All eyes were on Kamila Putri Hanisa during the new students welcoming event at Universitas Gadjah Mada for 2017/ 2018 academic year in the courtyard of Grha Sabha Pramana, Bulaksumur, on Monday (7/8). Kamila Putri is the youngest student that has been admitted at UGM at the age of 15 years and 5 months old. Kamila has been accepted at Geography and Environment Department UGM through invitation mechanism.
Kamila said she actually did not think this was all possible. Now she is a student that has been admitted at a university along with her elder sister, Anissa Putri Afifa, who has also become a new student of STAN in Jakarta.
Becoming the youngest student at UGM, according to Kamila, did not feel differently. She got used to having older classmates since her elementary, junior and senior high school years, because she had always joined acceleration class.
"I joined acceleration class since elementary school at MI Nahdlatul Ulama Minu Pucang in Sidoarjo city, East Java; then SMP Negeri 1 Sidoarjo and SMA Negeri 2 Sidoarjo,” said the young girl born in Sidoarjo on 26 February 2002.
According to Kamila, there is no special tip to be successfull in the acceleration class. It just needs constant learning. She added it is important to build the spirit as well as having support from parents.
"It would affect me much, particularly when you’re down or stressed out. It was all very intense studying in acceleration class,” she said.
Kamila explained it was not easy to stay there. Apart from the full studies, there were also grades benchmarking. Students that cannot meet them can be eliminated from the acceleration class.
It was hardly surprising that when at her high school in Sidoarjo, Kamila often came home late in the evening. Afterwards, she still ought to go to several courses.
Named as the youngest UGM student, Kamila is convinced to be able to adjust herself as she felt she has been accustomed to having older classmates.
Asked about her future, Kamila said, “After I’ve graduated from here, I want to take a graduate course abroad, hopefully.”