A bright smile lit up the face of Amanda Eka Lupita as she celebrated earning her master’s degree during the UGM Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at Grha Sabha Pramana.
Among the 2,028 master’s graduates, Amanda stood out. She was recognized as Universitas Gadjah Mada’s youngest master’s graduate, completing her degree at the age of 22 years and 6 months, which is significantly younger than the average age of master’s graduates, who are typically 30 years and 6 months.
Amanda completed her studies in the Master’s Program in Plant Pest Science through the fast-track scheme at the UGM Faculty of Agriculture (Agriculture UGM). In addition to being named the youngest graduate, she also accomplished the remarkable feat of completing her master’s degree in just 1 year and 11 months.
Although she never aimed to graduate early, Amanda admitted she was surprised to receive the recognition. She explained that the fast-track program helped her finish both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies more efficiently.
Amanda shared that her academic journey was far from easy, as she faced moments of exhaustion and difficulty while conducting her thesis research.
However, those challenges taught her perseverance and helped her grow into a more critical thinker. She realized that being a researcher means taking responsibility for continuous learning, adaptation, and perseverance.
“That was a turning point for me. I used to focus only on results and wanted everything to finish quickly, but now I truly enjoy the journey and the learning process,” the alumna said.
Despite the challenges, Amanda held firmly to her family’s principle that education is a long-term investment.
“Don’t look at the mountain from its peak, but just keep moving forward step by step. From there, I learned that research is not only about results, but about enjoying the process of learning and continuously growing,” she explained.
Her passion for research, especially in the field of agriculture, continues to drive her forward. Amanda remains actively involved in faculty research projects and is currently preparing a scientific publication manuscript based on her thesis findings.
Her research interest, she said, stems from her fascination with small things that make a big impact, such as insects or bacteria that affect plant health.
In her thesis, she examined the diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria in the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), which infects plants with Begomoviruses.
“Insects don’t live in isolation. They coexist with bacteria that transmit viruses and adapt to their environment,” she explained.
Concluding her story, Amanda emphasized her belief that everyone has their own time to shine. With her enthusiasm and deep curiosity, she stands as a clear example that consistency and sincerity in learning can lead to great achievements without rushing the process hastily.
“No matter how small our steps are, they still count as progress. So don’t be afraid of a long journey, because through it, we grow and discover who we truly are,” Amanda said warmly.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Amanda Eka Lupita