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Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a ceremony for 3,627 undergraduate and applied bachelor program graduates on Aug. 28-29, 2024, at Grha Sabha Pramana.
Among them were four graduates who achieved the highest GPA of 3.97, all of whom graduated with honors (cum laude).
These top graduates included Naura Hidayat from the Medicine program at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), Mutiara Destyana Safitri from the Nutrition program at FK-KMK UGM, Daniella Nadia Prijadi from the Chemical Engineering program at the Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), and Finessa Meutia Kamila from the Food Technology and Agricultural Products program at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM).
Hidayat expressed mixed feelings of joy and disbelief upon learning she was among the four graduates with the highest GPA. She admitted that she never aimed to be the best or to graduate with honors during her studies.
She only discovered that she would represent the graduates and wear the graduation stole a day before the rehearsal.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect it because, during my studies, I never thought or hoped to be one of the top graduates, let alone to find out just a day before the rehearsal that I would be representing the graduates and wearing the stole. I’m grateful for graduating on time and being one of the top graduates,” Hidayat said on Monday (Sep. 1).
Hidayat completed her undergraduate studies in 3 years and nine months, an impressive achievement given the rigorous schedule of lectures and practical sessions at FK-KMK UGM.
Despite this, Hidayat remained active in non-academic activities. She served as a student assistant in the Clinical Skills Laboratory for the 2020 cohort, was a member of the CIMSA UGM, and participated in various committees such as PPSMB Morfogenesis.
Hidayat practiced good time management by prioritizing tasks based on urgency to manage her busy routine. She also strived to complete all her tasks effectively and efficiently to save time.
However, she admitted that there were moments when she felt lazy or procrastinated, which she had to make up for by sacrificing sleep.
“I usually prioritize tasks, handling the most urgent and important ones first. I feel responsible for the tasks assigned to me,” Hidayat explained.
Hidayat preferred an adapted version of the Pomodoro technique for her study method. She studied for 45-50 minutes and then took a 10-minute break before continuing.
The intensity of her study sessions depended on her schedule and the difficulty of the material, especially when preparing for final exams.
Hidayat’s final thesis focused on road safety, specifically the differences in head injuries among accident victims who wore helmets and those who did not. She completed her thesis in about 3-4 months.
Although she faced challenges in motivating herself to start her thesis, she felt fortunate to have supportive supervisors and examiners who helped facilitate the process.
In concluding the interview, Hidayat expressed her hope that the quality of education in Indonesia could improve to match that of developed countries and become more equitable. She wished every child in Indonesia had the same opportunity to receive a quality education.
When asked for tips on completing studies on time with outstanding academic performance, Hidayat emphasized the importance of good time management and the willingness to keep learning.
Additionally, balancing academic activities with active participation in non-academic activities is crucial.
Author: Rahma
Editor: Gusti Grehenson