Daughter of An Old Farmer Becomes the Best Graduate of the Faculty
Four years ago, Siti Chalimah, student of SMAN 1 Parakan, Temanggung, Central Java made her first step into Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). “I chose IPB as my first choice during National Selection of State Universities (SNMPTN), because IPB is one of the universities that provide access for Bidikmisi scholarship with many quotas. I am the second child and have 2 other siblings. My parents and my older sibling didn’t finish elementary school (SD). My father is a farmer who owns a 800 square metres-rice field and 500 square metres-land. Those are my family’s inheritance that are passed over generations,” said Siti.
According to Siti, everyday she saw both of her parents cultivating the field and the land, despite their old ages. However, the yield is only enough to feed the family.
“During tobacco season, the field and land are planted by tobacco. In a year, the field is harvested three times. Twice planted by rice, once by tobacco. The land itself is planted by corn twice and tobacco once in a year. My parents’ income is below 1 million rupiah per month. This motivated me to study agriculture. I hope that I can help maximizing the cultivation of my family’s field and land. Besides that, vegetables and fruits are my favorite foods. Because of that, I chose Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,” said the Best Graduate of Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) with GPA of 3,88.
When studying in IPB Siti got the Bidikmisi scholarship since the first semester until the eighth semester. “When I was in high school, I got scholarship from Djarum Foundation to cover my expenses for three years, alhamdulillah,” said Siti, who was also the Second Best Graduate of SMAN 1 Parakan.
The main challenge during her study in IPB is how to earn money to pay for living cost in Bogor. “Since I study in Bogor I stopped asking for allowance to my parents. Even though my tuition for 4 years had been paid by Bidikmisi, and I had been given allowance by Bidikmisi also, it can’t be denied that it couldn’t cover the cost of living in Bogor. Since my first year, I had been selling food in dormitory and to my classmates. During my third year, I had a part time job as a teacher in a tutoring institution near campus. At 2016 I managed to start my own tutoring business and alhamdulillah, with that business I can cover my living cost in Bogor and can send some of my money to my parents each month,” said Siti. The business was named Bimbel Go Asrama, and targets first year students of IPB.
Besides her business, Siti was also active in organizations. “During my college years I participated as a Staff of Fundraising Division of BEM Faperta Sapa Tani Cabinet (2015/2016) and Staff of Agripreneur Division of BEM Faperta Asa Karya Cabinet (2016/2017). I was also chosen as once of the participants in Program Mahasiswa Wirausaha (PMW) 2018,” she said.
After graduating Siti plans to seek for work experience for around three years. Afterwards, she wants to develop her tutoring business. She aspires to not be a worker, but instead an entrepreneur that can provide jobs for people. Siti graduated at Wednesday, December 12, 2018 in IPB Dramaga campus. (Ard)
