At 18, Silvia Nuril Mala never imagined that she would one day study at a university far from her hometown in Kuripan Village, Wonosobo, Central Java. She initially planned to attend a university closer to home, where the cost of education would be more manageable. But after learning how much a university education could cost, she began to doubt whether she could afford to finish.
Silvia comes from a modest family. Her parents, Syarifuddin, 45, and Mufati, 45, did not complete high school but have always hoped that their children would have opportunities to pursue higher education. Her father works as a farmer whose income depends on the weather and harvests, while her mother is a homemaker.
Despite financial challenges, Silvia has always believed that education can open the door to a better future.
Her determination shone through in her academic achievements at SMA Negeri 1 Wonosobo. She received a Special Award in Chemistry at the regency-level National Science Olympiad (OSN-K), finishing eighth, and graduated in 2026 as the third-highest-performing student in her school.
Her achievements began earlier. In junior high school, she won third place in an Islamic quiz competition and first place in a district-level marching drill competition. She was also active in student organizations, serving as a coordinator in the Scout extracurricular program.
In senior high school, Silvia became the chief coordinator of Faction 2 and later chaired the school’s Youth Information and Counseling Center (PIK-R). Under her leadership, the school’s PIK-R was named the Best Model PIK-R in Central Java.
Balancing academic responsibilities with organizational activities was not always easy. Silvia said she learned to give her full attention to whichever responsibility she was handling at the time. When activities required her to miss classes, she made up for the lessons by studying independently at home in the evenings and during school holidays.
“I was fortunate to study at a school where teachers were very supportive. It was relatively easy to get permission to participate in positive activities, and the teachers were always willing to support us when we had worthwhile commitments,” she said on Tuesday (Jul. 28).
Silvia never abandoned her dream of going to university, and her parents continued to support her ambitions despite their financial limitations.
Rather than giving up, she began searching for scholarship opportunities herself. She also sought advice from a friend who had previously received a Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) scholarship while in high school.
Her search eventually led her to the BSI Scholarship Unggulan, which offered support that addressed many of her academic needs, including a laptop, a monthly living allowance, and full tuition coverage.
The scholarship also appealed to Silvia because of its personal development programs, including leadership and character-building activities, as well as internship and mentoring opportunities in Indonesia’s Islamic finance industry.
With the support of her family, school, and scholarship program, Silvia was eventually admitted to the Chemistry Undergraduate Program at the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) through the academic excellence-based SNBP admission pathway.
For Silvia, becoming a UGM student represents much more than gaining admission to a prestigious university. She is also the first person in her family to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
“It feels like a dream come true,” she said.
As a first-generation college student, Silvia understands that the journey ahead may not always be easy. But she believes that access to information can make a significant difference for students from families facing similar circumstances.
She encourages young people to actively seek information about educational opportunities and scholarships, particularly as technology and social media have made access to information easier than ever.
Many scholarship opportunities, she said, remain unfamiliar to students and families who may not know where to look.
Her message is simple: difficult circumstances should not become a reason to abandon a dream.
“Never bury your dreams before giving your very best. Being the first person in your family to attend university is difficult because you have to pave the way yourself. But when you put your family first and move forward with sincerity, doors that once seemed closed can open,” she said.
For Silvia, the opportunity to study at UGM is not only the realization of a personal ambition but also the beginning of a new path for her family. As the first member of her family to pursue a bachelor’s degree, she hopes her journey will inspire other young people to keep pursuing higher education, regardless of where they come from.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyanandaningrat
Photo: Documentation of Silvia