Salma Nadhifah Hasna Khairiyyah, 19, beamed with joy when met at her home in Nogosari Hamlet, Sidokarto Village, Godean, Sleman. She had taken a significant step toward her dream after being admitted to the Psychology undergraduate program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) through the academic-excellence-based entrance selection (SNBP) pathway last March.
Behind Salma’s acceptance into UGM’s Psychology program lies her mother Riyanti’s years of perseverance through difficult times. Riyanti, 48, still vividly remembers the hardships she faced after her husband passed away in 2021. Losing both her life partner and the family’s primary breadwinner forced her to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
At the time, Riyanti did not have a steady job. Amid uncertainty, she searched for ways to support her family. An opportunity came when someone offered her the chance to sell bottled drinking water, and that modest business has sustained her family ever since.
Every day, Riyanti relies on her mobile phone to market her products. She receives orders through WhatsApp and delivers bottled water to small shops and customers. She has no physical store and no guaranteed sales. Some days, business is good; on others, she sells very little. Her monthly income averages around IDR 1.5 million.
Despite these challenges, Riyanti said she has never allowed herself to give up. As a single parent, she knew she had to remain strong for her children.
“There have been times when I reached the lowest point in our family’s life. But God is always good. We keep trying. If I don’t make any sales today, another blessing may come unexpectedly tomorrow,” she said on Wednesday (July 8).
Despite the family’s financial hardship, Riyanti never let economic constraints diminish her daughter’s dream of pursuing higher education. When Salma told her that she wanted to study at UGM, she chose to support her wholeheartedly, even though she had no idea how they would afford the tuition.
For Riyanti, a child’s dream is worth fighting for together. As long as there is determination to keep trying, she believes there will always be hope.
“Salma told me she wanted to go to university. I told her to keep studying hard, and, God willing, a way would open. Even though we face financial difficulties, I continue to support her. I didn’t know how we would make it happen, but we had to try first,” she said.
Family support became one of the most important factors throughout Salma’s years at SMAN 1 Godean. She said her mother consistently encouraged her and placed full trust in her education despite their financial limitations. That support became her greatest source of strength as she pursued her ambitions. Alongside her academic achievements, Salma also participated in extracurricular activities, particularly school journalism.
The moment she remembers most vividly was the announcement of the SNBP results. On that day, she still had to complete her school examinations until the afternoon. Instead of waiting anxiously for the announcement, she first fulfilled her responsibilities as a student. After returning home, she felt hope, curiosity, and anxiety about whether the outcome would match her expectations.
As three o’clock in the afternoon approached, WhatsApp groups became increasingly active as friends discussed the announcement that was only minutes away. Rather than getting caught up in the tension, Salma chose to perform the Asr prayer before checking the results. Her happiness grew even greater when she learned that UGM had granted her a 100 percent tuition fee subsidy. She said the financial assistance was something she had never expected.
“Our family’s financial situation has been difficult, but thank God, UGM awarded me a full tuition subsidy. It was completely beyond my expectations,” she said, holding back tears.
Behind all of her achievements, Salma credits one person above all others: her mother. She described her mother as a strong figure who has always stood by her throughout every stage of her journey.
“My mother has played the most important role in my life because she has raised me on her own since I was little. She is a strong person who has always supported me. I would never have reached this point without her. Thank you, Mom,” she said.
Riyanti admitted that she was one of the most anxious people in the days leading up to the SNBP announcement. For nearly a week before the results were released, she prayed constantly that her daughter would receive good news.
“For an entire week before the announcement, my heart was racing. I kept praying, ‘Dear God, please let my daughter pass,’” she recalled.
Those prayers were answered on the day the results were announced. When the screen confirmed that Salma had been accepted to UGM, the family burst into tears of joy. Their years of struggle finally reached a turning point.
“It was such an emotional moment. We all cried when Salma was accepted,” Riyanti recalled.
The family’s happiness grew even greater when Salma received a 100% tuition subsidy from UGM. For a mother raising her children alone, the news was a blessing for which she remains deeply grateful.
Riyanti said she had spent years seeking every possible source of educational assistance for her daughter. Above all those efforts, however, she believes that God ultimately opened the way.
“Thank God Salma received a full tuition subsidy. I kept searching for every possible opportunity to support her education. All I could do was pray and trust that God would show us the way,” she said.
For Riyanti, Salma’s achievement is not only a source of pride but also a reminder that every hardship eventually comes to an end. Surrounded by gratitude, she now has one simple wish: to remain healthy so she can continue accompanying her daughter as she pursues her dream.
“Salma has a gentle heart. I have always encouraged her, even after her father passed away. God willing, I will stay healthy and strong so I can continue supporting her,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
Salma is now preparing to begin a new chapter as a Psychology student at UGM. With the opportunity she has received, she hopes to study diligently and make the most of her university years to develop her full potential.
Author: Zabrina Kumara
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyanandaningrat
Photo: Aldi Firmansyah