Gaming addiction often plagues the youth in today’s digital era. For some, gaming is merely entertainment, but for others, it can become an all-consuming habit that sacrifices much in life. That wasn’t the case for Samuel Lie, a student at UGM’s Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), who managed to turn his gaming addiction into motivation for academic, social, and career success.
At one point, he was wholly absorbed by his gadget, unable to resist gaming.
Realizing he hadn’t been an academically gifted child, Lie admitted that as a university student, he needed to work ten times harder than his peers.
Each semester, he set a minimum GPA target of 3.0 to maintain his scholarship.
“I discovered a more effective study system. In my first semester, I focused on learning methodology and building a study system, resulting in a GPA of 3.50,” he said on Thursday, Jun. 5, 2025.
In his second semester, Lie expanded his network by joining the Student Executive Board, hosting events as an emcee, and actively participating in various activities.
By his third semester, he pursued competition achievements, winning five contests and earning a 3.90 GPA.
In his fourth semester, he ventured into content creation, quickly amassing over 100K followers on Instagram within three months.
Currently, with 142,000 followers, his feed is filled with motivational content, serving as a valuable reference for students seeking strategies for academic success.
“I create content not for validation or pride, but to motivate and serve as a role model for those considered ‘ordinary.’ I’ve proven that someone who was ‘just average’ from elementary through high school can excel in university,” he said with enthusiasm.
Now, he dedicates himself to motivating peers toward academic success via his Instagram account, @samliee_.
Through his videos, Lie hopes to help those considered ‘average’ thrive as well.
“Because the key to success in university isn’t talent, it’s consistency,” he emphasized.
He also applies a specific strategy to ensure content creation doesn’t disrupt his studies.
“I manage it through time management,” Lie explained.
He always sets priorities using Google Calendar. His first priority is always attending classes. Once those are in order, he allocates time for content creation.
“Since semester two, I’ve participated in many events. Now, as a content creator, I simply substitute organizational activities with content creation,” he revealed.
Overcoming Gaming Addiction
Lie confessed that he became addicted to gaming early on.
When his parents entrusted him with a smartphone for communication and productivity, he spent most of his time gaming.
At one point, he played Mobile Legends for nearly 16 hours a day, sacrificing sleep to do so.
His addiction continued from seventh grade through his second year of high school.
Parental reprimands did little until his parents, weary of constant warnings, stopped commenting.
That was the turning point.
He also observed that peers who rarely played games were perceived as having higher credibility.
“They excelled in academics, were active in organizations, and spoke well in public,” Lie said.
The desire to be like them became his catalyst for change.
With this realization, he developed the concept of “reverse gaming,” a strategy to overcome addiction.
According to Lie, life can be likened to a game: work hard, and you earn ‘gold.’
Armed with this concept, he began studying diligently, forming new habits to enhance personal development.
“I started exercising, reading every day, joining the student council, and expanding my network,” he explained.
This transformation gradually replaced his gaming addiction with a drive to grow.
Once freed from addiction, he realized how much time he had wasted and felt regret.
But his new journey began upon his acceptance to UGM’s Mechanical Engineering program through the national entrance test (SNBT) pathway.
This marked his transformation in both academic and social spheres.
With a passion for public speaking, Lie aims to become a mentor and public speaker, helping students succeed academically, socially, and financially.
To achieve this, he is building a startup named Skademy (Sukses Kuliah Academy), designed to guide students away from mistakes similar to his own.
His shift from game addiction to passion for life demonstrates that change is always possible.
“With the right mindset, anyone can transform bad habits into powerful motivation for growth and success,” he concluded.
Reporter: Directorate of Education and Teaching/B. Diah Listianingsih
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna