Being able to study in the best universities in the country, such as UGM, of course, a great feeling for most of the high school graduates. The same was what I have ever dreamed when I was in the last year of my secondary education. And luck was going with me, when I passed the exam through PBUD scheme and being admitted to Gadjah Mada University, Faculty of Mathematics Natural Sciences, Department of Mathematics, Department of Computer Science. I can not describe in writing how enthusiastic, happy, nervous, impatient of it when I immediately entered a new period of my learning journey. Yes, the combination of feelings that can not be described by words.
When lecture starts, as a freshman it seems lots of things I need to learn in addition to the course material. Studying away from my parents, learn to manage money, learn to be responsible for myself, with a selection of adult learning. The bottom line for me, the college is a learning process multi-dimensional life. The first two semesters I spent with friends pursue basic subjects, and at that time, many of my friends complained about the amount of stress that the basic course materials have mathematics. They seem to have a lot of hope for study with advanced nan matter of informatics and computing. For me, I rather chose to study all matter quietly, without asking although it also does not understand very well what is the use of the basic sciences. I could find the answer to that question is when I have started to work. After stepping in the second and third years, it started many courses with a choice of diverse materials.
Campus, library, laboratories and a boarding house are four settings that dominate my life at that time. The results are disappointing. GPA that I got was never less than 3.5. At least, my parents at home can calm smile each time got a copy of the results of study one semester. At least, they can rest easy that their children learn.…
A few days of graduation, I get a letter from PT. Freeport Indonesia that is stating that I passed the management trainee program in company with work sites in Irian Jaya. I was undergoing a new phase of my life, switching from students into workers. In March 1998, I went to Irian along with 34 other management trainee participants from all over Indonesia. There are some fellow alumni of UGM, who became a management trainee as my generation. My first placement was as a management trainee in the environmental department. Rather strange indeed. I was a graduate of Mathematics-Computer Science but was assigned to help the department in charge of the environment. The first six months, my job is to implement a laboratory information system. Working closely with colleagues from the MIS department, I am implementing a new system purchased at the same duty to operate it. Many of the things I learned in the six months, more than just implementation of information systems but also about the project organization, change management and many more. …
At the end of 2000, I began to think of my desire and my priorities again. I want to learn more. God answered my prayer and desire when I got a scholarship to take a master’s program at the University of New South Wales Australia. In less than one and a half years I managed to finish my master’s program in engineering science with honors. In 2002, I returned to Indonesia and tried to pursue a job that is more related to Information Technology. Within two years from 2002 to 2004, I worked in two IT companies: Sigma and Fujitsu as a system analyst and solution architect. Early 2004 I went back to work in the mining world by joining in Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Copper and Gold Mining company operating in West Nusa Tenggara. Approximately six months I worked at Newmont before I moved to the enterprise where I work today: PT Vale Indonesia (or formerly known as PT. Inco), a company mining and processing of nickel that is part of Vale global second largest mining company in this world. Vale, as my personal passion and aspiration paired with the culture and values of the company. Slowly I climbed the career ladder in a company that upholds the value of “the people’s values”. In 2005, one year after I joined the company I get a chance to occupy a position of manager in the IT department.
When I try to recall my journey from the beginning, I started attending college labeled rural campus, when I was confused about what classes should I choose when I had to go to the Papua to start my career, I do not believe that I could to the point where I am now. I believe that God plays a role and work to support me, and I believe that has also been striving for excellence. This achievement is the fruit of hard work and totality. The fruit of patience and commitment. The fruit of a series of decisions that I take. It is a small piece of my story, my learning process that I’ve passed. I still have much to learn. The process was never completed. There are still a lot of hope and desire that I want to achieve personally and professionally…
For friends who are still studying or just graduated, do not feel “mediocre” for being a graduate of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, or feel smaller than the graduates of the universities. Give the best to them and expand horizons with insight the various ways that you can get. I am always proud to introduce itself in both national forum or international that I was a graduate of the Department of Mathematics UGM. It is a part of my identity, which defines who I am today. There is no limit in the career you may want to explore the potential for yourselves and do not put yourself in a box of fine job. Just because you graduated from mathematics, chemistry, physics then you are reluctant to learn other subjects. Do not think that your job opportunities are limited. What you study in the university, all the fundamental logic is placed, it is a precious capital to be whatever you want. I have already undergone the process, and there are still many things I want to do, there is still a long journey, and I’m sure that I can achieve it. I am still so excited, nervous and willing to learn, like when I first set foot on UGM campus.
