A Universitas Gadjah Mada Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) team serving in Sukaluyu and Margaluyu Villages, Pangalengan District, Bandung, West Java, has encouraged students at SMK Negeri 5 Pangalengan to aspire to higher education. The initiative aimed to shift students’ perspectives on pursuing university studies.
Through this motivational session, students were encouraged to cultivate the drive and confidence to continue their education after graduation. The activity sought to inspire them to dream big despite the economic challenges faced by most students at SMK Negeri 5 Pangalengan.
Salma Nur Azizah, a member of the KKN-PPM UGM team, explained that based on data she obtained, around 26 percent of junior high school students and 21 percent of senior high/vocational school students in Pangalengan drop out of school. Many choose to work in informal jobs after graduation.
“We wanted to broaden their horizons because it is deeply concerning that some even choose to marry young due to economic pressures and limited information on opportunities for further study,” Azizah said on Tuesday (Aug. 12).
Presenting material under the theme Achieving Dreams Amid Limitations, Azizah shared her own journey and challenges in pursuing her studies at UGM. She also provided tips on how to find scholarships. As a student of the Faculty of Animal Science, she introduced the faculty’s comprehensive facilities.
“I explained that there are many pathways to study at UGM, and we tailored the presentation to highlight majors that focus on poultry and ruminants. This way, they could directly imagine the knowledge they would gain and the career opportunities available,” she explained.
The motivational session was delivered in a relaxed and interactive manner, with a question-and-answer segment that encouraged SMK Negeri 5 Pangalengan students to open up about their dreams and ambitions. Usep, a teacher at SMK Negeri 5 Pangalengan, appreciated the event and noted a visible change in his students’ attitudes.
“Usually, when talking about going to college, they feel discouraged right away. But after meeting the UGM team, their enthusiasm really grew. They realized that going to university isn’t just for those who have a lot of money,” he said.
Azizah added that in addition to holding motivational sessions at the school, the KKN-PPM UGM team in Sukaluyu and Margaluyu Villages also implemented various community empowerment programs.
These included digitalizing MSMEs to make local businesses more marketable online, introducing waste management initiatives based on environmental stewardship, developing agro-industries to increase the value of agricultural products, conducting community health activities, and promoting educational literacy by reviving village learning libraries for children.
“Through all these activities, the KKN-PPM UGM students hope to make a real impact, and we want this program to continue in the future, whether in education, the economy, or improving overall quality of life,” Azizah concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho