On Purpose and Timing: a Journey of Continuous Learning

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Nabila Satwikawati

Back in 2020, during the COVID pandemic, I convinced myself to continue my studies after working for several years in the construction industry. In fact, I probably should have written this post years ago. I remember a few people once approached me and asked me to write about scholarship hunting and the application process, sorry that I’m only writing it now.

Here, I won’t go into the technical details of the process. It has been years, and I know regulation and process have changed. Instead, I want to share a more general reflection on studying and scholarships. Take this as a tiny way of giving back to society, from my perspective as a scholarship awardee.

Tesselating Glass Roof at British Museum

Find your why
This simple sentence reminds us of Simon Sinek’s book (well, I highly recommend this one) but more importantly, it captures the key idea. It also applies not only to continuing your studies, but to life decisions in general.

Looking back, I actually wanted to pursue a master’s degree right after finishing my bachelor’s in Bandung. However, during my final year, my dad reminded me that gaining industry experience first might be more valuable. I vividly remember we had a heated discussion during lunch whether working first or immediately continuing my study.

At the end I know that, there is no right or wrong answer to whether you should work first or immediately pursue a master’s degree after graduating. It really depends on what you want to do in the future. In my case, I wanted to work in the industry, so I needed a clear reason why I should pursue a master’s degree. Like what knowledge are really needed or what exactly what I wanna do in this industry. While working, I kept searching for my why until I finally found it.

We All Got Our Own Timing
How long does it take to find your why? It depends. Once you find it, just do it. For me, it took five years. Some of my friends found theirs sooner, others took longer. Stop comparing yourself to others. We all have our own timelines. Just trust your instincts, and keep going. I believe we will know when it’s our time.

Know your Vision and Goals
Pursuing further study is not the final destination, it’s a step toward something else. Besides understanding your why, you also need to know what you want to do after you finish. This doesn’t mean you need to secure a job in advance. But at the very least, you should have an idea of how you want to use the knowledge and perspective you gain from your studies.

Do Your Research and Lock In.
There are countless options out there: countries, universities, majors, and scholarships. Do your research. Each university has its own admission requirements, and each scholarship got its own selection process. Find what aligns with your why and your long-term goals, then commit to it. The preparation will naturally follow the choices you make, so before committing, make sure you truly understand them first

Be Persistent
Once you decide to continue your study (in my case pursuing a master’s degree) especially with a scholarship, you need to fully commit. There is no instant method. I had to prepare deliberately and patiently. Coming from a non-English-speaking country, I needed to prepare for English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL as well. That meant studying after work, sacrificing some Netflix nights. Everything takes time. Trust the process.

In my humble opinion, once you really understand these steps, you will go through the journey with much more confidence. For me, pursuing a scholarship became a journey of self-discovery. I wasn’t in a rush. I spent five years working in the industry, gaining experience and understanding myself better.

During those years, my path shifted several times: from geotechnical engineering, to quantity surveying, then to Building Information Modeling. It was there that I found my passion and eventually decided to pursue a master’s degree in digital engineering management. Even after finishing my studies, my career direction continued to evolve. I’ve learned to see every shift as a learning opportunity.

To those who want to pursue studies abroad: what I gained was not only knowledge, but also perspective, a broader one. for me, wherever we are, we should keep learning.

So keep seeking knowledge, wherever life takes you.
Cheers

2025 Reflection: A Year of Redefining

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Nabila Satwikawati

At the end of 2024, a rather busy year filled with 8-to-5 (or 8-to-8 again) workdays, short courses, business trips, and conferences, I remember joking with my colleagues that I wouldn’t take on too many side activities in 2025. After all the fun and chaos of 2024, I promised myself that 2025 would be a chill and slow year.

But then 2025 came with an unexpected twist, one that completely redefined my so-called “chill year.” What was meant to be slow quickly turned into another roller coaster ride. Thrilling. But also fun. I took the challenge and chose to enjoy the ride anyway. The rest of 2025 became a path I had never crossed my mind before.

I had to adapt to unfamiliar ground, build new connections, and learn new skills. Rather than leaving my comfort zone, I chose to expand it. It wasn’t always comfortable, but as long as there was something to learn, I embraced it.

Through all the changes, some things remained constant: coffee, reading, and painting. When everything else shifted, these small constants kept me steady, grounding me and quietly reminding me that we are more than our roles.

What I Learned in 2025

1. It’s okay to let go of a plan and enjoy the ride anyway.
My “slow year” turned into a roller coaster almost instantly and I decided to ride it anyway. Chasing the thrill, and yes, the occasional adrenaline rush. I learned that plans are useful, but they shouldn’t be rigid. A bit of flexibility allowed me to stay open, present, and even enjoy paths I never planned to take.

2. We always need to embrace a beginner’s mindset.
Becoming a beginner once again reminded me that there is still so much to learn and that growth often begins with humility. I now try to see myself as a work in progress: a continuous learner, a student of life.

3. Hobbies are anchors when everything shifts.
When routines and expectations changed, coffee, painting, and reading remained constant. They grounded me, gave me space to think, and helped me to keep going.

4. Don’t joke too much with colleagues… the universe might be listening. (kidding)
What I really learned is to be more mindful of the words I throw, even casually. Sometimes jokes have a funny way of turning into reality or at least into unexpected twists.

2025 didn’t unfold the way I planned, but perhaps that was the lesson. Not every year is meant to be predictable and that’s where the fun is.

Some years teach us how to move fast.
Some years teach us how to slow down (or, ironically, move even faster).

For all the rides, thrills, and adrenaline rushes 2025 offered me, I’m deeply grateful. What felt like unfamiliar ground at first slowly became a space for growth. For me, 2025 will always be a year of redefining.

Hola from a beginner, once more.
Let’s ride into 2026 and embrace the unexpected.

Travelling Through Bridges

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

If I could travel back and ask my senior high school self whether I would choose civil engineering again, the answer would still be a solid yes. No doubt about it.

Back in high school, we once had an assignment to develop a simple website. I named mine Constructio which means construction in Latin. Sadly the free domain for the website is gone now, so I can’t open it anymore. On that little website, I wrote a few short articles about skyscrapers and bridges. One of them was about Tower Bridge. Little did I know, it would become a tiny hint of the path I was about to take years later.

Fast forward to today, as a civil engineer, I’ve developed a unique habit whenever I travel: I always look for bridges. For me, bridges are not just structures; they are pieces of engineering and art combined. When I look at them, not only admiring their structure complexity and beauty, I also think about the history behind it. Lately, capturing bridges through my lens has become one of my favorite parts of traveling.

Here are some of my favorite bridges I’ve captured so far, arranged from the oldest to the most recent to show how bridge has evolved over time

Charles Bridge (Karluv most), Prague, Czech Republic. Completed in 1357, this is the oldest bridge I’ve ever visited so far. A timeless stone arch bridge, and definitely one of my all-time favorites. Walking across it feels like stepping into a medieval era. I visited the bridge during a summer break and spent hours both crossing it and admiring it from afar. Influenced by Gothic architecture and it is considered as one of masterpieces of medieval engineering

Pulteney Bridge, Bath, UK. I visited this bridge in autumn, and Bath during that season is definitely my favorite. I really recommend to visit this city during autumn. Pulteney Bridge is a stone arch bridge over the River Avon in Bath. Built in 1769, this bridge is really beautiful with row of shops which built along the deck.

Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge, UK. A beautiful pedestrian bridge at St John’s College, Cambridge. It’s named bridge of sighs because of its resemblance to the Venetian bridge of sighs in Venice, Italy. This Gothic style bridge which finished in 1831, is spanning over the River Cam. Its beauty is best admired while punting along the River Cam.

Westminster Bridge, London, UK. The current bridge is a cast iron arch bridge, standing proudly next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. It offers one of the best views of London’s landmarks. Even Monet and Canaletto capture the beauty of the bridge through their painting. Actually, the first bridge, which is a stone arch bridge, is built around 1750. However, the bridge is subsiding badly and rebuilt in 1862 as a cast iron arch bridge.

Tower Bridge, London, UK. Well, it is definitely my most favorite bridge in the world. Long before I studied in London, I had already written about it in that high school assignment. Years later, the first place I went to when I arrived in London was, of course, Tower Bridge. Completed in 1894, the Tower Bridge is a combination of suspension and bascule bridge. When visiting London, you should look for its lift time, so you can see how wonderful this bridge when lifting its deck.

Bridge of Sighs, Oxford, UK. Quite similar in concept to Cambridge’s, but instead of crossing a river, this one crosses a road connecting two parts of Hertford College in Oxford. Finished in 1914, with its beautiful architecture, besides Radcliffe Camera, this bridge is one of the popular photo spots in Oxford as well.

Jiefang Bridge, Tianjin, China. I saw this steel truss bascule bridge during a river cruise in Tianjin. A blend of steel truss structure and bascule system. I saw it during night and the lights are just so fascinating highlighting the complexity of its structure. This bridge is finished in 1927.

Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia. A massive steel arch bridge which built in 1932, famously known as the widest long-span bridge in the world. I really like it when passing this bridge and see the steel structure above me. You can enjoy the view of this bridge close and afar, especially from the sydney opera house area.

Story Bridge, Brisbane, Australia. A steel cantilever truss bridge finished in 1940. I was in awe when I saw the details of its truss structure up close. Visiting it at night was really worth it, I even try to capture the beauty if it through my painting.

London Bridge, London, UK. I think most of us already familiar with the name, because of our childhood song. However, the current bridge which finished in 1973 is a prestressed concrete structure, simple yet play significant role for the traffic.

Millennium Bridge, London, UK. A sleek steel suspension pedestrian bridge that leads you straight to Tate Modern. I like the modern design of it, but it’s said when the bridge just finished in 2000, it is quite wobbly.

MediaCityUK Footbridge, Salford, UK. A modern cable-stayed pedestrian bridge built in 2011 with a striking design. the bridge has asymmetric twisted deck, where a boat can pass through it.

3D-Printed Bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands. This bridge is second on my list after Van Gogh museum when I visited Amsterdam. What makes this bridge interesting is because it’s the world’s first fully 3D-printed steel bridge. This 3D-printed steel bridge is completed in 2021. As a civil engineer which passionate with digital technology this bridge show a glimpse into the future of construction technology.

Every bridge I’ve visited tells a different story. Some are centuries old, while others are relatively new. Some are carrying rich history and some are showcasing the latest technology. But all of them remind me that a bridge is more than just a structure, it is a fusion of engineering and art. Above that, bridges feel like pathway of civilization which connecting people and places that help communities grow.

Embracing the Beginner’s Mind

Posted on August 10, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

About a week ago, I joined a workshop session where I encountered a part that really really struck me, one single sentence that still lingers in my mind about how we should embrace the beginner’s mind. Exactly on that time, I was in the middle of a change, stepping into a field I had never truly understood before. What I did know was that we should always be lifelong learners, that life is a continuous journey of learning. From a baby learning to crawl, to a teenager trying to find their place in the world, and even when we begin to contemplate our purpose.

Looking back, there were several times I was in a position where I was pushed to learn new skills. Graduated as a civil engineer with a geotechnical engineering focus, I start my career as an engineer where I work with geotechnical works. Only a few months later, I was assigned to another project where I was involved in project management tasks like scheduling and quantity surveying. Not long after, I was assigned to work with BIM, something completely new to me at the time. I learned from scratch, and that was when I discovered my passion for digital construction. I knew this was the future of the construction industry. I even pursued a master’s degree in Digital Engineering Management. After completing my studies in 2022, I continued my career in that field and had found my comfort zone. Then suddenly, I was asked to change fields once again. Like most of sudden changes, the transition brought discomfort, but it also reminded me that we must embrace it.

Back to the concept of the beginner’s mind, although I have always believed in continuous learning, I had never heard of this beginner’s mind concept before. But when I heard it in the workshop that day, I knew it was the missing piece to complement my belief in lifelong learning. The concept, introduced by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki. He said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

I think this approach helps us stay humble. It reminds us that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. It encourages us to approach something new with fresh eyes, free from the weight of prior assumptions. It reminds me of how children, like my niece and nephew, are naturally good at this. They get excited about so many things, ask endless questions, and got curious in the simplest moments. That boundless curiosity, constantly asking “why” and “how”, fuels a willingness to learn. With this approach, the joy of learning something new helps us trust the process without heavy expectations and without fear of the result.

A Vase of Peonies (2025), Pastel on Paper

Just few months ago, I started painting again with my favorite childhood medium, just as I once did, with pure joy, free from rules, fear of mistakes, or pressure to make something “good.” I just realized now that this was the essence of the beginner’s mind. One thing I will keep in mind is that we should always see ourselves as a work in progress, a continuous learner, a lifelong student of life. So, always approach with beginner’s mind.

Fifteen Years, Five Phases, One Speech That Stayed

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

If there’s one video I’d recommend everyone to watch, it’s Steve Jobs’ commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005

I’ve watched it at different points in my life: during high school, university, the early days of my career, while pursuing my Master’s degree, and now, again, in the midst of change. Each time, a different part resonates with me.

Seventeen years since it was first posted, I still find myself returning to it, revisiting old memories and reminding myself why I started.

I first watched it in 2010, back when I was a high school student in Bogor, in my teenage phase, full of dreams, and determined to get into my dream university. One line spoke to me:
“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
That was the moment I decided to pursue a degree in civil engineering, driven by my fascination with buildings and bridges, my love for Lego, and interest in physics.

In 2014, I watched it again during my final year at university in Bandung, struggling to complete my thesis. Another line stayed with me:
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
It reminded me to hold onto the joy in what I was doing, even during the most stressful and challenging moments.

Then came 2020. The world was hit by COVID, and I had already spent a few years working in the construction industry. At that time, this part hit me hard:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
It pushed me to chase one of my lifelong dreams, to study abroad and see the world from a different perspective.

In 2022, I was in London, once again a student, this time working on my Master’s dissertation. I watched the speech again.
This time, a different line resonated deeply:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
A simple but powerful reminder to pause and reflect on my journey.

Now in 2025, in the midst of yet another transition, I revisit it once more. It’s still one of the most powerful speeches I’ve ever heard. And this line now speaks to me the most:
“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”
A reminder to keep learning, embrace change, and hold onto the beginner’s mindset, no matter how far you’ve come.

Maybe one day, in the future, I’ll find myself watching this speech again, during another turning point, another leap of faith, another chapter of growth. It has quietly accompanied me through every phase of my journey so far, like an old friend offering timeless wisdom, reminding me to trust the process, to stay curious, and to keep moving forward.

However, above all those lines, these verses from the Qur’an remain the most grounding and powerful reminder for me:

“So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.”
— Surah Al-Insyirah (94:7–8)

A gentle yet profound message: to stay anchored in faith and keep going.

Conversations at the Round Table: Rediscovering Our Own Heritage

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

If you’re sitting at a round table, having lunch or dinner with foreign partners, and suddenly the conversation shifts to culture, what would you say about your culture? About Indonesia for example? This happened to me once, I was unexpectedly given the floor to talk about my culture. But instead of thinking about Indonesia’s rich cultures and traditions, my mind went blank for a moment, my mind was wired for topics like digitalization in construction, the development of our new capital city, the projects my company is involved in, and the construction industry in general. I wasn’t prepared to talk about my culture, but I had to say something. So, I briefly mentioned about our diverse cuisine, then how Indonesia had so many island which I don’t really remember the number, and jumped to talk about our precious komodo dragon. I knew I was only scratching the surface.

At that moment, I realized that my understanding of Indonesia and even my own culture was quite shallow. Maybe it’s already ingrained in me, but I couldn’t articulate it well. Since then, I’ve wanted to deepen my knowledge of Indonesian culture so that next time, I can introduce my country to a foreign partner better.

So, next time what should I say when introducing Indonesia culture to my foreign business partners or connection?

First, I’d talk about our cuisine. Indonesia has incredibly diverse dishes, such as rendang, bakso, sate, soto, and gado-gado. We also have a strong street food culture, including my favorites like martabak and gorengan. Spices absolutely play a key role in our food, shaping the bold flavors we are familiar with. We also have our dining tradition, meals are often served family-style, where dishes are shared, and in some regions, eating with our hands is also common.

Beyond cuisine, Indonesia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with over 17,000 islands and more than 300 ethnic groups. In terms of traditional arts, we have batik and wayang puppetry, both recognized by UNESCO as part of Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage.

As a coffee lover, I would also talk about Indonesia’s rich coffee culture. Indonesia produces a variety of coffee, from Robusta to Arabica, with each region offering its own unique flavors. Some well-known varieties include Sidikalang from Sumatra, Ijen from Java, Kintamani from Bali, Toraja from Sulawesi, and Bajawa from Nusa Tenggara. A traditional way to enjoy coffee here is kopi tubruk, a simple yet strong Indonesian brewed coffee. Ah maybe next time I’m gonna write about how we enjoy our kopi here in Indo.

At the end, Indonesia is also home to the largest tropical rainforest in Southeast Asia, a habitat for unique wildlife such as orangutans and Komodo dragons. Indonesia offers countless breathtaking destinations, but some must-visit places based on my experience include Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali, and Komodo Island.

“Forest Stream” 2024. I painted this stream near to Gerojokan Sewu, Surakata

Well that round table experience made me realize how important it is to be able to represent my own culture confidently. Moreover, my late grandfather was an Indonesian literature lecturer, and he had extensive knowledge of Indonesian literature and Javanese culture. I should have had more discussions with my grandpa back then.

2024 Reflection: Learning, Gratitude and Growth

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

It’s been quite a while since my last post, more than two years, to be exact. Every year, I promise myself to write more, but I haven’t managed to fulfill that promise. Typical me, lol. Hopefully, this year will be different.

For me, new year is always a time for contemplation and reflection. Classic, but it’s also the perfect moment to set resolutions, though I’ll keep those private. Instead, I want to share some reflections from the past year. Since I’ve always treated this blog as a journal, a Daydreamer’s Journal since day one, I hope this post can serve as a reminder for my future self. Up to this point, alhamdulillah, we’ve done well and have much to be grateful for.

2024: A Year of Challenges and Opportunities

2024 was full of lessons; every moment spent, opportunity seized, connection made, and even every mistake offered something to learn. Every experience had something to teach me. One thing I love about being Muslim is how we’re always encouraged to see the good in everything. There is always hikmah behind everything. If something goes well, we express shukr (gratitude). If things don’t go as planned, we reflect, learn, and grow. Nothing is ever truly wasted, every challenge is either a test or a stepping stone.

So, here’s what I learned from last year…

Opportunities can come from anywhere, embrace them.
One Monday morning on my way to work, a friend told me about a short course opportunity in Australia. Although the deadline was only three days away, I managed to complete the application, and I got accepted! Alhamdulillah. That opportunity didn’t just give me new knowledge and perspective; it introduced me to one of the most supportive networks I’ve ever been part of. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best chances come unexpectedly, and saying yes, even when the odds feel slim, can lead to something amazing.
Manage the expectation and always have backup plans .
Last year, I had the chance to handle one of my company’s event, that outside my usual expertise. I worked with an event organizer, but things didn’t go exactly as planned. While it wasn’t perfect, the attendees were happy, and the event was still a success. That experience taught me an important lesson: when handling something beyond my expertise, it’s crucial to seek help from the right people, but also to manage expectations and have backup plans. No matter how much we prepare, things can still go wrong. It’s impossible to please everyone, so the best approach is to calculate risks, and adapt as needed. Mistakes will happen, but as long as we learn from them, they become valuable stepping stones for doing better next time.
Spend more time with those who matter most.
Family, friends, or anyone I try to make time for them. Alhamdulillah, I got to spend more time with my parents and family last year, even traveling together. Life moves fast, and we never know how much time we have with our loved ones. The same goes for friendships and networks. I’ve made an effort to rekindle old friendships, broaden my network, and stay in touch. Maintaining these relationships matters for me. We never know how a single conversation can bring new perspectives, opportunities, or simply the comfort.
Learn more about my culture.
During a business trip to China, I often had lunch or dinner at a round table, sharing stories about our cultures and customs. That’s when it hit me, I barely knew how to explain my own Indonesian culture. I struggled to find the right words, not because I wasn’t proud of it, but because my understanding was so shallow. It made me realize how important it is to truly know my own roots, not just for myself but also to share them with others. Now, I want to learn more about Indonesia’s rich culture and heritage.
Stay active.
At the start of last year, I was pretty active and managed to work out regularly. But as work got busier, keeping up with my workout routine became a struggle. When my schedule is normal, it’s easy to stay consistent, but during hectic times, it always seems to be the first thing to go. Looking back, I’ve realized that health isn’t something I can put on the back burner. So, I want to make it my priority, be more active, and fix my lifestyle for the long run.
Rediscover old hobbies.
Painting always helps lift my mood, and I’ve realized how important it is to have hobbies that bring you joy. For me, one of those hobbies is painting. I’ve always loved impressionism, artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, Pissarro, and Sisley have always inspired me. Their use of color and light just speaks to me, and without even realizing it, my style has shifted towards impressionism too. I love how it lets me express myself.
Last year, I picked up painting again and went back to my childhood favorite medium: pastels. It’s been a great way to unwind and stay connected to my creative side.
Give back to the community.
When the opportunity to give back to the community came up last year through CSR activities, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. My team and I spent a few days at a university in Kalimantan, teaching undergrad students about our field of expertise in the construction industry. It was such a rewarding experience to share our knowledge with the next generation and see their enthusiasm. Giving back like this not only helps others but also reminds me of how much we’ve learned and how we can use that to make a positive impact.

Through these experiences, I’ve come to realize that life is a journey, unfolding in chapters, each with its own lessons and opportunities for growth. 2024 was one of those chapters, filled with moments of learning, gratitude, and personal growth.

A seagull flying, Brighton Beach Melbourne

Adios 2024. Xièxiè.

Prelude

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Nabila Satwikawati

Hi There! It’s almost August, a few months left before I’m going back to Indonesia. I really cherish my time here, took a sabbatical leave to continue my study is one of the best decision in my life. Now I’m still working on my dissertation. Wish me luck.

I’ll write more frequently after I submit my dissertation. Next I think I’m going to write about my coffee tours. I got several coffee shops recommendation here in London and UK in general. I also visit several amazing cities in Europe last week for coffee tours. Not only about coffee, I’m going to start make a brief review again about book that I read. I read quite lot of books here.

Well, I also think I’m gonna write more about digitalisation in the construction industry. So see you on the next post.

Sekilas Tentang Proses LPDP

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Nabila Satwikawati

Hi, ini sebetulnya draft lama yang belum sempat gue selesaiin dari berbulan-bulan lalu, gue mau menunaikan janji gue untuk nulis tentang beasiswa LPDP. Sorry banget baru sempat nulis nih. Well, jadi alhamdulillah gue menjadi salah satu awardee LPDP per bulan Juli 2021 lalu dan gue mau sedikit share tentang aplikasi beasiswa ini

Jadi secara singkatnya, gue daftar LPDP akhir Mei 2021, terus seleksi beberapa tahap, akhir Juli pengumuman dan September gue berangkat ke London. Untuk pengalaman gue ini prosesnya cepet banget dan persiapannya juga super hectic karena gue juga anak kantoran. Oh iya karena kondisinya masih pandemi semua seleksi dilakukan secara daring. Untuk sedikit backgroud, gue udah cukup lama lulus S1 dan setelah lulus gue langsung kerja di salah satu BUMN konstruksi selama beberapa tahun untuk cari pengalaman.

Well, langsung aja nih. Jadi apa sih yang paling penting buat persiapan beasiswa LPDP? Kalau menurut gue yang paling penting adalah niat. LPDP bukan tujuan akhir kita, tapi alasan kita kenapa mau lanjut sekolah dan nantinya mau ngapain setelah lulus yang paling penting. Kalau tujuan konkretnya udah kepegang insyaAllah semakin mulus lah ngejalanin proses seleksinya. Karena menurut gue terkait essay dan tahapan wawancara berputar disitu2 aja.

LPDP sendiri buka banyak jalur, lebih lengkapnya bisa cek di web LPDP, disitu lengkap banget semua informasinya ada. Kebetulan gue kemarin ambil yang jalur reguler. Nah jadi untuk tahun 2021 ini ada dua skema beasiswa LPDP untuk jalur reguler, yang pertama adalah jalur LOA (Letter of Acceptance) bagi mereka yang udah pegang LOA dari kampusnya dan yang kedua adalah jalur non LOA untuk yang belum punya LOA. Kemarin gue ikut yang jalur LOA karena kebetulan sudah dapet LOA dari UCL. Kalau nggak salah proses seleksinya mirip-mirip sih antara jalur LOA dan Non LOA cuma timelinenya aja yang beda. Oh iya tapi infonya untuk yang tahun 2022 ini jalur LOA bisa skip bagian tes substansi akademik, jadi dari admin langsung ke wawancara. Untuk yang jalur Non LOA kalau nggak salah bisa milih tiga jurusan deh, tapi detailnya bisa diakses di web LPDP lagi.

Nah jadi tahapan pertama adalah seleksi administrasi. Di tahapan ini kita diminta untuk ngelengkapin terkait dokumen administrasi seperti data-data diri, ijazah, transkrip, sertifikat bahasa inggris (IELTS atau TOEFL) dan juga essay tentang komitmen dan rencana pengabdian kita setelah lulus nanti. Di tahap administrasi juga ada beberapa essay terkait personal yang harus kita isi di web LPDPnya, terkait kelebihan, kekurangan, pengalaman berorganisasi dsb. Semua essay-essay ini yang penting kita isinya jujur dan sesuai dengan diri kita. Untuk essay komitmen kontribusi menurut gue lebih bagus kalau dibuat secara spesifik, feasible dan bisa terukur. Oleh karena itu kita harus bener-bener yakin banget nih ketika milih jurusan, kita tau apa yang mau kita pelajarin dan bisa berkontribusi di bidang apa nantinya.

Setelah selesai tahapan administrasi, selanjutnya adalah Tahapan Substansi Akademik dan Kebangsaan. Tes ini mirip-mirip sama TPA buat persiapan ke perguruan tinggi gitu atau tes CPNS (katanya sih, gue belum pernah nyoba CPNS juga soalnya). Jadi bkalau bisa dilatih aja, apalagi kayak gue yang udah lama nggak megang TPA2 gini sejak bertahun-tahun lalu. Di hari yang sama ada tes wawasan kebangsaan juga.

Selanjutnya setelah lolos Tahapan Substansi Akademik dan Kebangsaan, ada wawancara. Karena kondisinya lagi pandemi, kemarin gue full online. Gue diinterview oleh pihak akademisi yang terkait dengan spesialisasi gue dan psikolog, plus ada satu pihak dari LPDP yang memonitor proses interview. Interview sendiri menurut gue merupakan bagian yang paling krusial, karena interviewer bener-bener menguji kesiapan kita untuk melanjutkan studi. Secara garis besar pertanyaannya ngecover apa yang kita tulis di essay, jadi pastikan kita bener-bener jujur dan yakin ketika nulis essay. Pihak akademisi (atau bisa jadi dari profesional) akan menguji kemampuan teknis kita tentunya, jadi pastikan kita paham betul apa bidang yang akan kita dalami nantinya seperti apa. Biasanya mereka juga bakal mengeksplor alasan kita memilih major terkait, pastikan jawaban kita logis. Terkadang pertanyaan juga sering muncul ketika major yang kita pilih tidak inline dengan background studi kita. Well, selama alasannya logis, misal untuk pengembangan karir kedepan, tentu nggak apa-apa. Setelah itu psikolog akan menginterview kita terkait kesiapan studi, jadi pastikan temen-temen udah matang nih perisapannya. Ketika studi di luar misalnya, kita harus memastikan bahwa kita bisa beradaptasi dengan lingkungan dan kultur yang baru misalnya. Kalau dari pihak psikolog sendiri biasanya akan mencoba mengeksplor diri kita jadi sebisanya dijawab dengan apa adanya. Kalau dari gue sih di tahap interview ini kita harus bener-bener bisa menjaga sikap dan mengatur emosi, kalau bisa dibawa santai biar nggak tegang.

Semangat buat temen-temen yang lagi ngejar LPDP, apalagi yang nyiapinnya sambil di tengah kesibukan pekerjaannya. Gue sendiri udah lulus lama banget, tahun 2015 dan dari dulu memang udah ada rencana untuk lanjut sekolah tapi belum tereksekusi karena memilih untuk cari pengalaman dulu. 2021 lalu, di tengah pandemi gue akhirnya memantapkan rencana gue untuk studi dan mencoba LPDP. Untuk temen-temen yang baru lulus juga semangat ya, temen-temen awardee gue banyak kok yang baru lulus juga. Jadi LPDP itu emang terbuka buat siapa aja, tinggal bagaimana kita menyiapkan diri aja.

Gue sendiri juga masih berjuang untuk menyelesaikan studi gue yang cuma 1 tahun di London. Mohon doanya agar bisa lulus dengan hasil yang memuaskan. Sampai jumpa temen-temen, good luck and feel free kalau mau tanya-tanya.

Connecting the Dots

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Nabila Satwikawati

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future” -Steve Jobs-

Udah sebulan gue meninggalkan negara gue tercinta. Pandemi tahun lalu, selain membuat gue merasa harus banyak-banyak bersyukur tentang banyak hal, namun juga membuat gue berkontemplasi tentang rencana-rencana yang belum tereksekusi. Akhirnya akhir tahun lalu gue memantapkan hati untuk submit aplikasi studi gue di UCL dan membulatkan tekad gue untuk fokus ngurusin rencana studi gue.

Keputusan gue akhirnya mau ngambil kuliah dimana dan jurusan apa juga sebenernya nggak tiba-tiba sih. Ketika gue lulus S1 dari kampus gajah dulu sebenernya gue juga udah ada plan untuk lanjut sekolah, tapi gue tunda dulu karena mau nyari experience. Sekarang setelah gue pikir-pikir itu adalah pilihan yang tepat buat gue. Pada akhirnya gue menemukan ketertarikan gue di bidang digital construction, yang bisa dibilang agak menyebrang dari spesialisasi gue di bidang geoteknik ketika S1 dulu. Akhir tahun 2019 gue mulai research kampus serta jurusan yang gue minati dan gue menemukannya di UK. Yeps, agak jauh ya dari rencana awal gue dulu sebenernya, dulu gue pengen lanjut ke Canada, biar bisa nikmatin pemandangannya yang indah dan nonton NBA hehe. Tapi karena tujuannya studi bukan liburan wkwkwk akhirnya gue memantapkan hati untuk fokus ke UK.

Persiapan buat kuliah plus nyari scholarshipnya ketika kita lagi kerja emang nggak sederhana. Meskipun di awal tahun sampai pertengahan tahun kondisi kerjaan terkendali, akhir tahun kemarin sampai waktu gue mulai cuti kerjaan di kantor gue lagi padet banget. Biasanya gue melakukan persiapan studi gue ini sepulang kantor atau pas lagi weekend. Belum lagi pas persiapan scholarshipnya yang kebagi beberapa tahap. Selain kelengkapan administrasi banyak hal yang perlu disiapin diantaranya bikin aneka essay dan juga nyiapin buat tes TPAnya LPDP. Jujur aja terakhir gue nyentuh TPA kayaknya pas SMA dulu deh, pas persiapan buat masuk kuliah. Tapi seru sih segala persiapannya itu.

Kuliah gue udah jalan sebulan, gue ambil Digital Engineering Management disini karena rasa-rasanya, gue mau fokus ke digital construction sekarang. Alhamdulillah gue happy banget atas pilihan gue untuk lanjut ke UCL, selain karena emang jurusan yang gue ambil tapi juga sama kota ini. London ramah dengan pendatang dan banyak kedai kopi bertebaran dimana-dimana.

Sebetulnya gue udah janji dengan beberapa orang untuk nulis tentang persiapan beasiswa LPDP. Gue rasa gue akan nulis di post berikutnya karena gue lagi dikejar deadline untuk assignment pertama gue sekarang. Sampai jumpa lagi secepatnya, semoga gue kembali konsisten untuk nulis.

A Daydreamer's Journal

Category Archives: Journey