Leni Firda Kurnia Sari, a student of the Bachelor’s Program in Javanese Language Education at the Faculty of Language, Arts, and Culture (FBSB), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), has achieved an outstanding cumulative GPA of 3.99 despite facing early doubts about going to university.

Leni’s academic journey did not begin smoothly. After graduating from SMKN 2 Pengasih, Kulonprogo, she stood at a crossroads between working immediately or continuing to university, but financial limitations made higher education feel like a distant dream.

Her turning point came when she learned about the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIPK) program — a scholarship program that provides both tuition and living cost support — which gave her the confidence to pursue her studies without constant worry about finances.

Leni chose UNY because of its supportive academic environment, open dialogue with lecturers, and the rich cultural relevance of the Javanese language program she was passionate about.

During her studies, she also endured a personal challenge when her mother passed away at the end of her third semester. This loss forced her to reorganize her life, manage priorities, and build emotional resilience while maintaining strong academic performance.

Leni credits her high GPA to self-discipline, daily planning, active discussion with lecturers, and extensive use of both physical and digital libraries. Outside the classroom, she participated in student organizations, volunteer work, cultural communities, and social groups, which enriched her perspectives, communication skills, empathy, and teamwork abilities.

Currently, she is focusing on completing her final thesis and aspires to continue her studies at the master’s degree level with a scholarship.