Adinda Yusria Rachma (18) was beaming when met in Tompeyan Village, Yogyakarta City. She continuously expressed her gratitude. This graduate of SMAN 8 Yogyakarta has just achieved one of the biggest accomplishments in her life. She was accepted as a new student in the Nursing Science Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM).
Besides passing into UGM without a test, Adinda also received a 100% subsidized tuition scholarship, which frees her from tuition fee obligations.
“When I saw my name pass the academic excellence-based entrance selection (SNBP), it felt like a dream. But it wasn’t over; a few days later, I checked and found out I also got a scholarship. Happy, of course, because it can lighten my mother’s burden,” Adinda said with sparkling eyes on Thursday (Jun. 12).
When the announcement came, she couldn’t wait to share the good news with her mother, who was still at work.
However, behind that happy smile, there was a long journey that wasn’t always smooth. Since the age of 2.5 years, Adinda was raised by her mother alone.
Her father passed away when she was too young to remember his face. Her mother, Eny Setyawati (57), a teacher at Al Fatihah Children’s Care Park in their neighborhood, lived her days as a single parent with extraordinary resilience.
Despite having a limited income and minimal rest time, her mother never failed to ensure that her children went to school with full enthusiasm.
In their simple daily life, she always instilled in Adinda the importance of choosing a path that provides broad benefits.
According to Setyawati, it means choosing a job that is not just for survival, but also for service.
“I instilled in my children, if possible, to work in a beneficial field, whether education or health. Because that is a field of good deeds for a long life, not just in this world,” Setyawati said.
She added, “I am very grateful that UGM gave my child such a wide opportunity.”
Her mother’s message was always remembered by Adinda. Even her current job as a caregiver inspires Adinda to pursue the field of health.
“I want to help people, especially in emergencies,” Adinda revealed.
This interest was not just a childhood dream but became more solidified when she was active in OSIS (Student Council) and PMR (Youth Red Cross) activities during high school.
She often participated in first aid training, disaster evacuation simulations, and social activities that made her realize that the world of health was her calling.
Her activities in those organizations briefly caused her grades to drop mid-semester. However, Adinda didn’t give up.
She learned to manage her time more effectively, striking a balance between her organizational activities and academic responsibilities. She started limiting activities outside class hours and strengthened her habit of studying at night.
Support from her teachers and friends also gave her a boost of spirit.
“I realized I had to catch up. In the final semester, I pushed myself to get into the eligible rank. Finally, I could get into UGM as my family and I had hoped,” Adinda said with a smile.
For her small family, UGM is not just a renowned campus. It is a symbol of dreams that seemed too far to reach until they finally became real.
Adinda is the first child in her family to manage to break through the gates of this People’s Campus.
Her older sibling is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at UNY, and their mother funds both from a very limited income.
Every rupiah spent on education was always accompanied by prayers, conviction, and a spirit of mutual encouragement.
Adinda admitted that during the selection process, her mother was the one who most often encouraged and prayed for her, even when Adinda herself had doubts.
She remembered clearly how her mother always inserted prayers during breakfast or before going to bed.
Every step she took felt like a shared journey, not merely a personal effort.
“Getting into UGM was also one of my mother’s dreams. So I feel this is not just my victory, but also a small gift for her,” Adinda added.
When she is on campus, Adinda already has a clear vision. She wants to deepen her understanding of nursing practices, patient handling, and first aid.
Not only in class, but she also wants to be active outside academic settings. Adinda hopes to join student organizations and participate in volunteer activities, particularly in disaster areas.
She also hopes to participate in field research related to public health.
“I want to directly help communities that truly need medical personnel. That’s one of the reasons I chose nursing, not just because I like it, but because I feel this is my path to contribute,” Adinda stated.
Adinda is aware that the struggle is not over, but this time she steps from a stronger foundation.
Together with thousands of other students at UGM, she is ready to grow in an inclusive environment that values diversity of background and potential.
She feels wholeheartedly accepted, not because of her background but because of her spirit and abilities.
She also feels that UGM will be a new home that encourages her to develop, both academically and socially.
The support from the campus in the form of this scholarship not only eases her financially but also ignites her spirit to do more.
“I believe everyone has the same opportunity as long as they are willing to work hard. UGM proves that the people’s campus is real. I am so grateful to be a part of this campus,” Adinda said.
The story of Adinda is a real reflection of the values of populism, independence, and sustainability carried out by UGM.
Through the subsidized tuition scholarship program, this campus not only provides space for high-achieving students from low-income families but also plants the seeds of the future.
This future comes in the form of a generation that is not just smart but caring and ready to serve.
Adinda Yusria Rachma is proof that education can indeed change destinies, not with miracles, but with hard work, conviction, and the right environment.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto Adi