Mega Setya Handayani, a student from the Elementary School Teacher Education program at the Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), graduated with honor, earning the highest undergraduate GPA of 3.95 in the November 2024 graduation period.
Mega initially faced setbacks in securing admission through the SNMPTN and SBMPTN pathways. However, her achievements in poetry reading, public speaking, and marching competitions at both regional and national levels paved the way for her acceptance into UNY through the talent scouting selection process.
Despite the challenges of online learning during her first two semesters due to the pandemic, Mega actively engaged in class discussions and participated in various national competitions, excelling in poetry, essay writing, and photography. “For me, university is not just about academics; it’s also about personal growth through diverse experiences,” she shared.
By her fourth semester, she secured second place in the Faculty-level Outstanding Student Competition, and during her break, she volunteered in a community service program in Kulon Progo. “This program taught me invaluable lessons from real community interactions,” Mega recalled.
In her fifth semester, she participated in the Kampus Mengajar Program at SD Muhammadiyah Tanjungsari, balancing her teaching duties with online classes. This experience earned her academic credit equivalency for community service programs.
Her achievements culminated in the sixth semester when she and her team won first place in the 2024 National Digital Innovation Competition (LIDM) for Microteaching Digital, earning her thesis credit exemption. Mega also emerged as the Faculty's Outstanding Student of the Year and continued to contribute as a research assistant and Secretary of the Faculty’s Student Representative Council (DPM KM FIPP).
Mega advises students to dream big and believe in their potential. “With effort, faith, and prayer, anything is possible. My goal is to become a professional educator who makes a meaningful contribution to the nation, particularly in elementary education,” she concluded.
