Physics teaches Yudistira what matters most

P.C. Naommy, Contributor, Jakarta

Winning an international competition might change a person, for the better or worse. But in the case of gold medalist Yudistira Virgus, winning has helped put life in perspective.

Yudistira, who won a gold medal at the International Physics Olympiad at Pohang in South Korea last month, believes that all of his victories are a gift from God.

"I always enter all competitions with strong courage and faith. Whatever the result, I know that it's for the best and that God will not let me down. If I win, that's merely because God wants me to," he said.

He learned such equanimity from his experience at the 5th Asian Physics Olympiad in Vietnam in May 2004, when he came away empty handed.

But he recouped for the 35th International Physics Olympiad in South Korea. In the competition, the five-member Indonesian team brought home a gold medal, a silver, two bronzes and an honorable mention.

Yudistira, who will turn 19 next Saturday, now has a total of one bronze and two gold medals in his hands. He won the first gold medal at the 4th Asian Physics Olympiad in Thailand last year and the bronze medal at the 34th International Physics Olympiad in Taipei last year.

Yudistira's enthusiasm for academic competition began when he was at junior high school in Palembang, South Sumatra, when he tried to enter a math competition on his own after he was not selected by his teacher.

"Back then I was not even known as a bright student and I had to offer myself for the math competition to channel my passion for math. Although I failed, it pushed me to study harder."

His passion for physics increased when he entered SMA Xaverius I senior high school in his hometown. He was stimulated by the challenge of studying the subject, with each question and answer providing new discoveries.

"Unraveling a problem is my passion and it's fun to learn physics since it trains my brain to resolve problems," Yudistira said.

Studying physics also means learning about nature and its mysteries, and coming to a greater understanding of its power.

"We live on Earth with all of its natural beauty, so we should learn about it, unraveling its mystery for our own benefit."

His parents, Eddyanto Winoto and Elfi Novianty, never pushed him to become a winner, even though his father is a chemistry teacher.

"We never told him what to do or tried to direct him into a certain field. He's a mature person. He only does what he wants to and as parents, we merely give our full support," said Elfi.

Elfi, who runs a small business, described her son as a normal teenager who loves to hang out with friends, playing computer games or music on his guitar. In his spare time, he also reads books, plays soccer and swims.

"Becoming a good physicist has been my aim for so long, but without getting the geeky look of a bald man with thick glasses and reading thick books all the time," Yudistira said.

As his role model, Yudistira picks the late Richard Phillips Feynman, the most influential American physicist of the 20th century who won the Nobel prize for physics in 1965.

Feynman loved to joke and pull pranks, Yudistira said, in contrast to the nerdy stereotype of scientists.

He also bucked the image of the scientist holed up in his lab; Feynman was also a musician and painter.

"Although I also idolize Einstein, I don't want my life to end tragically like him," Yudistira said of the scientist, who left his native Germany due to anti-Semitism. "Once I am a scientist, I want to help in making the world, especially in Indonesia, become a better place."

As the International Physics Olympiad's gold medalist, he has been offered a scholarship by Sampoerna Foundation to study abroad. Yudistira prefers to stick to his previous choice of studying physics at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

"In terms of science, universities abroad might be better than here, but I never thought that by attending college abroad it would make me a better person."

He added that if one day he had the opportunity to study abroad for his master's or doctorate, he would commit himself to serving his country.

"There's no use working in superpower countries that would only give me a mediocre role. I'd rather be here, where I can give my best shot for the people who need me," he said.

His commitment to reach his dreams was evident during his nine-month intensive training program held in Tangerang, West Java before leaving for the International Physics Olympiad. From the time of his arrival at the training center in October last year, he spent many days unraveling hundreds of physics puzzles with nine other students.

"We usually started our class program at 8 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. After that, we could do whatever we wanted. After taking a shower and relaxing with friends, I usually studied until midnight or 1 a.m. at the latest."

Despite the demands of study, he still sets aside special time for contemplation and prayer. He said his studies had boosted, not weakened, his faith.

"The more I study physics, the more I come to know how complex this universe is, and the more I realize how small we are and how great God is."