Liku Hidup Refo Menggapai Asa Kuliah di UGM
Liku Hidup Refo Menggapai Asa Kuliah di UGM
The petite girl was grinning wide. But who would have thought that behind her smile lies a sad story.
It was Aulia Zara Reformasi, or Refo, the second child of Setyo Teguh Santoso (57) and Dwi Dasa Warsi Mardiyani (50) who has been admitted at UGM to study under the government Bidikmisi scholarship.
Her modest life has never weakened her spirit to meet her dreams of having a high learning. Now her hard work has brought her to Chemical Engineering department of UGM for free study.
"I was very happy and thankful that I’ve been admitted at UGM, moreover I wouldn’t have to pay for tuitions,” said Refo recently.
Formerly, Refo had a better life. In the past, both her parents had a stable job with her father working at a hotel and her mother made a business as a tailor in Yogyakarta. But in 2012 her father had stroke that made their economy limping. Her mother became the backbone of the family.
"My mother’s sewing business was going rather abandoned, because she had to care for my father,” said the girl born in Kulon Progo regency on 15 May 1998.
Eventually, they had to leave their rented house as renting became unaffordable for them. Fortunately, a friend of the father who lived in Kalimantan was generous and loaned his house to them.
Despite the limited resources, Dwi always wanted her children to have a good education. She has always been trying hard so that her children could study at a higher learning institutions. Her eldest son has recently graduated from Faculty of Geography UGM satisfactorily.
"I always support my children to study at the university. So, I was thankful that Refo was finally accepted at UGM. My prayers were answered,” Dwi sobbed.
Dwi was thankful the children understand their simple condition. Both never got tired to study, even they had good achievements at school.
"Often Refo would give a class to the neighbours, where she received some pocket money, and I was touched by this,” she said.
All parents always have the hope for the success of their children. Dwi and her husband would always pray for their children’s success.