Supriyono (54) and his wife, Indah Winarti (52), rely on tenant farming on village land as their sole source of income to support their family. They earn less than one million rupiah monthly from cultivating chili peppers near their home in Ngisis Hamlet, Piyaman Village, Wonosari District, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region.
At his age, Supriyono suffers from kidney stones and has undergone seven surgeries since 2016. With a modest income and deteriorating health, he felt unable to provide the best for his children’s future. He could only resign himself to their circumstances.
“Honestly, I cried. It’s a burden as a parent when your child has dreams, and you can’t provide for them. What should I do? I want my children to have a better life than mine,” he said, his eyes welling up with tears.
Amid the economic hardships weighing on his family, there was a glimmer of hope when his youngest son, Agil Priyojatmiko (18), was accepted into the Agronomy program at the UGM Faculty of Agriculture (Agriculture UGM) through the national entrance test (SNBT) with a 100% tuition subsidy from UGM.
Supriyono immediately prostrated himself in gratitude. He hopes that his youngest son can elevate the family’s economic status.
“I prostrated in gratitude when Agil was accepted and received a 100% subsidy. I am very grateful,” he said.
What Agil has achieved is considered a blessing from God Almighty, especially since he has always been disciplined in his studies and devout in his religious practices.
While attending SMAN 1 Wonosari, Agil consistently excelled in his classes and frequently won competitions. He was the third-best speaker in the Indonesian Language Debate Competition in Gunungkidul, won first place in the MTQ competition at the Gunungkidul regency level, and won first place in the Pleton Inti (Tonti) competition at the Gunungkidul regency level.
In tears, Agil recounted that he realized pursuing higher education despite their economic limitations was a significant challenge. However, his teachers encouraged him to apply to UGM, hoping to alleviate his parents’ burden someday.
“I understand my parents can’t afford to send me to college; my two older siblings didn’t attend college either. I always remember my teacher’s advice, ‘You can find a way to pay for it,’” he recalled.
Finally, Supriyono advised Agil to uphold his integrity, study diligently, and never neglect his religious duties while studying at UGM.
“If Agil studies earnestly, I’ll be at peace,” he concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson