I grew up in rural Central Java, Indonesia, in a family of farmers. My father never attended school. Unlike many children, I didn't have the privilege of spending my childhood with my parents, as they had to move to Saudi Arabia to work as domestic workers when I was two years old, to ensure that I could go to school and receive a proper education.

I was raised by my grandmother, a shepherd, and I vividly remember spending most of my childhood on the farm, playing with sheep and chickens while my grandmother was busy planting corn. This was in the late 1990s, where we didn't have mobile phones, and the only way I could communicate with my parents was through letters. My grandmother couldn't read or write, so sometimes we relied on our neighbour to read the letters my parents sent, which often included printed photographs that I still keep to this day.

In 2008, the year that I turned 14, my mother returned home because she was expecting my sister. We were at the peak of a global economic crisis, and I feared for our family’s financial situation. I even considered leaving school to enter the job market—an idea that my parents rejected. As a compromise, I decided to enrol in a vocational school instead of a regular high school, with the expectation of getting a job afterwards. At that point, I hadn’t considered going to university, let alone pursuing a master’s degree. I just wanted to work to support my family.

At vocational school, I chose to major in computer networking, hoping to secure a job in the booming IT industry. However, after finishing my vocational education, I struggled to find employment. It was only after countless attempts that I finally landed a job as a bellboy at a local hotel, where I didn't earn a salary but made an income from guests' tips.

As a bellboy, I interacted with many foreign guests, which improved my English skills. After about eight months of working there, I experienced a moment of enlightenment, and I thought to myself, “I want to be like the middle- and upper-class guests that I serve, but I'll never reach their level by just doing this job.”

This realisation changed my life forever, and I understood that the only way to achieve something bigger was to get a university degree.

Living the Dream

I decided to resign from my bellboy job, and I used my savings to pay for a university exam preparation class, which I believe is the best investment I ever made.

With much effort, I received an offer from the Faculty of Law at Universitas Brawijaya in East Java. While this was good news, I still had to figure out how to finance my studies. Running out of ideas, I asked my vocational school teacher about scholarship programmes, and thanks to her suggestion, I applied for the BidikMisi Scholarship, a government programme to enable youths from low-income families to receive a university education. My teacher wrote me a recommendation letter, and I got a full scholarship. This opportunity opened up doors for me, as I was able to participate in competitions and conferences abroad, and served as the valedictorian for our graduation.



With a solid technical foundation through my vocational studies, and a broad understanding of Indonesia’s legal landscape, I was offered roles in government and the private sector. This made me keen to learn more about the intricacies of policymaking, and once again, I was able to secure a full scholarship to pursue the MPP degree at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, where I was a Li Ka Shing Scholar.

In my opinion, the LKYSPP is more than just a graduate school. It’s a vibrant hub where students engage in rigorous learning, while having the chance to network with accomplished students, alumni, and faculty members.

During my time as a graduate student, the emergence of generative AI marked a significant technological evolution, where many tasks could now be performed faster at a fraction of the cost. Fortunately, the skills that I acquired at the LKYSPP would be complex for even the most advanced AI models to emulate. These skills include communication, negotiation, active listening, and empathy.

Shaping the Future of Learning

What I appreciate most about being in the LKYSPP community is the breadth of our network. In fact, I was referred to my current position by a fellow alumnus who works for the same institution.

As a product of Indonesia’s education system myself, I find working in the field of education exceptionally rewarding. What I enjoy most about my job is the opportunity to engage in deep discussions with teachers and educators about how technology, especially AI, will significantly impact teaching methods. The role of the educator has evolved, where it’s no longer primarily about transferring knowledge. Instead, the role has shifted towards facilitating students' use of technology.

Having a chance to discuss these issues directly with educators is what fuels me to go to work every day, as I now have the opportunity to drive change at the grassroots level. Indonesia boasts a large number of teachers, around four million of them to be precise. While most of them are receptive to how technology can empower their teaching and classroom experience, I have also encountered situations where teachers are reluctant to adopt technology and new ways of teaching—not because they don't want to, but because they lack the ability to do so. This is where training and technology enablement sessions become extremely important, and my role as Adoption Lead is to ensure that our customers, including teachers and students, are able to optimally utilise the power of Google tools to enrich the teaching and learning experience.

To excel at my job, I prioritise communication and empathy, especially when visiting schools and teachers in rural areas. In these settings, I take care to avoid using technical terms. For instance, I might refer to the mouse cursor as simply an “arrow” to ensure clarity and understanding. It’s essential that I adjust to the needs of my target audience rather than vice versa, and my exposure to public speaking at the LKY School has helped a lot. To be frank, I did struggle with giving good presentations in class, but at work, I realise that this is an essential skill.

Currently, I would say that my biggest challenge is adapting to the dynamics of Indonesia’s inherently complex and multifaceted education system. But I am sure that as time goes by, I will develop a better understanding to deliver something of value to my employer, as well as to the broader education community in Indonesia.