"You Can Do Anything You Set Your Mind To"


A Story of Jessica Zerlina Sarwono, Bangkit 2023 Batch 1 Graduate from Statistics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady of the United States
We often limit ourselves by believing what others say we can't do. It is something that contradicts the beliefs of Jessica Zerlina Sarwono (21). This statistics student at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya (ITS) is convinced that the dream of becoming a data practitioner doesn’t only belong to informatics students but also to those willing to learn, like her.

Does Jessica’s perseverance manage to take her closer to her dream of launching a career in the data field? Let’s read her full story!

Jessica’s Dream of Becoming a Data Practitioner


Since the early days of college, Jessica has dreamed of becoming a data practitioner. She is drawn to data science because a data practitioner has a wide range of career opportunities. It motivated her to enroll in the Department of Statistics at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya (ITS).

As her college life began, Jessica discovered that the knowledge she acquired from campus was still theoretical, and she needed more experience to apply it to real-world situations. Therefore, the necessary steps that Jessica had to take to be more ready for her future career in the data field were attending additional tech courses outside of campus.
“I had to go the extra mile to compete with students from IT backgrounds. Moreover, to give myself more exposure to computational methods and coding, I served as a Teaching Assistant for lectures related to data and informatics.”
Having a desire to be a data expert, Jessica knew she had to learn more about data exploration. Therefore, she saw the urgency of educating herself about Machine Learning. As it happened, Bangkit offered a comprehensive machine-learning curriculum for students interested in being tech talents. Jessica immediately regarded this program as a way out.

How Jessica Developed Herself in Bangkit


Jessica’s first acquaintance with Bangkit came from her senior, who is a Bangkit 2021 Graduate. It turned out that many of her seniors were Bangkit Graduates, and she found out that most of them got an opportunity to intern at leading companies after Bangkit. This finding encouraged her to apply for Bangkit 2023 Batch 1 and choose the Machine Learning path.
“I have an enjoyable learning experience in Bangkit because of its supportive mentors and encouraging friends. This program is a safe place to learn, and I can be more disciplined because of its self-paced learning method.”
Besides living through enjoyable learning experiences, Jessica encountered challenges regarding Bangkit’s packed courses. It prompted her to be good at managing her time. However, Jessica was glad with her decision to join Bangkit because that way, she could expand her professional network and get to know more fellow students with the same vision.

After obtaining abundant comprehension of Machine Learning, Jessica was allowed to implement her knowledge in the capstone project. With her team, Jessica built an app for small and medium enterprises called SME for Us (SMEUs). Performing outstandingly in Bangkit finally made Jessica graduate with distinction. She was very grateful for this achievement because she believes her Bangkit experience will help her enhance her portfolio.

When Jessica Finally Launched Her Dream Job


Being a statistics student with expertise in Machine Learning made Jessica feel well-prepared to be a data practitioner. Therefore, with her Bangkit graduation certificate in hand, Jessica applied for an internship position at Traveloka through the Magang Merdeka program.

Apparently, graduating with distinction from a career readiness program supported by Traveloka made her resume stand out. In addition, the knowledge she gained about personal branding and interview communication from the soft skills class in Bangkit also helped her pass through various recruitment stages with ease. Jessica’s hard work and dedication paid off, as she was accepted as a Data Analytics Intern.
“As a Data Analytics Intern, I’m responsible for analyzing the data requested by the stakeholders. In doing my tasks at the office, Bangkit has helped me a lot in getting used to using Git. Coincidentally, Git is also used by my office."
After successfully starting her internship career in one of the leading industries, Jessica wants to inspire other female digital talents like herself. She sees that learning tech has made it beyond accessible, and there are lots of learning opportunities that everyone can seize.
“No matter how many people around you say, “It’s hard,” if your mindset drives you to learn more and try, you’ll succeed. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

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