Started from her dream of becoming a doctor to help the people of her hometown, a beautiful girl from Jayapura, Leidy Herlin Rumbiak is now determined to prove the crowd that a Papuan girl can accomplish plenty of achievements. Through Affirmative Program for Higher Education (ADIK), she managed to continue her study in her favourite university, Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya.
Leidy wishes to embrace this opportunity to attain more achievements. She aims nothing less than to give her best performance, both in academics and extracurricular activities. Her top achievement was when she was titled Puteri Indonesia West Papua Province in 2017.
Leidy, who is now a Student of Dentistry in Universitas Airlangga, has been a woman of ambition since high school. Some of her achievements include her participation in Science Olympic on Biology and World Physics Olympiad (WOPHO). Leidy was also an active member of several student organizations, including student body (OSIS), Scout Peace Camp 2013, in addition to her appointment as the bearer of national flag representing West Papua Province in 2013.
Her achievement suggests that the access to education is one of the most essential keys to improve the future of our young generations.
“When I was young, I aspired to be a doctor in Papua. I realized that there were only few doctors in Papua. After I heard about ADIK scholarship, I wanted to prove that a Papuan girl could accomplish her dream and compete to attain the best score in college.” Leidy elaborated in the end of the interview.
Equal Opportunities To Compete
The Government through the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa), the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education has accelerated and equitable education programs for Indigenous Papuan to provide opportunities for children who are experiencing difficulties in accessing higher education. The program aims to bridge the Papuan children who excel academically to continue their education to the higher level.
The achievement of one of the student not only a proof of success in educational equity, it also proves that with the equal opportunity to gain access to good education, Papuan children can also compete.
Director of Student Affairs, Didin Wahidin, also confirmed that Leidy’s story is one example of success that needs to be imitated, that the student is able to divide the time and achievement in academic and non-academic. Didin hopes that outstanding and multitalented students will be able to contribute to their region.
“Leidy is exemplary, but all students must keep in mind, that the main priority which is academic achievement, is not to be ignored. Hopefully, other students will be more motivated to excel, whether in academic or non-academic, and encouraged to develop their soft skill and networking.” Didin said.
Source: Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education
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