"Dream, Believe, and Make it Happen." This jargon from a legendary Indonesian singer has always been the anchor in every step of my life. My name is Ishak Iskandar, often called Ishkan, proudly hailing from Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi. Born and raised in a financially underprivileged family where higher education was viewed as an unreachable "luxury," this phrase was never just sweet words to me. It cultivated a deep conviction that what is meant for you by the Almighty will never pass you by.

My journey to becoming a 2024 LPDP scholarship awardee was a true testament to that dream and anything but an overnight success. I first applied for the LPDP scholarship in 2013. It took 11 years of relentless effort, countless rejections, and unwavering patience before I was finally selected in 2024. Watching my peers achieve their academic dreams while I was still fighting just to reach the starting line was a profound test of endurance. However, this long wait built a foundation of resilience and an unbreakable mental fortitude that I carried with me when I finally set foot in Java to begin my postgraduate studies. Today, I stand proud having just completed my Yudisium, earning my Master of Education (M.Pd.) with a perfect GPA of 4.00 (Summa Cumlaude). This achievement is not a coincidence; it is the fruit of a long process filled with consistency, discipline, and endless hard work.
Choosing the Master of English Language Education program at the Faculty of Languages, Arts, and Culture (FBSB) at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) was the best decision to sharpen my research skills and expand my professional network. Yet, studying at UNY brought its own extreme tests of endurance. As part of the "sandwich generation," I had to perfectly balance three highly demanding roles: acting as the financial backbone of my family, working professionally as an English teacher (at various course institutions and private tutoring across Makassar, Balikpapan, and Samarinda), and maintaining my academic performance as a postgraduate student. Balancing family responsibilities, teaching duties, and the demands of my thesis research which focused on English Language Teaching (ELT) innovations, specifically integrating Human-centric assessment to Digital-centric assessment which required extraordinary time management and stamina.

Despite the crushing weight of these roles, my success in earning a perfect 4.00 GPA was driven by consistent principles applied throughout my time at UNY:

• Strict Discipline with Timelines and Maintaining Curiosity: The ultimate key to time management is strictly adhering to a self-made daily timeline. Every assignment, teaching schedule, and research target was clearly mapped out. Furthermore, I constantly nurtured a high intellectual curiosity toward every course material, ensuring that the learning process felt like a necessity rather than a burden.
• Total Dedication and Proactivity in Class: I always strove for excellence during the teaching and learning process. I made sure to be an active student in every discussion, dared to express my ideas, and maintained the highest quality standards for every assignment I submitted.
• Commitment to the Principle "Arrive with Knowledge, Return to Make an Impact": This principle sparked a strong intrinsic motivation. I came to UNY carrying a massive dream, and I knew I had to return to my hometown with the best possible results. The focus was never just about grades on paper, but how the research and pedagogical knowledge I gained could be implemented in the real world.

Now, having crossed this ultimate academic finish line, it merely marks a new starting line for my dedication. Armed with a solid academic foundation from UNY and the resilient spirit of an LPDP awardee, my immediate focus is to seek broad opportunities to contribute, teach, and make a tangible, positive impact on the quality of English education in society. Beyond teaching, my journey of learning does not stop here. My next major step is to pursue my Ph.D. (S3) at a top-tier university abroad, and I am determined to achieve this by hunting for another scholarship. I arrived with a dream, and I will continue to believe and make it happen.

For my peers who are currently pursuing or planning to pursue a Master's degree, especially within the FBSB UNY community, please know that achieving a 4.00 GPA is not an impossible feat. The key lies in finding harmony between academic ambition and a sincere intention to develop knowledge. Treat every assignment and course research as a tangible stepping stone to create impactful work, rather than merely an obligation to cross off credit hours. Build proactive and collaborative communication with your academic supervisors, just as I am profoundly grateful for the exceptional guidance I received from Dr. Jamilah while completing my thesis and constantly ignite critical discussions with your peers. Remain persistent and consistent; if I who started far behind the starting line with all my limitations, could make it happen, I am absolutely certain that you can too. Dream, Believe, and Make it Happen

By: Ishak Iskandar