Zufa Pasha Sabina (22) was the only one among 1,201 undergraduate graduates to achieve a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) graduation ceremony on Wednesday (Feb. 25) at Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP UGM).
In addition to earning a flawless GPA, this graduate of the Nursing Study Program at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) completed her studies in approximately three years and six months. The average study period for undergraduate graduates is four years and two months, with an average GPA of 3.53.
Zufa admitted she was delighted and did not expect to be the only graduate to receive a perfect distinction. According to her, academic activities in the program were already highly demanding, with monthly examinations, continuous assignments, and various extracurricular activities she undertook.
“There was also an internship outside campus. At first, I was rather pessimistic about achieving such a score, but as time went by, it turned out I could do it,” she said on Thursday (Feb. 26).
Coming from her hometown of Kebumen, Zufa pursued her dream of contributing to the medical field. She believes the study program she chose plays a significant role in society, given the ongoing advances in the health sciences. According to her, medical knowledge continues to evolve and must be continuously learned. She is currently continuing her education in the professional nursing program (ners), which will take approximately one year to complete.
Zufa’s undergraduate thesis project involved developing an educational video on preeclampsia for pregnant women, titled “Development of Educational Video Media on Preeclampsia for Pregnant Women.”
To enrich her nursing experience, she completed a three-month internship at PSC 119 YES (Public Safety Center 119 Yogyakarta Emergency Services). Zufa expressed gratitude for the experience, which expanded her network and knowledge of healthcare, clinical practice, and emergency response.
“I was directly involved in prehospital care. There were so many lessons to learn there about emergency situations,” she added.
Zufa further shared that her academic commitments were at times exhausting. However, she emphasized that support from her family and friends consistently strengthened her. She candidly described her simple routine of calling her mother every night. After speaking with her mother, Zufa said she always felt motivated and encouraged, giving her renewed energy for the next day’s classes.
“Every night, I always call my mother. It feels so comforting just to hear her voice,” she recalled.
Regarding her study strategy, she said she did not initially set a target of achieving a perfect GPA but instead analyzed academic patterns as each semester progressed. From there, she learned to adjust her expectations and direction.
“At first, there was no specific target, but midway through, the pattern became clear. The important thing was to maintain my grades and keep them stable,” she explained.
Zufa also acknowledged that she sometimes felt less motivated. For her, this could be addressed by setting priorities, deciding which tasks needed immediate attention and which could be postponed. Zufa considers time management to be the key factor. She emphasized that without effective time management, it becomes difficult to set priorities, and one is more likely to feel overwhelmed.
Nevertheless, she underscored the importance of maintaining a balance between studying and rest. She preferred a gradual study approach, as exams were held nearly every month, so that the workload would not accumulate toward the end of the semester.
“Even reading just one or two pages a day is already progress,” she added.
According to her, there is always room to strive harder, and it is often that effort that distinguishes one person from another. She believes that consistency, no matter how small, will yield long-term results.
“Do your best you can, give your maximum effort, and do your very best, because there is always room to strive harder,” she said.
Zufa also reminded fellow students that academic grades are ultimately just numbers, representing the process, hard work, and effort behind them.
“Grades may reflect your process, but don’t let them make you forget to stay humble and grounded,” she concluded.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photo: Courtesy of Zufa