"I was a kid with many dreams. One of them was to become an ITB student," said Kevin.

Kevin started elementary school at the age of five. In 2016, when he was in first grade, his father enrolled him in an accelerated program, despite initial concerns about the increased pressure. He completed elementary school in four years and entered junior high school at the age of nine.

Since elementary school, Kevin has been actively participating in various academic competitions. In junior high school, he participated in the National Science Competition (KSN) Mathematics and the city-level English Speech Contest. In high school, he participated in the National Science Olympiad (OSN) for mathematics and the mathematics competition at Pasundan University. He also won third place in the Bandung-wide high school English Speech Contest.

During high school, Kevin maintained his first-place ranking for five consecutive semesters and earned the third-best science award at the graduation ceremony. However, his path to ITB wasn't immediately successful.

Kevin was declared eligible in fifth place to register through the National Achievement-Based Selection (SNBP) and chose the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA-M) of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Faculty of Technology (FTI-RI) of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). He was unsuccessful in those pathways. With the guidance of his father, an ITB Mining Engineering alumnus, Kevin chose FTTM as his first choice for the UTBK-SNBT.

As a result, Kevin was declared to have passed and officially became a student at FTTM ITB Cirebon Campus.

"I prepared for the UTBK for about two months, and the results weren't optimal. I thought I wouldn't pass. However, God had other plans," he said.

Not Always Successful

Despite his academic achievements, Kevin rejects the notion that he always finds it easy to face lessons.

"Many people might think I was a naturally intelligent child who could easily overcome any academic challenge. In reality, I failed more than I succeeded," he said.

The age difference with his classmates also presents a challenge. Kevin admits he sometimes experiences fatigue trying to keep up with the faster pace of learning and dealing with the impostor syndrome. Concerns that he would be viewed differently because of his age also arose.

The support of family, teachers, and friends was one of his greatest strengths. His father became a role model who shaped him a lot, while his mother and two older siblings became a support system that understands his struggle.

One of the teachers who inspired Kevin to enter ITB was Mr. Kosasih, a former physics lecturer at ITB. According to him, every time his teacher taught and gave exams, his dream of studying at ITB felt closer.

“The most important thing is how we keep going, making progress, even when it feels like we're just marking time,” Kevin said.

Learning with a System, Not Just Motivation

Kevin's study method is one of the things many people want to know. When preparing for the UTBK, he worked mostly on tryouts and practice questions to familiarize himself with the problem patterns. Because he already had a sufficient scientific foundation, he didn't repeat concepts too often.

In his daily studies, Kevin combines the Feynman Technique and active recall to ensure that he really understands the material. He also uses the technique of 50 minutes of study and 10 minutes of rest for two repetitions.

According to Kevin, consistency is more important than relying on motivation.

“A daily study schedule is crucial in building discipline because if we only rely on motivation and enthusiasm, we will quickly become exhausted orburnout"Our motivation can fade at any time," he explained.

Outside of academics, Kevin continues to pursue his hobby of playing the piano, which his father introduced him to in elementary school. He also tries to separate study time from physical and mental recovery time. Worship is one way he maintains balance.

Choosing FTTM and Looking to a New Chapter

Kevin's interest in FTTM began with his father's introduction to heavy equipment and the mining industry. As an alumnus of mining engineering at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), his father explained how natural resources can be extracted from hundreds of meters below the surface. He then hoped Kevin would pursue his passion in the oil and gas industry.

Now, Kevin is entering a new chapter at ITB. He realizes that the journey ahead won't always be easy, but his previous experiences have taught him the value of persevering through the process.

“It will feel more difficult when chasing something that is far ahead when we realize that we are still behind,” he said.

He remembered his father's message, "If you can do it now, why later?"

For Kevin, success isn't just about the end result. He believes it's the process that shapes a person the most.

"Strive not for results, but for the process. Learn not just for grades, but for those who have already sacrificed to ensure we can learn well," he said.

Today, ITB is no longer just a child's dream for Kevin. It has become a place to continue the process—learning, failing, getting back up, and continually becoming a better version of himself.

"ITB is the best second home for you, the nation's future sons and daughters. I look forward to seeing you at ITB!" he concluded.

Reporter: Vito Egi Nandriansyah (Geophysical Engineering, 2021)