Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again held its Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony for Period III of the 2025/2026 Academic Year on April 22-23. A total of 1,638 graduates were officially conferred degrees, consisting of 1,388 master’s (S2), 83 specialist, 21 subspecialist, and 146 doctoral (S3) graduates. Among them, Istiqomah Katin stood out as the youngest specialist graduate at 28 years and 6 months old, well below the average age of specialist graduates in this period, which reached 34 years and 5 months.
Fondly known as Isti, she hails from Bengkulu and is the first child in her family. From a young age, she demonstrated consistency in her educational journey. She joined acceleration programs during junior and senior high school, then pursued medical education and graduated in 2019. After working as a general practitioner and lecturer at a public university in Bengkulu, Isti decided to continue her studies at the specialist level.
“In 2022, I continued my studies in the pediatric specialist program at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM (FK-KMK UGM),” she said on Friday (Apr.l 24).
Her interest in pediatric health had developed early on. In addition, the need for pediatric specialists in her hometown became a strong motivation in choosing her field of study. During her training, Isti enrolled in a double-degree program, which required her to complete two theses with similar focuses in neonatology, particularly on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Despite earning the distinction of being the youngest graduate, Isti admitted that it was never her primary goal. She chose to focus on progressing through each stage of her education as planned.
“I never expected to become the youngest graduate in this period, and it was never my target from the beginning. I simply tried to stay consistent throughout each process. So when I eventually received this recognition, I felt very grateful,” she said.
Her journey through specialist education was not always easy. She had to adapt to academic demands and clinical responsibilities that were far more intensive. In addition, differences in environment and culture between Bengkulu and Yogyakarta presented their own challenges at the beginning of her studies. However, support from family, colleagues, and supervisors played a crucial role in helping her overcome these challenges.
When asked to share advice and motivation for students completing their studies at UGM, Isti emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency and intention from the outset. Specialist education is a long process that requires resilience and clear goals.
She also reminded students not to focus on becoming the fastest, but to commit to each stage wholeheartedly. Moreover, having a strong support system is equally important throughout the educational journey.
In closing, Isti encouraged students to embrace the process. She believes that every stage of education offers valuable lessons, both academically and personally. She also hopes that future UGM graduates will not only excel academically but also possess integrity, empathy, and a strong sense of social responsibility.
“I hope the knowledge we gain will truly be beneficial and create a positive impact, wherever we are and whatever we do,” she concluded.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Courtesy of Istiqomah Katin