students away from home, keep your spirits up, we must pursue our education as highly and as well as possible to prepare us for the future.”
May Yesika’s spirit and diligence in pursuing her education inspire us all. Happy National Education Day 2024, Yellow Fellow! Keep striving in your educational endeavors!