Kisah Anak Penjual Gorengan Diterima Kuliah di Kedokteran UGM
Kisah Anak Penjual Gorengan Diterima Kuliah di Kedokteran UGM
Economic limitation is not a barrier for one to pursue education. The thing is true for Dyah Utami Nugraheni (19). Her hard work and spirit have brought her admission to Medical Education of Universitas Gadjah Mada. During her study there, not even a cent for the study has to be paid by her as she also earned the Bidikmisi government scholarships.
Becoming a doctor has always been her dream since her childhood. When she heard that she was accepted at Faculty of Medicine UGM, she was overjoyed that her dream would be fulfilled.
"When I was told that I got accepted at UGM, I hugged my mom. We were very happy and touched. I didn’t expect to be admitted at a favourite study programme where competition was tight,” she said when met at her house in Nyamplung Kidul of Gamping area, Sleman regency, on Monday (20/6).
Dyah said her interest to becoming a medic started from the fact that there were very few doctors in her neighbourhood to serve the public. She wanted to be a doctor who serves her own community.
"I hope to be able to help my family, my neighbours, and the surrounding community,” she said.
Being born in a modest family has made Dyah adjusted to modest living. But this has not dampened her spirit to learn, on the contrary, this triggered her to make achievement at school. Since her elementary school years, she always turned out to be the best student. Also in junior and senior high schools, she was among big 3.
"There is no special tip from me, just regular study and prayers,” said the alumnus of SMA 1 high school inYogyakarta on her success secret.
Her mother, Ngatinem (58), became the backbone of the family since Dyah’s father died in 2007. Ngatinem did everything to make ends meet while also making fried snacks to be sold at a school canteen. Her monthly earnings never exceeded Rp500,000.
"I was between jobs, if somebody asked me to do something, then I had something to do. If not, I would stay at home frying snacks for sale,”said Ngatinem.
Fortunately, Ngatinem has been supported by her two other children who are already married. They are her step-children, but they still support her and her only daughter.
"I will always support my daughter to have an education as good as possible. Thank God, her siblings also support us,” she said.
Ngatinem said she was proud her daughter would study at the Faculty of her dream, and for free. There is not much thing she could do except encouraging and supporting her daughter for her success in the future.
"I wish her dreams would come true, becoming a successfull person and helping other people,” she expressed her hope.