Brick Maker's Child Takes Dreams to Korea Thanks to IISMA
Sahrul Ramadhan's departure from Polmanbabel Electronics Engineering D3 Study Program to Kangwon National University, South Korea on Iisma program 2023
Pangkalpinang, Directorate General of Vocational Studies - Like my back longing for the moon, that's how Sahrul Ramadhan describes his dream of studying abroad. Never mind studying in other people's countries, ever since SMK, Sahrul has had to study hard to get a scholarship. However, efforts never betray the results, through the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA), Sahrul's hard work has finally led him to his dream campus at Kangwon National University (KNU), South Korea. Sahrul is one of the recipients of the 2023 IISMA scholarship (awardee). Together with 12 of his colleagues, Sahrul will go to South Korea to fulfill his dream on Wednesday (30-08-2023). At KNU, Sahrul will study artificial intelligence and software. “Initially, I wanted to go abroad to work. But thank God, my prayers were answered early and instead I went to study," said Sahrul when met at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten before leaving to South Korea.
Sahrul is a D-3 student majoring in Electrical Engineering at the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel). Sahrul does not come from affluent circles. His parents are former construction workers who currently work as brick maker. He is also a recipient of the Smart Indonesia Card ((KIP) College. "So, because my grandmother was sick, my father finally stopped working as a construction worker, continuing to make brick work while looking after my grandmother. We made the bricks ourselves, moulded , then sold them ourselves," said the eldest from two siblings, child of Dedy Effendi and Susila. According to Sahrul, his father had started the brick-making business since he was still in elementary school. To support the family's economy, his mother, Susila, also worked as a baby sitter.
“But after my father made his own bricks, my mother stopped working. Moreover, my mother also has to look after my grandmother whose illness is getting worse," said Sahrul, who said that his father was also a mosque marbot, while he was a teacher to read Al-Qur'an at the TPA. Even though he opened a brick making business, it didn't mean that Sahrul's family had an abundant economy. Because it is still done manually, the bricks only serve the needs of neighbors. Occasionally orders do come in via online or word of mouth. Because of that, Sahrul had to arrange scholarships so he could continue his studies, including going to college. Moreover, Sahrul is the eldest child and still has a younger sibling who also needs education costs. “So, I never dared to ask for money for English lessons. Learning English is self-taught by watching films with subtitles," said Sahrul about his good command of English which helped him get the 2023 IISMA scholarship. Meanwhile, for the TOEIC test, Sahrul relied on a free program from the campus. According to Sahrul, Polman Babel provides financial support for the free TOEIC test for awardee candidates if they can achieve a certain score. "Fortunately I immediately passed," added Sahrul who is also an alumnus of SMKN 2 Pangkalpinang. With the various simplicity of life lived so far that ultimately pushed Sahrul to be determined to change his fate. For him there is no other way to change his destiny than through education. "I want when I return from there, the knowledge I gained at KNU can be continued to make a final project and after graduating I will return there to continue studying or working there," said Sahrul. Meanwhile, Head of IISMA Polman Babel, Dedy Ramdhani Harahap said that this year 5 awardees from Polman Babel will continue their studies in 3 different countries, 1 person to South Korea, 3 people to Taiwan, and 1 person to England. Last year only 2 people managed to qualify, 1 person went to Germany, and the other went to Taiwan. "We hope that these students can make the best use of this opportunity as preparation for their future," said Dedy. (Nan/Cecep)
This news was published on the official website of the Directorate General of Vocational Studies, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology https://vokasi.kemdikbud.go.id/read/b/anak-pencetak-batako-menjemput-mimpi-ke-korea-berkat-iisma on August 30, 2023
