The selection process for FMAE's Most Outstanding Student took place on February 29, 2024. Candidates were evaluated through an English essay on their personal vision, academic achievement documents, and an intensive interview in English. Alexander explained that the interview focused on how the candidates could represent the identity of FMAE appropriately and questioned the principles and values each candidate upheld.

Alexander shared the keys to his success in being selected as FMAE's Outstanding Student: staying focused in class, maintaining health, and avoiding multitasking. He believes that focusing on class can significantly ease the academic burden. "If we can focus in class, our academic load will be much lighter because we won't need to study as much after leaving the classroom," he said.

Meanwhile, maintaining health and avoiding multitasking help sustain his academic performance. "I believe the most effective way to achieve good academic results is not by staying up late and other unhealthy practices, but by keeping our bodies in optimal condition," he said.

Alex believes that multitasking does not actually exist; instead, there is task switching, which involves alternating between tasks and is ineffective. He employs the Pomodoro technique to enhance his study efficiency. "I try to focus on one thing at a time. One method that I find quite effective for academic activities is the Pomodoro technique," he explained.

In addition to excelling academically, Alexander is also active in non-academic activities. He said, "Besides competitions, I am also involved in research, writing, and working on projects that produce prototypes."

Alex participates in various competitions and projects, including those outside his field of study, such as competitions related to petroleum engineering, which he participated in some time ago.

In addition, Alex also founded a business in the field of additive manufacturing, AlexMediaGroup, which was officially registered at the end of 2023. According to him, the experience from these non-academic activities provides valuable lessons about life outside the classroom.

One of the keys to his success is his ability to accept criticism and see things from a third-party perspective. Alex believes, "The ability to accept criticism and see things from another perspective is crucial for achieving something great."

Alex acknowledges the importance of listening to feedback from different perspectives, such as when he seeks criticism from both classmates and those from other majors. For instance, during the selection process for outstanding students, his friend Regina Stephanie, who is from a different major in pharmacy, provided feedback on his English speech. This helped him grow and broaden his perspective.

In the future, Alexander hopes to utilize his knowledge in mechanical engineering to benefit society. "I hope to further leverage my expertise in mechanical engineering to benefit society, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM) in Indonesia," he said.

Alexander's achievements serve as inspiration for other students to develop their potential in both academic and non-academic fields, as well as to be willing to continuously learn and grow.

Reporter: Satria Octavianus Nababan (Informatics Engineering, 2021)
Translator: Firzana Aisya (Bioengineering, 2021)