Among the 2,163 graduates at the UGM bachelor’s and applied bachelor’s degree graduation in November 2023 were 72 from the 3T (frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped) regions.
Rivaldy Bram Waromi was among the 3T graduates. He completed the medical education program at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing with a regional equity scholarship for students from 3T regions called ADik, provided by the Indonesian government.
“This (the graduation) is an event I have been waiting for; sometimes, I still can’t believe it. I come from Nabire, Papua–far from UGM–to study, and I finally graduated,” he said.
The graduation became even more joyful because both of his parents were present to witness the rector conferred a degree upon him. Waromi was proud to receive his medical degree at that moment.
“I am very grateful; this graduation brings happiness because my parents were present to see me called to receive the degree,” he expressed.
Originally from Nabire, Papua, Waromi is aware of the healthcare services in his region. This awareness led him to be curious and desire to study medicine. He expressed his desire to become a doctor, primarily focusing on providing sincere and dedicated services to the community.
“I tried to learn a lot, trying to become a person who listens more to complaints, appreciates the opinions and decisions of others, works together, and I believe that is the main capital for me to provide the best service,” he said.
Studying at the UGM medicine faculty has provided him with many experiences. Learning to be a doctor, according to Waromi, means being a responsible leader capable of making the right and quick decisions.
In his first year, he admitted to facing difficulties. In fact, due to the difficulty of studying medicine, his grades were never stable and tended to decline.
“I had to consult with a psychiatrist to cultivate my learning motivation regularly. Studying medicine is difficult, especially for those not 100% interested; they will also face difficulties adapting. The medical learning system is fast-paced and constantly moving forward,” he explained.
The ability to make friends and establish connections, according to Waromi, is one of the keys. He believes this is necessary to endure college and support subsequent learning processes.
“Intention and perseverance are the most important things for us to cultivate,” he said.
Initially interested in pursuing art, Waromi was underestimated by his friends, who said entering medicine was impossible. He did feel doubt, but his parents encouraged him to try.
“I was opposed to choosing art; my parents encouraged me to study medicine. I took the test, and it turned out I passed. Now I am undergoing the one-year mandatory co-assistantship,” he said.
It wasn’t just during his studies at UGM that Waromi received a scholarship; he was an ADEM (ADik-like scholarship but for high school students) scholar in high school.
He admitted that it took work to pass the scholarship selection because he had to compete with friends from various regions in Indonesia. The interest in this scholarship has been increasing from year to year.
“Maintaining a good average score since the first semester in high school is the ninja way to pass the ADik scholarship. This includes diligently attending courses in subjects that are less mastered, practicing answering questions to add variations to problem-solving, and independently studying and finding references for problem-solving from YouTube,” he added.
Now, Waromi is undergoing medical training to become a doctor officially. He plans to return to Nabire after taking the oath. He aspires to delve into obstetrics and gynecology and dreams of becoming a specialist.
“Outside of co-assistant activities, I would like to pursue a master’s in business and management,” said the graduate with a GPA of 3.3.
Although he will be a doctor by profession, Waromi still harbors a long-standing desire to open a business in fashion. Not without reason, in his hometown of Nabire, he often encounters craftsmen who make noken bags (traditional Papua bags), decorations, necklaces, and more.
Not only that, he also hopes to help build primary, junior high, and high school education in Central Papua. He hopes that children in Central Papua have equal opportunities to access education.
“I want to open a business while facilitating craftsmen, mostly women and young people, to develop their skills and create job opportunities for them,” said the 2000-born Waromi.
Author: Listi
Editor: Agung