Achieving a nearly perfect GPA of 3.86, Aliman (21) from the 2020 Accounting program has been declared the best UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM) graduate for the third period of the 2023/2024 academic year.
Born in Batam, he graduated cum laude and completed his studies in the Accounting program in 3 years, six months, and two days.
As a student from a small town on Batam Island, Aliman’s success is one of the most outstanding achievements in his life to date. He proudly stood among 1,423 UGM undergraduate graduates during the commencement ceremony on Wednesday (May 22) at Grha Sabha Pramana.
“It never crossed my mind, not even in my dreams, that I could study at UGM, one of the most prestigious universities in Indonesia,” he said after the ceremony.
Still in disbelief, Aliman reminisced about his first days in Yogyakarta, marveling at the grandeur of the Pertamina Tower building at FEB UGM. He recalled his initial doubts, questioning whether he could survive and complete his undergraduate studies there.
He quickly dismissed those doubts and viewed them as a significant challenge to overcome.
Aliman is the eldest of two children born to Tang Hiong Ie (59) and A Cin (51). He was born and raised in the small town of Buliang, Batu Aji District, Batam City.
Tang Hiong Ie, his father, is the sole breadwinner for the family. He works as an employee in a logistics company in Batam.
Tang Hiong Ie is immensely proud of Aliman’s success in becoming the best graduate of FEB UGM. His graduation as a bachelor is an unparalleled source of pride for their entire family.
“I am the first in my extended family to earn a degree. My father only finished third grade in elementary school, and my mother graduated from junior high school,” Aliman revealed.
Aliman said his desire to attend college had been present since he was young, fluctuating over time.
Ultimately, his strong desire solidified during his time at Putra Batam Vocational High School, further fueled by encouragement from the principal.
It wasn’t just a strong desire; Aliman backed it up with achievements. He has consistently topped his class since studying at Putra Batam Vocational High School.
“The principal once expressed disappointment at the thought of me not continuing to higher education. So, with the principal’s encouragement and my parents’ blessing, I was determined to pursue my goal,” he said.
Despite his parents’ blessing, they initially asked him to study in Batam, hoping he could attend evening classes while working.
Aliman understood his parents’ request, as they had never experienced higher education. They were even more surprised when he expressed his desire to study at UGM.
“They were shocked, not only because of the distance but also the costs. My parents reluctantly agreed when I was accepted into the Accounting program through the national entrance test (SNBT) in 2020. They were amazed and never expected that their son could be accepted into UGM’s favorite program,” he said.
Determined not to be an ordinary student, Aliman justified his parents’ trust by excelling in his studies and actively participating in various student activities on campus. He was involved in the UGM Buddhist Student Family (Kamaddis), the FEB UGM Student Audit Board, and several campus event committees.
In 2022, he had the opportunity to work part-time at a tax consulting firm, a position he still holds. In 2023, he became a recipient of the Bank Indonesia scholarship.
Throughout his studies, Aliman achieved numerous accolades, including first place in the Writing Movement Competition #3 at the UNY Essay Competition (2022), first place in the LSCF UII Essay Competition, first place in the Muhammadiyah University of Pekajangan Pekalongan Essay Competition, second place in the Eka Citta UGM Writing Competition (2022), and second place in the UPI Essay Competition.
In 2023, he won first place in the Bank Indonesia Essay Competition, second in the National Democratia UNS Essay Competition, and second in the Cendekia Days UGM Essay Competition, and he was among the top nine in the Taxplore Fiscal Policy Competition at UI.
Aliman also had an interesting story towards the end of his studies. While completing his thesis, he had to borrow a friend’s laptop because his laptop was not capable of data processing.
“I had a laptop, but it wasn’t suitable for data processing, which required special software, so I had to borrow a friend’s laptop,” he explained.
He had initially applied to borrow a laptop from FEB UGM, but the supply was exhausted. Consequently, he borrowed his friend’s laptop and completed his thesis titled “The Impact of Tax Literacy and Indonesia’s VAT Rate Increase on Students’ Purchasing Decisions on Electronic Trading Platforms (PMSE).”
For him, graduation and earning a bachelor’s degree is not the end but the beginning of a new adventure. He acknowledged that his success is a testament to hard work, perseverance, time management, and his parents’ prayers.
His parents instilled in him a value that he still holds: always taking things seriously to achieve the best results.
“I always hold onto my parents’ advice. If we have tried our best but the results are not as expected, don’t be discouraged because there is always a lesson to be learned. If you succeed, don’t be complacent, but stay humble,” he said.
His mother, A Cin, expressed immense happiness at her eldest son’s graduation from UGM. She never imagined Aliman would be able to study and graduate with such excellent grades.
She hopes Aliman will become a successful person and achieve all his dreams. According to her, Aliman’s achievements are supported by FEB UGM, which greatly encourages its students to develop their potential.
Author: FEB UGM/Kurnia Ekaptiningrum