Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Chasing Your Dreams

August 27, 2024

A story of Fitroh Izatul Malkiyah, Bangkit 2023 Batch 2 Graduate from Informatics, Universitas Amikom Purwokerto

It’s not a given that everyone can easily continue their studies at university. Fitroh Izatul Malkiyah (23), a young woman from Kabupaten Tegal, once faced difficulties pursuing higher education. Her family’s financial instability made it challenging for Fitroh—that’s what she’s called—to continue her education.

“I don't want you to get your hopes up too much about going to college. I might not be able to afford it all the way through," Fitroh’s mom once said.

However, Fitroh’s remained optimistic about going to college. She refused to let her family’s financial difficulties hinder her from her goals. After remaining hopeful, her perseverance paid off when she was granted a government scholarship.

Finally, Fitroh’s college life began, and so did her Bangkit journey. What was the process that led Fitroh to become a successful tech talent? Let’s dive deeper into her inspiring story!

Despite the Risk of Not Going to College, Fitroh Didn’t Give Up

Born the youngest of three children in the rural village of Bumijawa, Kabupaten Tegal, Fitroh lives a humble life. Her father is a vegetable farmer with an uncertain income, dependent on seasonal harvest, while her mother runs a small grocery shop.

Due to Fitroh’s family's limited financial resources, her older siblings had to end their formal education after middle school. Fitroh was fortunate enough to finish high school, but her plans for further study were uncertain.

“I don't want you to get your hopes up too much about going to college. I might not be able to afford it all the way through," Fitroh’s mom once said.

However, Fitroh was undeterred by the challenges. She wanted to be the first in her family to graduate from university. Her efforts paid off when a government scholarship named Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah funded her higher education. As a result, she embarked on her journey at Universitas Amikom Purwokerto, pursuing a degree in Informatics Engineering.

Having Been Hesitant at First, Fitroh Eventually Found the Courage to Join Bangkit

As a KIP Kuliah beneficiary, Fitroh was required to participate in at least one Kampus Merdeka program. Therefore, when Kampus Merdeka's orientation session was held at her university, she was eager to learn more. Among the various programs offered in Kampus Merdeka, Bangkit caught her attention.

One of the things about Bangkit that caught Fitroh’s attention was the innovative applications created by its graduates. Knowing her friends were also involved in the program also piqued her interest. However, she initially hesitated when she discovered the program was conducted in English.

However, while challenging, using English in Bangkit also intrigued Fitroh. She felt that Bangkit could allow her to improve her language skills while developing her digital competencies. In the end, Fitroh decided to take the plunge.

“In Bangkit, I learned Mobile Development (Android). Although my laptop was less than ideal for running Android Studio, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from the experts here. Self-taught learning couldn’t match the structured curriculum and hands-on experience provided by Bangkit.”

Submissions: The Most Challenging Yet Transforming

Fitroh’s learning journey in Bangkit was quite challenging as she had to complete her thesis simultaneously. She had to manage her time between Bangkit and completing her studies, all while enduring the limitations of her low-specification laptop. Frequent lags marred her learning process. Her laptop took an inordinately long time to open Android Studio.

In addition, Fitroh had to complete numerous submissions. Furthermore, the capstone project required her to be disciplined and able to collaborate with other Bangkit participants in developing an end-to-end project.

“Although submissions were one of the most challenging aspects of Bangkit, they were also the best part for me. Submissions allowed participants to apply what they had learned immediately. Learning theory without practice is like learning nothing at all.”

Learning for more than 900 hours in Bangkit transformed Fitroh. She developed strong time and stress management skills to balance her studies, rest, and maintain a positive outlook. Moreover, Fitroh gained confidence, stepped out of her comfort zone, and became more ambitious.

“Never Let Fear Hold You Back”

After graduating from Bangkit, Fitroh worked as a freelance IT Implementation Specialist. The manager she worked with on one of her projects was impressed by her resume, especially since she was a Bangkit graduate.

“My manager mentioned that Bangkit alumni are reliable,” Fitroh recalled. This endorsement led Fitroh to secure a position as an Android Developer at BIIS Corp, a Surabaya-based software company.

As an Android Developer, Fitroh builds apps for the company. She acknowledges that the Model-View-Controller paradigm taught in Bangkit has significantly improved the structure of her code. No, she can quickly tell the difference between the app’s logic and what the user sees.

Even though Fitroh is already an Android Developer, she wants to keep growing by moving to a big city and stepping outside her comfort zone. Ultimately, she aims to be an expert in Android development.

“Overcoming your fears is the first step to achieving your goals. I was afraid I couldn’t be a digital talent because I might not attend university, but I proved myself wrong. Never let fear hold you back.”

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