UNAIR NEWS – The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging period, particularly for public health treatments. Doctor Maria Cellina Wijaya, an alumna of the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Airlangga, shared compelling stories about the field of medicine in an Instagram live session on @univ_airlangga, held on Friday, January 19, 2024.

“The medical student is known to be someone who studies continuously, and it’s true. Because if not, you can’t survive. But, my friends also experience the same thing. So, my friends and I have a strong bond,” expressed the public health master’s student.

The ups and downs
She considered herself fortunate to have secured a spot in medical school without a test, solely based on her report card grades. Keeping this in mind, she made the most of her learning opportunities at UNAIR. Originally from Jember, dr. Cellina was initially taken aback by the competitive atmosphere of medical school. Despite the common assumption that medical students are immersed in endless study, she went beyond the bounds of lectures. Participating in the Center for Indonesian Medical Student Activities (CIMSA), she seized the chance to travel to various countries, including Taiwan, for workshops.

She considered herself fortunate to have secured a spot in medical school without a test, solely based on her report card grades. Keeping this in mind, she made the most of her learning opportunities at UNAIR. Originally from Jember, dr. Cellina was initially taken aback by the competitive atmosphere of medical school. Despite the common assumption that medical students are immersed in endless study, she went beyond the bounds of lectures. Participating in the Center for Indonesian Medical Student Activities (CIMSA), she seized the chance to travel to various countries, including Taiwan, for workshops.

“I enjoy sports. So, I started a running community called FKRUNNER,” she said.

From UNAIR to Harvard
The idea of studying in the United States had never occurred to dr. Cellina. However, the inadequate response to COVID-19 sparked her interest in public health. After conducting research to find the best university for the course, she discovered that Harvard was the top recommendation. She immediately registered herself, and now she is a second-year master’s student at Harvard University.

“At the time, I was undergoing my practical training at a Puskesmas in Mojokerto. We were aware that during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the handling of the health crisis was inadequate. This spurred my interest in pursuing Public Health. Perhaps that’s what Indonesia needs right now,” she said.

She also applied for an LPDP scholarship. She shared insights and interview tips regarding the scholarship, emphasizing the significance of the essay in the evaluation process. The essay covers objectives, the benefits for Indonesia, and a personal statement. All three components must convincingly demonstrate to the evaluators that the candidate is deserving the scholarship.

“We need to understand what the university is looking for. What are their criteria? What kind of candidate are they seeking?” she concluded.(*)

Author: Muhammad Naqsya Riwansia

Editor: Feri Fenoria

Source : unair.ac.id/en/unair-faculty-of-medicine-alumna-shares-inspiring-journey-to-harvard