Uphe Angelia Maitriani made history as the youngest graduate at the bachelor and applied bachelor graduation ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year period I at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Thursday (Nov. 28).
The Actuarial Science graduate from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) completed her undergraduate degree at the age of 20 years, 3 months, and 9 days.
In comparison, the average age of the 1,754 undergraduate graduates was 22 years, 6 months, and 16 days.
Moreover, Maitriani completed her studies in just 3 years and 2 months, while the average undergraduate study period is 4 years and 4 months. She explained that her success is partly due to her early start in education.
“In high school, I was in an accelerated class. I also started university in 2021 and graduated in under 4 years, so it was quicker,” Maitriani said on Friday (Nov. 22).
During her academic journey, Maitriani stated that she didn’t face significant difficulties, even though she was one of the youngest students in her cohort. On the contrary, the one-year age difference with most of her peers often became a source of lighthearted jokes.
As the second of three children who moved from Pekanbaru, Riau, Maitriani received full support from her family.
Though neither of her parents holds a university degree—her father is a private employee, and her mother is a homemaker—they always encouraged Maitriani to do her best.
“My parents aren’t college graduates, but they fully support all their children’s education. I wasn’t pressured, but I was always motivated to give my best,” she said.
Maitriani received the Marga Pembangunan Jaya Scholarship in her third year through UGM’s online system, Simaster. With a final GPA of 3.94, Maitriani proved that focus and effective study strategies are key to success. She has a unique study method.
“I like taking notes on paper during class, not on gadgets. When I need to review, it helps me avoid distractions,” Maitriani said.
Since her first semester, she had already laid out an academic strategy, including when to take courses, do internships, complete KKN, and write her thesis. This planning allowed her to complete all stages of her studies efficiently.
Additionally, she avoided the habit of staying up late to stay focused.
“Don’t make it a habit to stay up late while studying,” Maitriani advised.
One of Maitriani’s major achievements was her thesis, “Optimal Retention of Quota-share Reinsurance by Minimizing Value at Risk and Maximizing Insurance Company Utility Expectation.”
This research reflected her understanding of complex actuarial concepts and demonstrated her contribution to the insurance field.
“This thesis discusses how insurance companies can determine the optimal proportion of risk to reinsure,” she explained.
With her dedication and achievements, Maitriani inspires other students to achieve success through careful planning and strong determination. She hopes other students will not be afraid to dream big and will dare to set strategies early on.
“Graduating early is just a matter of strategy,” she concluded.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie