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Being both a student and an athlete, Laura Aurelia Dinda Sekar Devanti (24) has achieved one of the greatest milestones in her life by completing her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
This Surakarta athlete officially earned her psychology degree after participating in the undergraduate graduation ceremony on Wednesday (Aug. 28) at Grha Sabha Pramana.
With a broad smile, she couldn’t hide her relief and happiness. She was celebrating her academic degree and a long journey filled with hard work, discipline, and dedication.
“I feel more relieved. I’m also happy because the hard work over the past seven years has finally paid off,” Laura said when interviewed by reporters on Friday (Aug. 30).
As a UGM student, Laura achieved international recognition by winning two gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championship in Berlin in 2018.
She had previously won two gold medals at the ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia in 2017 and another medal at the Peparnas Papua in 2021.
In 2024, she won three gold medals in the Sports Championship for People with Physical and Visual Disabilities in DKI Province in the 50-meter butterfly, 50-meter backstroke, and 50-meter freestyle categories.
As an athlete, Laura’s accomplishments in swimming are undoubtedly impressive. Her interest in swimming began when she was still in elementary school. Interestingly, from a young age, Laura was more drawn to the competitive side of swimming.
“I started liking swimming around 4th grade. But it wasn’t the swimming I enjoyed back then; it was the competitive aspect. I initially started swimming because of asthma, but I grew to love the competition over time,” Laura explained.
One of the most memorable moments in her athletic career was her first competition, where she won a medal made of plastic, despite its humble material, that plastic medal became her biggest motivation to continue competing until now.
“The first time I won, I got a plastic medal from an intercity competition. Then it was announced at school, and it motivated me to want to compete in swimming again,” Laura shared.
As an only child, Laura’s parents have always supported her ambitions in both sports and academics. Her father also wanted her to pursue academic milestones. Although it wasn’t easy, Laura found the best solution to balance both.
She completed her studies through perseverance and time management without sacrificing her athletic career.
“I’m the type who likes to plan. So, if there’s an assignment, I prefer to work on it on campus first. After that, I go for swimming practice, and then in the evening, I continue with what I need to work on,” Laura explained.
During her academic journey, Laura undoubtedly faced various challenges. One of the biggest challenges was balancing academic demands with intense swimming training.
“The biggest challenge is that when you want to focus on one thing, something else must inevitably be sacrificed. I had to take a half-semester break during national training, so my GPA wasn’t that great,” she said.
Although she just celebrated her graduation, Laura is already preparing for her next challenge. She is still actively preparing for the upcoming Peparnas in Solo, which will take place in October.
“Peparnas is on par with PON, and the competition will also be held in the area close to my hometown (Surakarta), in Karanganyar,” she explained.
After graduation, Laura also mentioned that she doesn’t intend to stop. She has clear plans for her future, including continuing her swimming career and pursuing a profession in psychology.
“I will continue swimming because it’s my passion. But I also want to pursue a career as a psychologist,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of investing time and effort in a field that truly interests us.
“Invest your time and money in the right field. Don’t be afraid to try something because even if you fail, at least you tried, and you won’t regret it later on,” advised Laura.
Laura has inspired fellow students, showing how perseverance, good time management, and the courage to venture into the right field can lead someone to reach the pinnacle of achievement in academia and sports.
Laura has proven that with hard work and an unwavering spirit, any challenge can be overcome, and dreams can be realized.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson