Dati, Supported by Her Grandmother and Sister Until She Became the Best Graduate
Sari Wahdiati, who is more familiarly called Dati, is the best graduate at the 115th ULM Graduation 2023. Dati was born in Sungai Nyiur Village, Babirik District, North Hulu Sungai Regency. When she entered kindergarten, Dati’s parents decided to divorced so that Dati and her older brother and younger brother had to live and grow up with their grandmother.
For Dati, it was her grandmother and her datu who played a big role in her life so that she could achieve her current achievements. Despite being in difficult economic circumstances, Dati has high enthusiasm and fighting power to continue pursuing higher education. It was her grandmother and two siblings who played an important and most instrumental role in helping Dati through her life after her parents divorced, until she finally became a graduate with the highest and almost perfect GPA, namely 3.94.
In order to support Dati and her two siblings in pursuing their education, the grandmother was willing to do various kinds of businesses and odd jobs such as helping neighbors with housework and cutting onion roots. According to her, the achievement now achieved by the best graduate with a GPA of 3.94 is also inseparable from the struggle of his younger brother who gave in to give her older brother the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Early Childhood Education Study Program at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM).
“My younger sibling initially wanted to enter an Islamic boarding school (boarding school) but there was no scholarship, so my grandmother could not encourage my younger sibling to continue their education. “Apart from that, the condition also coincided with me entering college, my younger brother gave up his intention to continue his education for my sake,” she said in an interview.
Apart from that, his younger brother also helped his older brother financially while studying at ULM. Therefore, Dati’s achievement as the Best ULM Graduate at the 115th Graduation Ceremony cannot be separated from the full support of her grandmother and siblings so that she has high motivation so that she can make her family proud, including her parents, grandmother and two siblings.
At the 115th ULM Graduation Ceremony which was held on Tuesday (28/11/2023) at the ULM Banjarbaru Auditorium, Dati had the opportunity to deliver a speech as the best graduate. In her speech, Dati expressed her gratitude and respect to her parents, grandmother and two siblings, especially to her younger sister who had provided both moral and material support to her during her studies.
It is known that Dati is one of the best ULM graduates who studied Bachelor’s degree with the Indonesian Smart College Card (KIP). Dati received educational assistance in the form of tuition fees and living costs from KIP Kuliah so that she could focus more on studying and developing the potential she had while studying. Dati is known to be active not only in lectures but also in campus organizational activities.
As an active and sociable person, Dati said that he also tried to increase his pocket money by helping lecturers with their assignments while he was studying. Therefore, Dati has the dream of becoming a lecturer at Lambung Mangkurat University. Dati also said that while she was at school, she helped her grandmother’s economy by selling various snacks ranging from ice kero and spicy chips.
“I really want to continue my Masters education. “If there are sufficient scholarship opportunities, I will try my best to achieve my dreams,” said Dati.
Dati said that she plans to continue her Masters in PAUD at ULM. Remembering the content of the ULM Rector’s speech, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Alim Bachri, SE., M.Si., at the 115th graduation ceremony, explained that ULM provides educational assistance in the form of fee waivers for the best graduates who continue their studies at ULM.
“For graduates with the title of best graduate who continue their studies at ULM, we will provide free fees for the first semester and a 50% discount in subsequent semesters,” said the Rector.
This policy is stated in the ULM Rector ‘s Decree Number 526/UN8/KU/2023 concerning Providing Relief for Educational Development Contributions for Outstanding Employees and Alumni Who Continue Their Studies at ULM. This policy was issued to encourage students to improve their quality and interest in learning, encourage students’ interest in graduating on time and continuing their studies. Having graduates like Dati is certainly a source of pride for ULM. It is hoped that in the future, Dati, as the best ULM graduate, will be able to continue her education and serve ULM as a lecturer according to her dreams.
