Receiving a Doctorate at 24 Years Old: The Story of Maya Nabila
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — There is responsibility to complete what was started. This was Maya Nabila’s principle throughout her journey to earn a doctorate degree at the age of 24.
Maya Nabila, who often goes by Maya, is the youngest doctor from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMNS) ITB. She finished her doctoral defense on February 26, 2024, under the guidance of Prof. Edy Tri Baskoro, Ph.D., and Prof. Hilda Asiyyatun, Ph.D.
She expressed her happiness and gratitude for finally having fulfilled her responsibility. Maya is also an awardee of the PMDSU (Master’s to Doctoral Education for Advanced Students) scholarship.
Maya’s journey to her doctorate was not without obstacles. There were times when her research did not go well or yield good results. Maya even revealed that she had undergone burnout during her doctoral education.
“When I’m burned out, I take a break to rest. The results will backfire if I force myself out,” she stated.
Maya also encountered some difficulties during her studies. Nevertheless, she did not hesitate to ask for assistance or have a discussion with her supervisors, field experts, and friends.
Additionally, she had a lot of memorable experiences during her doctoral education. One of which was the opportunity to attend national and international conferences. She became the organizer and moderator in one of those conferences.
Moreover, Maya had once been a teaching assistant, helping with a group’s research as well as assisting lecturers in grading quizzes and exams. Not only that, she also leveraged the opportunity to do a four month exchange program at the Technical University of Košice in Slovakia.
When it comes to studying, Maya gave a number of tips that she has applied so far. “The first tip is to have strong motivation to build resilience and perseverance. The second tip is to focus on goals and not delay or waste time,” she said.
“The third tip is to find a supportive environment and friends. The fourth tip is to compare yourself with your past self, not with other people. The fifth and last tip is to pray for ease in life,” Maya added.
Maya revealed that her plans for the future were not limited to becoming a lecturer. Instead, she would consider every opportunity that might come her way. “I love studying and teaching, but I am still open to any job related to my knowledge,” she affirmed.
She hoped that students would keep their spirits up, persevere against any obstacles, and finish whatever they started.
On the other hand, Maya also urged women not to be afraid to pursue higher education and to always focus on increasing their own values.
“Many said that women should not go for higher education if they only end up taking care of the house. However, highly educated women are amazing because their children will learn from extraordinary mothers,” Maya asserted.
Reporter: Elda Nuriza (Environmental Infrastructure Engineering ‘21)
Translator: Ariq Ramadhan Teruna (Chemical Engineering ‘21)
Editor: Ayesha Lativa Mafaza (Postharvest Technology, ‘21)
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