SLEMAN - Graduation event is usually a special moment for graduates and is attended by parents. Similarly, Andi Kurniawan, one of the UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta graduates, graduated on Saturday (12/10). This Communication Department student successfully completed his study with a GPA of 3.76.

When being graduated in WR Supratman UPNVY Auditorium Building, Andi was not accompanied by both parents. His father died s when he was 3 years old. Meanwhile, the mother died when Andi was in class 2 of high school.

"I was escorted by my aunt and sister. My aunt has helped me since my parents died", said the man who was born in Klaten, 13 September 1995.

Andi said that his mother took care of all his needs and his two older siblings’ since his father died. Yet, since his mother was sick, he has lived independently.

"Before dying, my mother had a stroke. At that time, I took care of her because my mother could not do anything”, he said,

Andi said he had to be absent from school for 3 months to care of his mother. At that time, he was desperate to be able to continue his education at SMK Putra Tama Bantul.

 "Thank God, the school still gave me an opportunity to continue my study because they understood my condition."

After the mother died, Andi was then adopted by his neighbor. Again, the sad news approached Andi. The adoptive father died two years after his mother died.

"At that time, I was looking for a university. My adopted father died. I was very sad being left by the dear ones in close proximity. ”

The death of his adoptive father did not make him despair to continue to the lecture bench. Having his remaining savings from his remaining pocket money, he was determined to apply to the college.

At that time, he was also hired to work in one of the bookstores in Yogyakarta. The salary he earned was used to pay his life expenses every month.

"I did't want to bother my family, so I had to be able to be independent. What I thought about was how I could buy food for today, for tomorrow.

Luckily, when he was accepted at UPNVY, Andi got a Single Tuition Fee (UKT) for Class 1 of Rp. 500 thousand per semester. In the second semester, he then received a Bidikmisi scholarship so that the tuition wasfree. 

Andi admitted, even though he received living expenses from the Bidikmisi program, it was not sufficient, so he continued to work.

"My working hours were at noon, so I went to work after the study. Yet, because of more and more college assignments, I decided to leave the work", he said.

He admitted that during his time as a student, he could not participate in organizations or activities on campus because he was busy working.

"My activities were going to college, going home, delivering goods, and then selling them. So, I didn't have time to participate in the activities on campus", he said.

After leaving work, Andi then tried his luck by becoming a shoe reseller. He sold shoes through online.

Initially, it was recognized that Andi was very difficult to give it a market. In fact he could only sell two pairs of shoes for 2 months.

"Then I tried to find a shoe manufacturer with a new model and a cheaper price. Finally, in the third month I got a decent profit”, he said.

Andi tried to bring his shoes to the campus when he was in college. He tried offering his shoe products to his college friends.

"I brought 5 boxes of shoes when I went to college. There were friends who asked around and bought them. Then, my shoe products became well-known", said Andi, who is now a radio broadcaster in Yogyakarta.

Earning money from the shoes sale that he saved, Andi encouraged himself to open a stall. He rented a vacant land in front of his boarding house to build a semi-permanent building as a stall.

 "Alhamdulillah, having this shoe business, I could finish college. Sometimes I envy friends who could be activists or were busy with campus activities, but I coudn't be like them", he said.

Andi realizes that life is indeed not easy. It takes struggle and hard work, so he advises us to always be grateful.

"I believe everyone has their own way. Any obstacle should not be used as an excuse to despair, let alone, give up because God has a beautiful plan”, he said. (wwj / PR)