Riana, UGM's young medical student<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Riana Helmi is only 14 years old, with a cute, fresh-faced
\nappearance.<\/p>\n
As a girl in her early teens, she is fond of going out for fun
\nand often has a childlike reaction to things.<\/p>\n
Teenagers of her age are normally in the final grade of
\njunior high school. Riana, however, was admitted this year to
\nGadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta. She has just entered
\nthe UGM school of medicine, known as the most demanding and
\nexpensive of all state colleges.<\/p>\n
Riana Helmi is the youngest of three children of police Adj.
\nComr. Helmi and his wife Rofiah, and was born in Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam on March 22, 1991. But Riana was in Aceh for only two
\nyears before her parents moved to Sukabumi, West Java, where they
\nhave settled.<\/p>\n
Raised in a disciplined family, Riana has grown used to
\nspending time efficiently. At four, she was already a student of
\nSriwedari primary school, Sukabumi. Signs of her precociousness
\nwere apparent as she became the youngest first grader, ranked top
\nin her class.<\/p>\n
After finishing six years of primary school, Riana continued
\nto record a promising performance in junior and senior high
\nschool, each of which took only two years to complete. Riana's
\ntalent entitled her to follow an accelerated exam program, which
\nshe passed, thereby curtailing her schooldays.<\/p>\n
She entered UGM via the Scholastic Talent Prospecting Channel.
\nThis is a college entrance mechanism by which candidates are
\nselected under the supervision of the director general of higher
\neducation.<\/p>\n
Again, she did well to qualify as a medical student although
\nher family had to pay an Rp 80 million contribution.<\/p>\n
Riana said she enjoyed becoming a college student at such a
\ntender age, although she acknowledged some difficulty in the
\ncompany of fellow students. She finds it equally awkward to
\nmingle both with adults and younger people.<\/p>\n
"Sometimes I feel I'm still a kid but as a student I'm growing
\nup, too," she said smilingly during a recent campus orientation
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, she claimed she was quite optimistic about her
\nmedical studies ahead at UGM. "It's now important to learn how to
\ncook, because I'm living in a boarding house," she remarked.<\/p>\n
The girl with an IQ of 126 revealed that she had never set
\nherself a specific amount of time as a daily study target. To
\nher, what was crucial in studying or reading was how much she
\nenjoyed it. "Reading for five hours a day is useless if it
\nbecomes burdensome," she said, sweetly.<\/p>\n
According to Riana, before studying she tries to arouse her
\ninterest in the relevant subject. When studying history, for
\ninstance, she would recall the stature of heroes such as Bung
\nKarno, Indonesia's first president, who enjoyed international
\nfame.<\/p>\n
As she grew more interested and enjoyed her studies, the
\nlearning process ran smoothly. "Even now, I still remember the
\ndates of various events in history," she observed.<\/p>\n
Riana, who also likes reading religious novels, only studies
\nwhen she is in the mood, refusing to force herself.<\/p>\n
Asked about teenagers' lifestyles, notably characterized by
\n"puppy love", Riana's comment was brief. "I haven't got a
\nboyfriend and never had a date. I don't want that; I'd rather get
\nmarried directly," she said, blushing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riana-ugms-young-medical-student-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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