As the eldest child, Alifia Citra Ayuningtyas learned early to grow with hope and to embrace every chance to better herself. That determination led her to a place in the Agronomy Study Program at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Since her father died in 2014, Alifia — known to family as Fia — has been raised by her mother, who has cared for her and her two younger siblings alone.
From an early age, Fia understood that education was one of the most powerful ways to build better opportunities for herself and her family. That conviction opened many doors, including a full scholarship to CT ARSA Foundation Leading Senior High School. There she also threw herself into activities beyond the classroom: she joined the school’s journalism organization and its Scout Council (Dewan Ambalan VI Gudep). She was chosen as the school’s English Ambassador. She also placed third in a Business Model Canvas competition.
Those years deepened her resolve to pursue higher education. With strong grades, organizational experience, and a drive to keep growing, Fia set her sights on UGM. She first applied through the academic excellence-based selection (SNBP), choosing the Food and Agricultural Product Technology Program at UGM’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM). She was not admitted, but she refused to let the setback define her. After many nights of study and preparation, she retook the national entrance test (SNBT) and was accepted into the Agronomy Study Program at UGM’s Faculty of Agriculture.
“I still remember it was three o’clock in the afternoon. My younger sibling was the one who opened the announcement. They shouted, ‘You got in! Alhamdulillah!’ I was so grateful to be accepted into Agronomy,” she recalled on Friday (July 17).
Fia said one of her main reasons for choosing UGM was her family’s finances. Studying in Yogyakarta cost less than pursuing higher education elsewhere, which would add living expenses, and she knew UGM offered scholarship programs that could support her studies.
Her admission became a source of immense pride and gratitude for her mother, Martini. As a single parent, Martini admitted that supporting her children’s education had never been easy. On a limited income as a daily laborer and domestic helper, she had always done everything she could to keep her children in school.
The chance for Fia to attend CT ARSA Foundation Leading Senior High School and then continue at UGM with scholarship support was, Martini said, a blessing she had never imagined. These opportunities, she added, have allowed her daughter to pursue her dreams without being weighed down by the family’s circumstances.
“I am truly grateful. I work only as a daily laborer and domestic helper, with a very limited income. Alhamdulillah, Fia has reached this point. She has been accepted at UGM, continues to receive support, and has been introduced to Paragon. May Allah reward everyone who has shown us such kindness,” Martini said through tears of joy.
Even with the scholarship, Martini acknowledged that daily financial pressures remain. Transportation and other living costs during college are ongoing concerns. Still, she chooses to stay hopeful, trusting that a way forward will always appear.
“Sometimes I wonder how we’ll manage tomorrow. The scholarship may cover tuition, but there are still daily expenses, such as transportation from home. We only have one motorcycle, and renting a boarding house would require additional money. But we place our trust in God and believe He will show us the way,” Martini said.
For Martini, education has always been the greatest hope she wants to pass on to her children. Despite the family’s hardships, she has worked to ensure those limits never stop them from dreaming big and developing their potential; education, she believes, is the key to greater opportunity. She admitted that she has not been able to provide her children with the best facilities. What she has always offered instead is encouragement, prayer, and the assurance that sincere effort eventually bears fruit. She reminds Fia never to give up because of their circumstances, and hopes she can build a brighter future through education.
“Always dream of a better education. No matter your family’s situation, never let it ruin your dreams. Keep learning and keep pursuing what you want and what you dream of,” Martini said.
Closing her story, Fia offered a message to other students working toward higher education. She hopes financial hardship will never become a reason to abandon a dream, because opportunities always exist for those willing to work hard, stay open to new possibilities, and dare to try.
“Financial limitations do not mean you have to limit your dreams. Stay motivated and never give up. There are many paths ahead of you, and you will meet many kind people who can support you, guide you, or open doors you never imagined possible,” Fia said.
She also encouraged students to seize every opportunity, even when the outcome is uncertain, because every experience carries a lesson.
“Don’t be afraid to try everything. Even if we don’t know the outcome, those experiences will one day become stories, sources of motivation, and lessons that shape us into stronger people. So never be afraid to dream as big as possible, because there is always a way for those who continue striving,” she concluded.
Fia’s perseverance, hard work, and faith — together with her mother’s support — ultimately paid off. In addition to admission to UGM, she received a scholarship from ParagonCorp through its collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada. It includes an initial grant of IDR 5 million, a laptop, full tuition support until graduation, and opportunities to join leadership development programs.
Representing the university leadership, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, the University Secretary of UGM, praised Fia and her family’s perseverance, saying her story shows that dreams can become reality for those who keep fighting for them.
“If you have a dream, you can fight for it. We congratulate Fia and her mother. As the eldest child, do not see that role as a burden but as motivation to become a role model. Never underestimate yourself because everyone has their own talents. The path before you has now opened, but this is not the end of the journey—it is only the midpoint of a much longer one,” Dr. Andi concluded.
Author: Zabrina Kumara
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyanandaningrat
Photo: Agito