IBFL Scholarship Supports ULM Students in Transforming Potential into Achievement
BANJARMASIN – Amanah Bangun Negeri Foundation (YABN)’s commitment to supporting education and youth development in South Kalimantan has once again borne fruit. Through the Indonesia Bright Future Leaders (IBFL) Scholarship program, several students from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) have achieved national success.
In the B-Talk discussion program hosted by the Banjarmasin Post, two ULM IBFL recipients were featured to share their inspiring stories. Naswa Rihadatul Aisy, a Batch 4 IBFL recipient, won a gold medal in the national Economics Olympiad. Meanwhile, Firdaus, a Batch 3 IBFL recipient, won first place and Best Presentation in the national essay competition.
The success stories of these IBFL recipients have received support from alumni, including Ahmad Ridani, who is now part of the scholarship management team at YABN. He expressed pride in witnessing the achievements of current scholarship recipients.
“I feel proud to see the current IBFL recipients exceeding our expectations. I myself entered YABN through a lengthy recruitment process, just like the other applicants. This demonstrates fair competition. I’m happy to be able to contribute to my friends in South Kalimantan through this scholarship program,” said Ridani.
Ridani emphasized that a passion for continuous development is key for prospective IBFL recipients.
“We prioritize students from underprivileged or lower-middle-class families with good academic grades. Achievements are an added value,” he explained.
One interesting story comes from Naswa Rihadatul Aisy, who admitted she didn’t expect to be selected for the scholarship.
“Initially, my name wasn’t on the interview list. However, I was suddenly contacted and added to the group of prospective recipients. I was nervous because this scholarship is so prestigious, but I prepared myself as best as I could in a short time. After going through the interview, psychological assessment, and other tests, I was finally accepted,” said Naswa.
This gold medal-winning student at the Economics Olympiad emphasized the importance of time management. “The key is setting priorities. I still focused on studying, then divided my time between organizations and competitions. I learned that it’s better to try and fail than to never try,” she said.
A similar story comes from Firdaus, who spent a gap year before finally receiving an IBFL scholarship.
“After graduating from vocational high school, I failed to obtain the KIPK (Education and Student Admissions Card). My parents even advised me to stop pursuing college. However, I still tried to apply for the Adaro scholarship and passed after passing the interview and psychological assessment. Out of 100 applicants, I was selected as one of 66 recipients of the third batch of scholarships,” Firdaus recalled.
Now, Firdaus is actively involved in organizations and runs a business while studying.
“Initially, it was difficult to manage my time, but after participating in the Seven Habits training, I learned to live a more structured life by creating a daily and annual schedule. The busy schedule actually encouraged me to be more disciplined,” he added.
The achievements of ULM students through the IBFL program are clear evidence that scholarship support and a fighting spirit can open up significant opportunities for students to develop, excel, and impact society.
