An inspiring story comes from Angela Electra Vega Suseno (17). The Yogyakarta native, who is totally blind, has been admitted as a new student at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) after passing the National Entrance Test (SNBT). She will pursue a degree in the Sociology Study Program at UGM’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol). Affectionately known as Angel, she expressed gratitude for achieving one of her dreams of pursuing higher education. Behind this accomplishment, however, lies her remarkable journey as a person who has lived with total blindness since early childhood.
Angel was raised in a family filled with love and unwavering support. She admires her family for always being by her side, guiding her, accepting her unconditionally, and fully supporting her education. She recalled how one of her older siblings accompanied her throughout junior high school classes while also pursuing a university degree.
Her admission to UGM brought great joy to her family. As the youngest of three siblings, Angel is now set to continue her family’s strong connection with the university. She shared that both her parents and her two older siblings are UGM alumni, which inspired her to pursue her dream of studying at the institution.
“My father graduated from Electrical Engineering, my mother from Computer Science, one of my siblings from the Applied Bachelor’s Program in Internet Engineering Technology, and another from the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing. Studying at UGM has been my dream since junior high school,” she said on Friday (Jul. 3).
Angel described her learning environment as highly supportive. While attending BOPKRI 2 Senior High School in Yogyakarta, she used a screen reader on her mobile device to access learning materials.
“Teachers usually sent the materials in PDF format beforehand, making it easier for me to study alongside my classmates,” she explained.
Beyond academics, Angel participated in singing, the school band, and public speaking. She also earned several achievements, including Second Runner-up in the Bantul Regency Javanese Storytelling Competition and Second Place in the Speech Contest on Global Friendship organized by Universitas Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa.
She shared that high school marked the first time she attended school independently without a personal assistant. Since elementary school, she has always had an assistant during classroom learning and other school activities. She is grateful that her classmates warmly welcomed and supported her throughout her high school years.
“I never felt any difficulty keeping up with school until graduation, so I felt at ease,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey to university, Angel explained that Sociology was recommended by one of her teachers, who recognized her potential in the field. She found the discipline appealing because of her interest in research.
“After reading more about it, I realized Sociology is fascinating because it involves research. I had participated in essay competitions before but never won, so I want to try again during college,” she said.
To prepare for the SNBT, Angel studied through private tutoring and YouTube educational content. She particularly relied on the Laksana Rangkuman Audio UTBK channel, whose audio-based materials made studying much more accessible as a blind learner preparing for the examination.
The entrance examination itself was also a challenge, as it was her first time using a computer. Before the test began, she received instructions on keyboard shortcuts for navigating the exam, such as pressing Alt+A to return to the previous question and using the arrow keys to select answers.
“Fortunately, I adapted quickly, so the initial panic did not affect my performance,” she said.
Looking ahead to university life, Angel believes her greatest challenge will be adapting from the school environment to the university’s different learning atmosphere. She worries about keeping up with lectures but plans to join UGM’s Disability Services Unit (ULD) for support. She is also interested in participating in research-focused student communities to further develop her potential.
Angel also shared a message for others facing similar challenges. She encouraged them not to be discouraged by their circumstances, believing that God’s plans are always beautiful. As long as they choose a positive path, she said, they should continue striving for their goals and keep their hopes alive as they move forward.
“Keep your spirits up because we never know how beautiful God’s plans are for us. Whatever path we choose, as long as it is a good one, keep fighting until we achieve what we aspire to,” she said, leaving a message of encouragement for others to stay hopeful and persevere.
Writer: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photos: Jesi and Courtesy of Angel