Natan Kapitong, 55, never imagined that he could send his youngest child, Moses Patibang (18), to Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). He has been a single parent for five years, providing for his three children. He relies on his earnings as a cassava farmer and a part-time motorcycle taxi driver, with an average monthly income of less than 500,000 rupiahs.
Natan’s family lives in a wooden house far from the city and other settlements in Mengkendek District, Tana Toraja Regency. One must walk along a rocky, slippery, unlit, and muddy path through a small forest to reach their home.
To support their lives and his children’s education, Natan’s eldest child, who works as a construction laborer in Papua, also helps pay for the tuition of his second child at a private university in Toraja.
Due to economic constraints, Natan asked his youngest child to postpone his desire to continue to university. If necessary, he suggested choosing a campus close to Toraja.
However, Moses persisted and convinced him that studying at UGM was crucial for his future. Natan relented when he learned that Moses applied through the academic excellence-based entrance selection (SNBP) track. All he could do was pray for his beloved child’s success.
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Moses attended a church service. As time passed, the service ended, and his feelings became mixed as he prepared to check the SNBP announcement on his phone. Running and shouting as loudly as possible, he wanted to share the good news with everyone.
“Praise the Lord, I got accepted to UGM… I got accepted to UGM!”
The congregation and the pastor shared his joy and happiness due to Moses’ good news that day. Moses became the only SMA Negeri 3 Toraja graduate accepted into UGM this year.
Natan felt like he was dreaming when he received the news that Moses had been accepted to study at UGM. He fully supported his child’s dream of pursuing higher education at a prestigious university in Indonesia—Moses’ dream of studying at UGM since junior high school had become a reality.
The youngest of three siblings from Tana Toraja was accepted into the Communication Science program at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM) through the SNBP track. His name is also listed as a candidate for the KIP-K scholarship. He also received a 100% subsidy for his tuition fees.
In high school, Moses consistently ranked in the top five. Moses explained that he had to work hard to maintain his grades and achievements since the 10th grade. Being accepted into the Communication Science program, Moses admitted being inspired by his idol, Najwa Shihab.
“I want to have good public speaking skills like Najwa Shihab, and when I graduate, I aspire to become a lecturer,” he hoped.
A Dedication to His Mother
Moses, whose mother passed away five years ago, expressed heartfelt gratitude to his late mother, who was a significant figure in his life. He said that his late mother was half of his life and was always present.
“Thank you, Mom, for caring for me since I was little and helping me grow into a strong person. Without you, I would be just a meaningless speck of dust, and this is dedicated to my mom,” he said.
To this day, Moses always remembers his mother’s advice and holds on to the life principles she instilled in him, which have guided him to where he is now.
“You must study diligently and strive to achieve your highest dreams,” Moses said, quoting his mother’s advice.
Although Natan will live alone after this, he is happy that Moses has achieved one of his big dreams, studying at UGM. Natan hopes UGM will always support and assist his child during his studies.
Natan also hopes Moses can graduate on time at UGM, study diligently, and become a source of pride for the community. While studying at UGM, Natan advised Moses, who will leave Toraja, to always remember and rely on God in all his activities.
“Moses wouldn’t be at this point without God’s intervention,” he said.
For Natan, the 100% tuition subsidy from UGM is like a dream come true for their family, who face significant financial burdens.
“I am very happy and thankful to the government for subsidizing my child’s education. Economically, we couldn’t afford it; our income is below 500,000 rupiahs per month, so we couldn’t afford to pay for studies at UGM,” he said, tearing up.
As a national university, Universitas Gadjah Mada remains firmly committed to providing access to higher education for all layers of society, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, through programs such as the tuition subsidy.
This subsidy is given based on students’ economic conditions, ensuring that education costs remain affordable. Prospective students can apply for the tuition subsidy by submitting documents demonstrating their financial situation.
Author: Astri
Editor: Gusti Grehenson