scholarshiphun
Aug 10, 2025
Scholarship / Research, data exchange, or public health innovation - PERSONAL STATEMENT GKS-U 2026 [2]
Personal Statement - (GKS-U, Inje University - Biotechnology)
"I've often heard that girls don't need education, just obedience. But my parents believed otherwise-and so do I."
Neither of my parents went to college. They both graduated high school, married young, and raised a family long before financial stability ever entered the picture. My parents now work tirelessly to support our family of five. Together, they earn around 5 million IDR per month (approximately 420,000 KRW)-enough to keep things going, but never enough to provide security. Still, they've always encouraged me, their firstborn, to pursue education as far as my dreams can take me-even beyond borders.
I grew up watching them trade sleep for survival, days for income, and dreams for practicality. They never asked me to be exceptional-only brave. So I made a quiet promise to myself: I would not let limited means or traditional expectations define the scale of my impact.
In high school, I selected science and engineering-related subjects like physics and mathematics-not because I loved them, but because they were seen as more practical and stable career paths. Under Indonesia's new high school curriculum, students choose focus subjects, and I chose what seemed safest. But deep inside, I always felt more drawn to biology, health, and science that helps people. Eventually, I stopped forcing myself into fields that didn't fit, and I began choosing honesty over safety. That honesty has brought me here: applying to the Biotechnology program at Inje University through GKS.
I want to contribute to the future of healthcare-through research on infectious diseases, biological systems, and biotechnology solutions. Inje University stands out to me not just for its academic strength in biotechnology, but because of its real-world connection through Paik Hospital and its investment in research and international collaboration. I believe it is the right place for me to grow-not just as a student, but as a future researcher and contributor to both Korean and Indonesian scientific communities.
During my two terms in the student council, I led and supported more than five campus-wide initiatives-ranging from classmate orientation to inter-school events-reaching hundreds of participants and teaching me how to plan, adapt, and lead under pressure. As the oldest of three children, I carry not only the hopes of my family, but the responsibility to clear a path forward-especially when opportunities seem out of reach.
As someone from a modest background with no access to private education, the GKS scholarship represents more than financial support. It is a bridge-between who I am and who I can become. I believe the values of GKS align perfectly with my own: resilience, openness, contribution, and growth.
With this opportunity, I hope to one day contribute to biotechnology collaboration between Korea and Indonesia, whether through shared research, data exchange, or public health innovation. My journey so far has never been linear-but it has always moved with purpose. And now, with Inje and GKS, I'm ready to take that journey global.
Personal Statement - (GKS-U, Inje University - Biotechnology)
"I've often heard that girls don't need education, just obedience. But my parents believed otherwise-and so do I."
Neither of my parents went to college. They both graduated high school, married young, and raised a family long before financial stability ever entered the picture. My parents now work tirelessly to support our family of five. Together, they earn around 5 million IDR per month (approximately 420,000 KRW)-enough to keep things going, but never enough to provide security. Still, they've always encouraged me, their firstborn, to pursue education as far as my dreams can take me-even beyond borders.
I grew up watching them trade sleep for survival, days for income, and dreams for practicality. They never asked me to be exceptional-only brave. So I made a quiet promise to myself: I would not let limited means or traditional expectations define the scale of my impact.
In high school, I selected science and engineering-related subjects like physics and mathematics-not because I loved them, but because they were seen as more practical and stable career paths. Under Indonesia's new high school curriculum, students choose focus subjects, and I chose what seemed safest. But deep inside, I always felt more drawn to biology, health, and science that helps people. Eventually, I stopped forcing myself into fields that didn't fit, and I began choosing honesty over safety. That honesty has brought me here: applying to the Biotechnology program at Inje University through GKS.
I want to contribute to the future of healthcare-through research on infectious diseases, biological systems, and biotechnology solutions. Inje University stands out to me not just for its academic strength in biotechnology, but because of its real-world connection through Paik Hospital and its investment in research and international collaboration. I believe it is the right place for me to grow-not just as a student, but as a future researcher and contributor to both Korean and Indonesian scientific communities.
During my two terms in the student council, I led and supported more than five campus-wide initiatives-ranging from classmate orientation to inter-school events-reaching hundreds of participants and teaching me how to plan, adapt, and lead under pressure. As the oldest of three children, I carry not only the hopes of my family, but the responsibility to clear a path forward-especially when opportunities seem out of reach.
As someone from a modest background with no access to private education, the GKS scholarship represents more than financial support. It is a bridge-between who I am and who I can become. I believe the values of GKS align perfectly with my own: resilience, openness, contribution, and growth.
With this opportunity, I hope to one day contribute to biotechnology collaboration between Korea and Indonesia, whether through shared research, data exchange, or public health innovation. My journey so far has never been linear-but it has always moved with purpose. And now, with Inje and GKS, I'm ready to take that journey global.
