The cries of a newborn girl echoed through the delivery room. Eny Nawangsih, hopeful and anxious, awaited her baby daughter, Eifie, to be cleaned and brought to her side. But when the baby was finally laid next to her, Eny froze. The right baby glove she had prepared was not worn, only placed beside the bed.
“The midwife said Eifie’s hand is a bit different,” whispered her husband, Mochamad Farid, on that Sunday, Jul. 23, 2006.
Conflicting emotions overwhelmed Eny. With her husband working as a carpenter, she wondered whether they could raise their daughter in the best possible way.
Yet amidst the worry, support from their extended family poured in. There was no blame, only acceptance. Her daughter was a blessing. “She brought so many lessons with her birth in July, so we named her Eifie Julian Hikmah,” Eny recalled.
Eifie grew up a bright and cheerful child. Her physical disability, limited functionality in her right hand, often drew the attention of other children in the neighborhood. “Her hand’s cut off! Her hand’s cut off!” Eny remembered the unfiltered shouts of children behind the fence. Though Eifie was generally confident, such moments often brought tears to her eyes.
“Whenever she went to Quran classes, I’d wait by the mosque. If I heard anyone mocking her, I’d kindly ask them to stop. If anyone stared from the fence, I’d ask them to leave,” Eny said during an interview at their home in Jamsaren, Kediri, East Java, on Saturday (Aug. 2).
When the time came to enroll Eifie in school, Eny had to choose between a special needs school (SLB) or a nearby public school. “No problem at all,” her prospective teacher said.
Indeed, Eifie’s disability posed no barrier to her academic progress. She ranked first in her class from first through sixth grade. Her self-confidence continued to grow over time.
When asked how she built her confidence, Eifie responded, “With this condition, I can still do activities, achieve things, and study well. So why should I listen to what people say? I’d rather believe in my own ability.”
Entering the World of Athletics
Eifie clearly remembers her first encounter with Coach Karmani, who was also a traveling ice cream vendor. Like most kids, Eifie stopped by to buy a treat. But instead of just selling ice cream, Coach Karmani invited her to join his training sessions. “Turns out, he’d been observing me since I was in first grade but only asked my parents when I reached third grade,” said 19-year-old Eifie.
The world of athletics was unfamiliar to her; running was the only event she knew. She started training wearing her regular school shoes. “My mom worried about the costs, but it turned out I didn’t need to buy a uniform or pay any fees,” she added.
After a few months of training, Eifie entered her first competition. She received Rp200,000 to buy running spikes, but the actual cost was far higher. Her father had Rp150,000 in savings, and her mother carried Rp19,000. “Wait here,” her father said before leaving to find the remaining money. Somehow, he returned with just enough. Eifie got her first pair of spikes.
The effort paid off. Eifie placed second in the 200-meter race at the Walikota Cup in Surabaya, East Java. Her school even put up a congratulatory banner.
From then on, she trained more diligently, three times a week in between classes. From local student meets to national championships, she kept running, not only the 100, 200, and 400 meters but also long jump and shot put.
Still, her journey had challenges. Eifie admitted her biggest rival wasn’t on the track; it was herself. She often struggled with nerves before races. Despite warming up, her body sometimes froze at the starting line. Once, during a provincial championship, she missed the starting signal because she lost focus. “Another time, I slowed down with just 50 meters left. I could’ve gotten bronze but was overtaken by 0.0 seconds. I cried that day,” she recalled.
The pressure intensified when her father passed away just a month before the 2024 East Java Provincial Paralympic Games. Her mental state hadn’t fully recovered. She didn’t win gold at that event and feared missing the chance to qualify for nationals, a dream she shared with her father. “I used to get upset when Dad was late picking me up, even though he was tired. Now I wonder why he couldn’t wait just a bit longer to see me reach this point,” she said, her voice trembling.
That loss taught her a great deal. At her debut in the 2024 National Paralympic Games, she struggled. Her first two events ended without medals. “I was afraid I’d come home empty-handed,” she said. Thankfully, she bounced back in the 400-meter race, earning a bronze medal.
“The Palembang National Student Paralympics 2023 was also special. I didn’t expect to win gold in the long jump there,” she added with a smile.
Pursuing a Higher Education Dream
Eifie had aspired to attend university since junior high school. That ambition was rooted in her late father’s story. He once enrolled in college but had to drop out due to financial constraints. After his passing, Eifie felt an even stronger urge to fulfill his dream. She wanted to show that she could not only attend university but thrive at one of the best.
As the second of four siblings, she described her parents as a perfect balance. Her father was easygoing, encouraging his children’s talents, including Eifie’s interest in athletics. Her mother, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of education. One piece of advice always stuck: “Education comes first. Be smart, but don’t use your smarts to deceive others.”
Eifie’s interest in Universitas Gadjah Mada began unexpectedly. “I saw a PPSMB Palapa video on social media. I immediately said I wanted to study at UGM, wear the burlap alma mater vest, and sing the PPSMB anthem,” she recalled. From that moment, attending UGM became her personal goal.
The path, however, was far from easy. Eifie was initially rejected through the SNBT route, then again via UGM’s independent entrance exam. When the Talent Scouting for Underprivileged Students (PBUTM) results were released, she was too anxious to check. “I’d seen ‘sorry, not accepted’ too many times. Before opening the announcement, I apologized to my mom in case I failed again,” she said.
Encouraged by her mother, she finally opened the result, and this time, it was good news. She had been accepted into the Accounting Study Program at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM). “I hugged my mom and cried my heart out,” she said.
Her choice of accounting was no accident. She had enjoyed the subject since high school thanks to an engaging teacher. Competing with classmates to solve problems on the whiteboard became a favorite activity. After much prayer and consideration, she made her choice. “I hope to become an accountant or auditor at a reputable company or continue my career as a para-athlete,” she said.
Now, as a UGM student accepted through the PBUTM pathway, Eifie is grateful to study without burdening her mother financially. “The 100% UKT subsidy from UGM really lightens the way for me,” she said with gratitude.
Besides focusing on her studies, Eifie plans to join student organizations, participate in competitions, and explore internship opportunities. She wants to make the most of every opportunity as a UGM student.
Eifie also remains committed to athletics. She plans to continue training three times a week with self-guided programs from her coach. She knows she’ll need to manage her time wisely to keep her dream of competing internationally alive. “I want to break my record and beat those tough competitors,” she said confidently.
When asked what advice she would give to other young people, Eifie emphasized the value of education. She believes education builds character and helps one make wise decisions. It all starts with discovering one’s interests and nurturing them in small ways. “Don’t listen to people who bring you down. Everyone has their own time,” she concluded.
Author & Post-editor: Salma
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian