People's School Becomes Turning Point for Student in Surakarta to Pursue Her Future

A Year 10 student at Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Atas (SRMA) 17 in Surakarta, Central Java, comes from a hardworking family. Her father earns a living as a scrap collector, while her mother, Uti Rahayu, sells fried rice, noodles, and milkfish rice in front of their home. When business is slow, Uti still strives by going around collecting used cardboard boxes to sell again.

Aisyah and her family live in a simple house in the Bororejo Jagalan area of Surakarta. The house walls are still exposed bricks without plaster. Yet from that modest space, great hopes are slowly growing.

The opportunity to enter Sekolah Rakyat has changed Aisyah’s daily life. For the first time, she can study without being overly shadowed by worries about costs. Needs such as uniforms, shoes, three meals a day, and even a laptop are provided.

For some people, those facilities might seem ordinary. But for Aisyah, they all become a turning point in pursuing her future.

“Because here the facilities are good and can meet my needs, I want to achieve my dreams,” said Aisyah in a written statement on Thursday (30/4/2026).

Since attending school there, Aisyah’s confidence has begun to grow. She has become bolder in participating in various activities and showing her abilities.

Aisyah won second place in women’s singles badminton during the class meeting, in line with her hobby of playing badminton. She also won second place in Wiru Jarik during Kartini Day commemorations.

Those achievements may be simple, but they mean a lot to Aisyah. From there, she begins to build the confidence she previously lacked fully.

Aisyah dreams of becoming a doctor. At school, she is known to be active and sociable. She is also active in the Youth Red Cross (PMR) and trusted to be a delegate for the Indonesian Red Cross Youth Forum (FORPIS).

In learning activities, Aisyah enjoys practical lessons. She is brave in expressing opinions and able to collaborate with her classmates.

Now, Aisyah studies more seriously and trains more disciplined. She understands that the facilities she receives are an opening door, while the future still must be fought for with hard work.

“After studying here, I want to become a successful person and make my parents happy,” she said.

That sentence becomes Aisyah’s determination to repay her parents’ struggles. From the simple house, from the small kitchen where her mother sells, and from the cardboard boxes collected one by one, Aisyah begins to pave the way towards the future she dreams of.

Aisyah’s changes are also felt by her mother. Uti sees her daughter not only developing in terms of achievements but also starting to be more confident in looking at the future.

When asked to express hopes for Aisyah, Uti’s voice choked. She tried to hold back tears when speaking about her child’s future.

“I hope my child can be successful, can make her parents proud,” said the mother, stammering while holding back tears.

Uti then tried to calm herself. She expressed gratitude and thanks for the opportunity her child now has.

“Thank you, Mr President, my child can go to school. I am very happy, proud, grateful,” the mother concluded.