In a modest house built on an 80-square-meter plot in Sendowo, Mlati, Sleman, 19-year-old Muhammad Novareza Sayyid Pratama lives with his grandparents and two other family members. Since his childhood, following his parents’ divorce, Reza has been raised by his grandparents. His grandfather, Surono (69), works as a parking attendant, while his grandmother, Amin Juminem (69), works as a domestic worker, earning around Rp600,000 per month.
Despite these limitations, Reza never allowed his circumstances to stand in the way of his education or his dream of pursuing higher studies. Fortunately, from elementary school through high school, he consistently excelled academically.
“Since junior high school, I have consistently ranked first in my class,” he said on Friday (Jun. 12).
The teenager, who enjoys reading fiction, said he has always received unwavering support from his grandmother, who has done everything she can to meet his educational needs.
“I believe Reza is a smart child, so I was confident he would eventually be able to obtain a scholarship to continue his studies at university,” said Amin.
The journey was not easy. To support Reza’s education, Amin often relied on loans from a community savings group.
“What mattered most was making sure Reza’s school needs were met first. The loan could always be repaid in installments later,” she recalled.
Although she only completed elementary school, Amin remained optimistic and continuously encouraged her grandson to study hard.
“Sometimes when Reza came home late after school activities, I would stay up and accompany him while he studied,” she said.
Because of limited pocket money, Amin explained that Reza brought lunch from home to school every day. “If I had school activities and had to stay until evening, I would bring two meal boxes, one for lunch and one for later in the afternoon,” Reza added.
Hard work eventually paid off. Reza’s dream became a reality when he was admitted to the Undergraduate Program in Social Development and Welfare at UGM’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM) through the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) pathway.
Not only was he accepted without an entrance examination, but he also received the Outstanding Education Tuition Scholarship, which covers 100 percent of his tuition fees, allowing him to study at UGM free of charge.
Behind his success in gaining admission to one of Indonesia’s most prestigious universities, Reza acknowledged the role of perseverance, motivation, and family support, especially from his grandmother.
“My grandmother has been like a mother to me because she raised me from a young age. Despite all the limitations, she always did her best to provide for my needs,” he said.
For other young people striving to pursue higher education, Reza encourages them to keep fighting for their dreams despite financial difficulties.
“Stay motivated, because no one knows where opportunities will come from. Even if your family faces financial challenges, keep looking for scholarships. There are many opportunities out there,” he concluded.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photos: Jesi and Reza Documentation